The new program will help reduce the number of buyback requests lenders receive for loans that are defective but still performing.

Nonbanks are under increased pressure as borrowers face skyrocketing obligations on taxes and insurance. Concurrently, there’s a risk that interest rates will decline, cutting into MSR values.

If regulators take an aggressive stance, the final capital rule could be out by May. The other option would be to re-propose the rule, which could leave the rulemaking unfinished if there’s a change in administration.

Both Democrats and Republicans have little interest in GSE reform, according to discussions this week at the SFVegas conference.

As lawmakers move to ban the use of trigger leads, lenders should focus their dollars on other marketing sources.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco becomes the first FHLBank to allow members to use mortgage loans based on VantageScore 4.0 as collateral for advances.

Facing criticisms that borrowers would intentionally default to qualify for VA’s upcoming loan-modification program, the agency noted that nearly 90% of its home loan portfolio is at a 2.5% to 3% coupon.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act has bipartisan support in the House. The bill, like its companion bill in the Senate, would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the sale of consumers’ information without their approval.

The Mortgage Bankers Association took Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s remarks as an opportunity to reiterate industry concerns about the Basel III endgame proposal.

The American Bankers Association and other trade groups want the court to vacate the new standards under the Community Reinvestment Act.