A policy allowing consumers to publicly share their stories when submitting complaints to the CFPB was first proposed by the Bureau in July 2014. After months of receiving comments from consumer groups, trade associations, companies, and individuals, theCFPB finalized its consumer narrative policy on Thursday.
Read More »Freddie Mac Hires Daniel Gardner as Single Family VP of Affordable Lending and Access to Credit
Gardner has held leadership positions at the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST) and the affordable lending operation at some of the nation’s leading mortgage lenders. This is experience is why Freddie Mac believes Gardner will bring significant experience and a great depth of knowledge to the role.
Read More »SunTrust to Pay North Carolina Homeowners $21.5 Million in Settlement
More than 2,200 homeowners who had mortgages with SunTrust and lost their homes to foreclosure in the past few years are eligible to a cash settlement worked out by the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. North Carolina’s portion of the payout is about $21.5 million. Claim forms were mailed this week, and homeowners have until June 4 to submit a claim. The average payment will be around $850, according to Attorney General Roy Cooper.
Read More »Fannie Mae Releases 2015 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey
Compared to the first and fourth quarter of last year, results show more lenders expect mortgage demand and their profit margin to grow over the next three months. Of the senior mortgage executives surveyed, 69 percent said they felt the economy was on the right track.
Read More »Fed Removes ‘Patient’ Pledge after FOMC Meeting
Despite removing the “patient” policy, the Federal Open Market Committee remained steady on the belief that interest rates will not increase by their April meeting. Fed Chair Janet Yellen emphasized in a press conference following the meeting, the removal of the pledge doesn’t mean Fed rates will increase by June.
Read More »Mid America Hires Financial Compliance Expert
Prior to joining Mid America and Mortgage Machine Services, Shelton worked for mortgage loan origination system (LOS) provider Calyx Software. In her most recent position there, Shelton served as implementation manager and business analyst, where she was responsible for ensuing clients would remain compliant after implementing Calyx’s Path LOS. Shelton began her career in the auto finance industry and made the transition to real estate finance in 2004 when she joined Dallas/Ft. Worth-based lender 4Trust Mortgage.
Read More »Auction.com and Five Star Institute Pledge Support to Operation Homefront and Veteran Home Donation Program
The home donation program will be featured at the 2015 Five Star Conference and Expo, which will take place September 16 to 18 in Dallas, Texas. Five Star has partnered with various non-profit organizations over the last four years to provide approximately $4 million worth of homes to service members. At last year's conference, Five Star presented six wounded veterans with mortgage-free homes.
Read More »iemergent Releases 2015 Mortgage Origination Forecast
The report predicts the 2015 purchase volume will feature over 3.3 million loans totaling to $782.6 billion. The 2015 refinance volume range is between 1.41 million loans at the low end totaling to $305.9 billion to 1.77 million loans at the high end totaling to $384 billion. The 2015 expected low end for total mortgage value is 4.74 million loans for 1,088.5 billion. The high end is 5.1 million loans at $1,166.6 billion.
Read More »Housing Starts Rate Drops to Lowest Figure in Years
Housing starts dropped 17 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 897,000. This is 3.3 percent below the February 2014 rate of 928,000. The Northeast and Midwest region saw the biggest drop in starts at 56.5 percent and 37 percent. The West region saw the least starts drop at 18.2 percent.
Read More »Senators Rally Against Using Fannie, Freddie to Offset Federal Spending
Led by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia), a group of colleagues from the Senate Banking Committee introduced the bill, S. 752, today, in an effort to push Congress to get serious about exploring reform options for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to a press release.
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