A diverse group of 31 lenders tracked by Inside Mortgage Trends reported a combined $4.13 billion in mortgage banking income during the second quarter, up 32.7 percent from the first three months of 2014.
Mortgage trustees are still awaiting state court approval of a $4.5 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase in relation to faulty residential MBS issued by the bank and the now-defunct Bear Stearns between 2005 and 2008. If approved by the New York State Supreme Court, the agreement would resolve representation and warranty claims as well as servicing claims related to loans in 330 mortgage securitization trusts, as well as claims over document delivery. In addition, the bank agreed to change its servicing procedures with respect to mortgage loans in the trusts. The proposed settlement does not resolve...
With origination volumes sucking wind this year, plenty of mortgage companies are pondering whether now is the time to sell, but so far few deals of any size have been consummated. That may change in the coming months. On the buy-side, a dozen or so potential acquirers have emerged, including such growth-minded nonbanks as Prospect Mortgage, RPM Mortgage – both of which are based in California – and possibly AmeriSave Mortgage of Atlanta. Also, Willie Newman, the former CEO of Cole Taylor Mortgage, has teamed up...
The New York Department of Financial Services said it has concerns that certain nonbank servicers are using complex arrangements with affiliates to side-step borrower protections in force-placed insurance. Superintendent of Financial Services Benjamin Lawsky detailed what he called a “troubling” scheme between Ocwen Financial and a “related party,” Altisource Portfolio Solutions. “This complex arrangement appears designed to funnel as much as $65 million in fees annually from already-distressed homeowners to Altisource for minimal work,” Lawsky said in a letter this week to Timothy Hayes, Ocwen’s general counsel. According to the NYDFS, Ocwen recently implemented...