There is serious talk of a potential rate hike coming as soon as September. Hey, that’s less than a month away, and signals the end of the summer. Bummer! Insiders believe the chances of this rate hike are running at just above 50% (Rates). Wait, that also means there’s about a 50% chance that rates won’t rise. What do you…
According to a recent Fitch Ratings report, we should be seeing more buyers in the upcoming months. This due, in part, to a steady easing of credit underwriting standards by banks and independent mortgage lenders, coupled with certain other factors (Buyers). The easing of credit standards, coupled with historically low interest rates, the slowing in the rate of home price…
A recent survey of senior loan officers (are there any others?) shows that credit standards for mortgage loans are loosening up a little. This easing is not in the government or subprime loan markets but rather in the areas of QM jumbo loans (Credit). Many banks shy away from FHA lending and sub-prime loans. Although Independent Mortgage Lenders believe these…
CFPB has made it clear they do not like Marketing Services Agreements (MSAs). Although such agreements have become somewhat commonplace in the mortgage industry, CFPB is taking a new look at them and doesn’t like what it sees. When MSAs first surfaced several years ago, HUD issued some guidance which is used by lenders and service providers to gauge the…
Let’s start with a bit of good news. Recently, the MBA increased its estimates for mortgage originations by $71 billion for 2015, and by $94 billion, to $885 Billion, in 2016. As my grandfather might have said, “Wow, thatsa a lottsa moola!” According to Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s Chief Economist, presently there are more home sales being financed, with more loans…
In all the hoopla surrounding CFPB’s birthday and their release of the final rule on TRID, we overlooked the 5th anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act. Let’s face it, had it not been for Dodd-Frank, there would be no CFPB. Just think of it…okay, now back to reality. Depending on which side of isle one sits, Dodd-Frank is either a boom…
