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In January, a group of Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) investors including BlackRock Financial Management Inc., Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, Kore Advisors, and Metropolitan Life Insurance issued a notice on Ocwen’s alleged non-performance. Ocwen claims the notice is a part of a long campaign by the RMBS investors to force more home foreclosures and less loan modifications.

The White House joined Warren in its criticism, saying that putting the bureau under the appropriation of Congress would limit the agency. The administration also criticized the Republicans budget proposal's "creative-accounting savings" that shift funding for the agency to appropriations.

The DOJ filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed in May 2014, and Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accepted the motion, claiming the plaintiff did not have sufficient grounds to sue the Justice Department.

Mortgage refinance rates climbed another 8 percent in February to 59 percent, making it the highest it has been since May 2013. According to Ellie Mae’s Origination Report released Wednesday that number is almost doubled the rate seen six months ago in August 2014 and 16 percentage points higher than the year-over-year figure of 38.

HVF research on the impact of lower oil prices on home values found that in areas where the industries are diversified beyond oil and gas, home prices have remained stable. Authors of this research analyzed Houston’s home prices versus crude oil prices over the last forty years and found with the exception of the 1980s, Houston home prices have been steadily increasing due to diversity in the region.

According to the letter, the senators feel the CSP should have an “open architecture” that gives access to private industry and does not limit the CSP to been an appendage to GSEs. Opening the CSP will “enhance the ability for small and mid-sized lenders to access the secondary mortgage market and facilitate greater competition in this market going forward,” the letter said.

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.

Features of the 2015 Five Star Government Forum included keynote addresses from U.S. Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), Fannie Mae SVP and Chief Economist Doug Duncan, and Freddie Mac Deputy Chief Economist Len Kiefer as well as Five Star President and CEO Ed Delgado's one-on-one interview with Acting FHA Commissioner Biniam Gebre.

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.

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.