Headlines

The first and only patented verification of deposits and assets (VODA) solution in the marketplace, AccountChek collects data directly from virtually any financial institution and provides lenders and investors with ATR/QM compliant electronic verifications in an easy to use format that is generated within minutes. Designed to be used in tandem with credit reports, the AccountChek Asset Report includes a borrower’s running balances, deposits and withdrawals, non-sufficient funds and large deposit notifications and many other details, giving lenders and investors a clearer picture of a borrower’s finances and simplifying the underwriting decision process.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) brought forth a bill that would make the CFPB eligible for review under the 10-year regulatory review. Under the current rules, both the CFPB and Dodd-Frank are exempt from review.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), seeks to “amend the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 to establish a secondary reserve fund for a housing enterprise under conservatorship to protect taxpayers against loss in the event of a housing downturn, and for other purposes."

Ward joins Clayton Euro Risk from Home Funding, which he led from 2006–2015. During his 40 year career he was a founder of Kleinwort Benson’s innovative mortgage originating and securitisation business, Mortgage Funding Corporation PLC, chairman of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) and deputy chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

The FHFA index showed the effective interest rate on all mortgage loans was down 12 basis points in February from the month prior. The February rate was 3.92 percent down form the January rate of 4.04 percent. The effective interest rate accounts for the addition of initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage.

Edward Golding, a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has been named by the White House as the leader of the Federal Housing Administration, according to HUD.

“Purchase application volume picked up for the week and on a seasonally adjusted basis reached its highest level since January 30, 2015, and continues to run about 3 percent ahead of last year’s pace,” MBA Chief Economist Mike Frantantoni said. “Low mortgage rates and more importantly continued improvements in the job market are the likely drivers behind this increase.”

Hispanic homeownership rates have slowed over the past three years. In 2012, the number of homes owned by Latinos increased by 347,000. That number was much lower at 54,000 in 2014. Before the Great Recession, Hispanics were outpacing the national average in homeownership gains. From 1995 to 2004 the Hispanic homeownership rate grew 7 percent, higher than the national average of 5 percent.

The downgrade comes after Ocwen Financial announced they would be selling $9.6 billion worth of servicing rights to Green Tree. Fitch said the downgrade is tied to Green Tree having had aggressive portfolio growth in the past two years in a press release.

IDS also set a company record in January 2015 for the most amount of initial disclosures generated in a single month. Total initial disclosure volume for the company in 2014 increased 13.6 percent over 2013. In addition, the company increased its overall document fulfillment volume in 2014 by 53 percent over 2013, and its E-sign volume increased 36 percent over the same period.