News

In a report to be released Friday titled "Analysis and Study of CFPB Consumer Complaint Data Related to Mortgage Servicing Activities,” Black Knight Financial Services (BKFS) and the Five Star Institute (FSI) seek to provide context and insight to complaints received by the CFPB by comparing the CFPB's two predominant mortgage complaint categories, servicing and default, with loan trends. The report includes publicly available data from both the CFPB and mortgage servicers, as reported from the CFPB database

According to data, none of the housing markets in the nation’s largest 40 metros are in negative territory, and only six of them are even neutral. The healthiest housing markets in the nation are in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. Only two metros in the nation are in negative territory (Bismarck, North Dakota and Atlantic City, New Jersey), and even these are nearly in the neutral zone.

Deutsche Bank‘s and BNP Paribas‘s mortgage units were investors in notes issued by Taylor Bean’s Ocala Funding unit, a mortgage conduit. The two banks sued Bank of America, which acted as middleman between the investors and Ocala, for $1.75 billion in 2009 over their losses on the notes.

On an Investors Unite Conference call Wednesday, Isaac said while in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis the government used Fannie and Freddie to stabilize housing finance, the government’s current actions could cause another, potentially worse, crisis.

Independent monitor Joseph A.Smith verified Chase's claim made in December that the bank had provided $2.24 billion in consumer relief credit to 111,924 borrowers as of the end of the third quarter (September 30, 2014). Chase has until December 31, 2017 – nearly three full years – to pay the approximate remaining amount of nearly $1.8 billion of its obligation toward consumer relief under the settlement.

The Electronic Appraisal Delivery(EAD) portal for FHA insured single family will be used to provide information necessary for mortgagees to prepare for delivering both forward and reverse origination appraisals, HUD announced through a mortgage letter. Mortgage lenders will be required to use the web-based platform for mortgagee submissions of FHA appraisal data and reports for case numbers assigned on and after June 27, 2016.

An NAHB survey of single-family home builders revealed that nearly 25 percent of builders installed alternative energy-producing equipment in new construction. This includes geothermal heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. The current 30-percent tax credit available for homeowners who install this equipment is set to expire at the end of 2016, which makes this a good time for interested buyers to consider purchases.

Based on the latest Google Trends data and updated housing market data tracked by Auction.com – which together indicate a shift in March home sales – the adjusted Auction.com Nowcast projections are slightly higher than those released on March 24. The original nowcast called for a range between 4.83 and 5.12 million, with a targeted number of 4.97 million.

Customers can search a database of more than 1,300 down payment and closing cost assistance programs when they visit the Bank of America Down Payment Resource Center. Customers can also learn how to use down payment and closing cost programs in combination with first mortgage loans to make homebuying more affordable when they visit the center. They can also get information to help them prepare for purchasing a home and speak with Bank of America mortgage specialist to explore other possible options.

Fannie Mae's total Book of Business, which includes the gross mortgage portfolio plus the total Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities and other guarantees less the Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities in the portfolio, decreased at a compound annualized rate of 0.1 percent in February, down to $3.1214 trillion. It was the second consecutive month of contraction for Fannie Mae's Book of Business after expanding for three out of four months between September and December.