Daily Dose

The intent of a proposal from the CFPB is to provide additional flexibility for mortgage lenders in the collection of consumer ethnicity and race information. The proposed amendments should provide greater clarity to lenders regarding their obligations under the law, and according to the CFPB will promote compliance with rules intended to ensure customers are treated fairly.

Foreclosures, loan modifications, and forfeitures have been on a decline for a couple years, according to a report form the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The amount of completed foreclosures dropped from 2 years ago by almost 19,000, while deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure actions have dropped from 1.2 thousand to 0.8 thousand, Home forfeiture actions in total decreased by 32.3 percent year-over-year.

Technology report says that current loan origination systems (LOS) are not adequate for the coming age of the digital mortgage. Specific functions must be achieved through add-on applications. The reasoning is that more efficient LOS systems will produce better client satisfaction in the loan process.

The two transactions will retain risk for the first 50 basis points of loss on an $18.1 billion loan pool and a $2.3 billion loan pool. The loan pools covered consist of 30-year fixed-rate loans with loan-to-value ratios greater than 60-percent and less than or equal to 80 percent, all acquired by Fannie Mae from January 2016 through July 2016.

The plans are ambitious. According to FHFA’s update report on Release 2, the agency has two main objectives in undertaking the UMBS initiative. The first is to establish a single, liquid market for the mortgage-backed securities issued by both GSEs that are backed by fixed-rate loans. The second is to maintain the liquidity of the that market over time.

What should be done in the case that a lender fails to name a spouse in its lawsuit, or fails to name a condominium and homeowners association fee? What parties should be names in a lawsuit? These questions and more were answered in the Legal League 100 webinar.

The increase in new home sales could be due to the warm winter which allowed construction to stay on schedule, last year’s strong home construction starts, and a gradual shift from building apartments to individual homes. However, Kirchner says that while construction is up overall, existing home sales are falling.

The Fed raised rates in 2017, and with two more rate increases this year likely, potential homebuyers will get into the market in order to buy a house before rates go any higher.

While other cities experience shifts from rental to homeownership in the face of high rent costs, Detroit has reached a higher percentage of renters compared to homeowners. This could cause city official to re-evaluate how to ensure stability.

Buying a home in today’s competitive market is stressful, according to 72 percent of participants in a recent survey. Fears include losing earnest money, not finding a home in their budget range, and becoming involved in a bidding war. Prospective homeowners said they spend 1 - 3 hours a day in their search.