Seven months after the implementation of its ability-to-repay and qualified mortgage (QM) rules, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it is tweaking the loan thresholds used to determine the maximum points and fees for QM loans.
Read More »80% of Lenders Shy Away from Non-QM Business
In a follow-up piece on the company's inaugural Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey, Li-Ning Huang, senior manager of Economic and Strategic Research at Fannie Mae, found that most of the lenders surveyed don't plan to change their current strategy in response to January's regulatory changes, with 46 percent saying they plan to "wait and see" what happens in the market before acting.
Read More »Mortgage Loan Risk Recedes
According to the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) latest National Mortgage Risk Index, the share of home purchase loans at risk of going sour in the event of an economic downturn fell nearly half a percentage point last month to 11.44 percent. According to the group, the risk value of loans securitized in Fannie and Freddie's portfolios fell slightly to 5.8 percent, while the risk index for FHA slipped to 23.6.
Read More »Community Banks Argue for Expanded CFPB Exemptions
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asking the agency to expand the small creditor exemptions set out under its mortgage rules that went into effect in January. ICBA's main request is that mortgage loans held in small creditors' portfolios automatically receive qualified mortgage safe harbor status for as long as the loans are held in those portfolios.
Read More »June Originations Rise Modestly, Still Look Weak
Activity in the secondary mortgage market picked up modestly in June, but FBR Capital Markets warns lenders against celebrating just yet. Based on the total issuance of $211 billion in the second quarter, the investment firm estimates total originations were $264 billion for the quarter, just above the $263 billion estimate.
Read More »Mortgage Choice Act Clears House Vote
A bill designed to amend mortgage fee calculations under new industry rules cleared a major hurdle Monday, passing the House despite reservations from critics who say it may reopen the door to irresponsible lending. Introduced last year by a bipartisan group of representatives, H.R. 3211 would amend TILA to exempt fees from affiliated title companies from counting toward the 3 percent point and fee threshold established in the QM rule.
Read More »CFPB Amends Mortgage Rules for Nonprofits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced Wednesday it is proposing “minor changes” to its mortgage rules to assist nonprofit organizations in getting loans to underserved communities. “Today’s proposal would maintain those strong protections, while making minor changes to ensure consumers have access to credit,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in a statement.
Read More »UWM Launches Non-QM Program for Jumbo Loan Borrowers
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), one of the nation’s largest wholesale lenders, announced the launch of its new ‘Big & Easy Plus’ program designed for jumbo loans that don’t fit the Qualified Mortgage (QM) criteria.
Read More »One-Third of Bankers to Only Lend Within QM
The American Bankers Association (ABA) released the results of its latest annual Real Estate Lending Survey. According to the ABA, more than 80 percent of bankers surveyed believe that tightened Dodd-Frank rules will restrict credit, thereby narrowing the pool of candidates able to secure mortgages. More than a third of bankers surveyed said they would only offer qualified mortgages.
Read More »Fitch Finalizes Criteria on QM, Non-QM Securities
Two months after the implementation date of the qualified mortgage (QM) and ability-to-repay rules, Fitch Ratings announced it has finalized new criteria for analyzing loans in securities taking the new guidelines into account. Fitch developed assumptions with respect to the probability of challenges to the rule or a mortgage’s QM status, as well as the potential costs or damages.
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