Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson reiterated concerns raised previously by his deputies regarding certain lending trends that could potentially endanger FHA’s financial health. Testifying during a HUD oversight hearing in the House Financial Services Committee this week, Carson said the department is scrutinizing certain policies that may be causing or contributing to the growth of cash-out transactions, unusually high debt-to-income ratios, serious loan delinquencies and early payment defaults. Carson said maintaining the health of the FHA mortgage insurance fund is critical in maintaining the agency as a source of credit for first time, low- and moderate-income, and minority homebuyers. The share of cash-out among all of FHA’s refinance transactions has increased to 60 percent as of April 2018 from 45 percent a year ago, he said. Also during that ...

The mortgage banking industry is backing a legislative proposal that would limit the government’s use of the False Claims Act to pursue hefty damages against FHA lenders. In a recent letter to the bill’s co-sponsors, the Mortgage Bankers Association expressed its strong support for H.R. 5993, the Fixing Housing Access Act of 2018. The MBA noted that originating FHA-insured loans has become very risky in recent years largely due to the civil actions brought by the Department of Justice under the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989. Fifty-four FCA and FIRREA cases against financial institutions have settled for billions of dollars between July 2011 and January 2018, according to data compiled by the Buckley Sandler law firm. Four cases are pending and one civil penalty award was reversed on appeal. Those lenders who were on the ...

The nation’s 12th largest servicer of residential loans said other options include a “business combination” or maintaining its status as a standalone entity.

Nationstar might be a suitor...

In April 2018, more than 24 percent of FHA homebuyers left the closing the table with debt-to-income ratios at or above 50 percent, up from 20 percent from the same period last year.

With loan production hitting a wall at the megabanks, layoffs are likely to ensue...

Wells Fargo is the nation’s largest home lender and a bellwether for the overall market.

Now, eligible condo loan borrowers can take advantage of the appraisal waiver if ACE deems it unnecessary.

A few years back, Nader went to bat for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac shareholders suing the federal government over the GSE net worth profit sweep...

Internet retail giant Amazon.com is exploring the idea of buying a mortgage banking franchise and making a splash in this highly cyclical business. But two huge questions loom: Will it actually happen? And if so, will Amazon disrupt the residential lending landscape the way it has brick-and-mortar retailers at the shopping mall?