News

As a warning to mortgage industry lenders, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is investigating Bankrate’s mortgage rate comparison tool on Bankrate.com. Bankrate discussed the CFPB investigation in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

Upon the announcement, many lenders, servicers, and other industry members weighted in with their feedback in interviews with MReport, with many expressing their gratitude and detailing the company adjustments they plan to initiate if the proposal is approved.

In Freddie Mac’s most recent Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) the rates for average fixed mortgages dropped from last week’s unusual high. The Government-Sponsored Enterprise reported that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.0 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending June 18, 2015.

Torrance-California based DocMagic, Inc., has announced that the company will be fully TRID complaint by August 1, regardless of when the new rule actually takes effect. DocMagic is a provider of fully compliant loan document preparation, compliance, and eSign and eDelivery solutions.

Home sales in May were greater than in any other May since 2008, while home prices continued to rise, according to the RE/MAX National Housing Report. Sales are on a four-month trend in which they were higher than both the previous month and the same month in the previous year.

Today, Ginnie Mae announced its plans to thoroughly update program requirements and infrastructure in relation to loan documents that serve as collateral for securitized pools of loans.

Lenders can expect to see some changes and clarification with how the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will handle defect taxonomy and their guidelines. Today, the FHA posted its Single Family Loan Quality Assessment Methodology or “Defect Taxonomy”, which explains how FHA intends to categorize loan defects found in Single Family FHA endorsed loans today.

In an unexpected turn of events, retired House Democrat, key architect of the financial crisis era legislation, and more important namesake of the 2010 Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Barney Frank has joined the board of directors of New York-based Signature Bank (SBNY), according to a company announcement on Wednesday.

When purchasing a home, it’s important to consider the extra or hidden costs. Many homeowners are blissfully unaware of just how much these additional fees can costs on top of their mortgage. Zillow and Thumbtack recently released a study that found homeowners can pay more than $9,000 in hidden and home maintenance costs every year.

Construction is the key to a positive long-term outlook for the housing market. It is likely the most important facet of the industry and can be a determining factor of a slowly recovering housing market. In an article titled “New Home Construction Is Gearing Up for a 15-Year Boom. Who's Ready?” author John Burns, CEO of John Burns Real Estate Consulting, did research on the rate of construction over the next 15 years and came up with data that determines how to meet the overwhelming housing demand.