Just in case you missed it, Fifth Third Bancorp agreed to pay almost $85 million to settle charges brought about by a DOJ action brought under the False Claims Act. According to the charges, Fifth Third failed to report that more than 1,400 FHA insured loans were defective after they had certified them as being eligible for the FHA insurance…
Category: Uncategorized
MBA’s MAA – Does it Again!
Although it is said that actions speak louder than words, sometimes when the two come together it can have a powerful effect. Such is the case when it comes to the MBA’s Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA). This is a grass roots effort, supported by member firms and their employees, to help facilitate communication with our elected officials to promote industry…
Proposed Changes in HUD’s Real Estate Owned (REO) Policies
On October 2, 2015, HUD published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register that would implement some rather substantial changes in the way the Department manages and markets its REO inventory. If your Firm is involved, in any way, with the sale or financing of HUD REO properties – you need to be aware of these proposed changes. Some examples…
Warning: Agencies Purchase Risky Business
The FHA premium cut and agency low down payment loans were intended to increase homeownership among first-time and low to moderate income home buyers. It hasn’t worked so far. The premium cut tends to have just redirected borrowers from traditional conventional loan programs into an FHA-insured loan. Also, those who recently closed using FHA insured loans refinanced those same loans…
Happy Birthday Consumer Financial Protections Bureau!
The CFPB celebrated its 4th birthday today, July 21st, 2015. In connection with this celebration, they issued an announcement highlighting all they’ve done over the past four years to help consumers (CFPB4U). Quite a bit but at what cost? Although CFPB may have benefited many consumers at varying levels, have they also hurt some in other areas? I can’t speak…
Importance of Defect Management
Last year, Fannie and Freddie announced some relief to lenders under their Reps and Warrants. Under this announcement, lenders could receive relief from responsibility for indemnification and repurchases via two methods; Acceptable Payments History: Borrower making payments for 36 consecutive months with no more than one 30 day delinquent; or Quality Control Reviews: a satisfactory review by the agency that…