Servicing

Major metros could be especially vulnerable to rising interest rates, according to a new study by Pro Teck. San Francisco could see a 10 percent drop in home prices if rate rises more aggressively than predicted. Meanwhile, inventory in top-selling metros remains tight.

According to Urban Institute, the FHA has more power to increase credit access. The GSEs do risk-based pricing through their loan-level pricing adjustments. However, the FHA does not do risk-based pricing, and so it has insured borrowers and so it has insured borrowers with less-than-pristine credit. Charging the same fee for those with good credit as those with bad credit has limited credit availability.

Fannie Mae’s survey respondents point to competition from other lenders and market trend changes, such as a shift from refinance to purchases, as top reasons for low profit margins. However, respondents point to government regulatory compliance, a historically top reason for lenders’ decreased profit outlooks, as a lesser reason.

With an uncertain regulatory environment, new data requirements, and promising technological opportunities all intersecting, mortgage originators face a winding road as they navigate through 2017.

On Friday, Codilis, Moody, & Circelli, P.C. (CMC), an end-to-end creditors’ rights law firm and Legal League 100 member, announced its expansion into Wisconsin with the addition of Shawn Hillmann. The Wisconisn firm joins Codilis offices in four other states, including CMC of Missouri; Codilis & Associates, P.C. of Illinois; Codilis Law, LLC of Indiana; and Codilis & Stawiarski, P.C. of Texas.

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.

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.

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.

Although profits for processing loans dropped, mortgage lenders with servicing portfolios benefited from higher net servicing financial income in the fourth quarter of 2016 due to increases in the valuation of their mortgage servicing rights. This event was driven by rising interest rates. However, reduced profitability on the production side of the business generally outweighed servicing gains.