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Author Archives: Ryan Schuette

Ryan Schuette is a journalist, cartoonist, and social entrepreneur with several years of experience in real-estate news, international reporting, and business management. He currently lives in the Washington, D.C., area, where he freelances for DS News and MReport.

Assured Guaranty Sues Flagstar for $82M

Flagstar Bancorp found itself pitted against bond insurer Assured Guaranty on Monday as the latter sought $82.4 million in damages against it on charges that the Midwestern bank breached the warranties on its home equity loans, according to court documents.

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Letters Put CFPB on Defense

Signaling new flak in ongoing exchanges between members of Congress and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, two House committees addressed Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner in a letter last week with concerns about Treasury Department adviser Elizabeth Warren's refusal to unveil her involvement with mortgage servicers and state authorities in their negotiations. The letter is the second to address widespread concerns about the CFPB's dealings, marking a defensive posture for the agency.

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Capital Partners Buys Real Estate Network

On Wednesday real estate investment company C-III Capital Partners LLC inked its name to an agreement approving acquisition plans for NAI Global, a global network of commercial real estate firms, potentially bringing the firm, with assets valued at nearly $150 billion, up to speed as an increasingly competitive force.

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Another Taylor Bean Exec Lands in Jail

The saga of a nearly $3-billion fraudulent scheme that resulted in two bank failures, billions of dollars in losses, and the loss of over 2,000 jobs came to a close on Wednesday when courts found the culprits guilty on counts of fraud and false statements, among other charges. The sentencing follows several other convictions in a case authorities bill one of the largest instances of bank fraud in U.S. history.

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Freddie Mac Records 3.5% Drop in May

Freddie Mac reported the decline of its overall mortgage portfolio by an annual rate of 3.5 percent over May, signaling losses for the government-sponsored enterprise in a mortgage market the federal officials want to hand back to private investors. Issuing its monthly volume update, the GSE's origination volume for single-family refinance-loan purchases dropped to $13.3 billion over May, reflecting 58 percent of total mortgage purchases and issuances.

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Industry Insiders Respond to CFPB’s Nonbank Rule

On Thursday Consumer Financial Protection Bureau nominee Elizabeth Warren attended a virtual press conference, delineating six groups of nonbank companies that may soon fall under the agency's broad scope of authority. The agency is responsible for ensuring that both banks and nonbanks comply with consumer financial protection and fair lending laws, Warren said, reading from a prepared statement.

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Nearing Exit, Bair Shapes Legacy

Nearing the conclusion of her tumultuous five-year term, outgoing FDIC chairman Sheila Bair made moves to shape the legacy she leaves behind in July, making the case for sounder policies needed to head off the potential for a replay of the 2008 financial crisis as markets and industries move forward. Meanwhile, analysts fault a mixed legacy for Bair, citing the major roles she played in expanding the FDIC's power and passing crucial language in the Dodd-Frank Act. Bair is set to leave her post as FDIC chairman on July 8.

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PNC Financial Services Picks Up RBC

In a statement released Monday, banking giant PNC Financial Services Group revealed that it had acquired troubled Canadian firm RBC Bank for $3.45 billion in cash and stock, absorbing $25 billion in assets and re-branding over 400 branches across the southern United States. According to Bloomberg News, PNC anticipates $322 million in merger-related expenses, coupled with the addition of $19 billion in deposits and $16 in loans. Additionally, PNC expects to whittle down nearly $230 million, or 27 percent, of non-interest expenses for the bank after implementing administrative and operational changes.

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Warren Opens Nonbank Rule to Commentary

Seeking to dispel controversy surrounding recent rule-making efforts, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau nominee and Treasury Department adviser Elizabeth Warren attended a virtual press conference on Thursday to invite public commentary and uphold the agency's claim to sweeping powers under the Dodd-Frank Act. Warren briefly touched on the proposed definition for so-called ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├àÔÇ£larger participants,├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├é┬Ø citing nonbank mortgage companies, payday lenders, and private student lenders as subjects that would fall under the rule.

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Lawmakers, Groups Challenge QRM Rule

Members of Congress linked arms with a broad coalition of community and professional associations to call for the reversal of a key provision in the Dodd-Frank Act, which critics charge will upend recovery in the housing markets, close the door on new homebuyers, and force borrowers to shoulder higher costs. The lawmakers and industry groups showed up in force at a press conference organized by the Coalition for Sensible Housing Policy, which plans to submit a white paper to authorities as official commentary.

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