The Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Wednesday that Ocwen Financial agreed to a $2.0 million settlement. The agreement covers misstatements of financial results due to a “flawed” methodology to value mortgage servicing rights and conflict-of-interest issues involving William Erbey, the former executive chairman of Ocwen. “Ocwen released inaccurate financial statements because its internal controls were inadequate and its audit committee failed to scrutinize ...
A&D Mortgage recently started offering non-qualified mortgages on a wholesale basis via mortgage brokers. The lender, whose originations are focused in southern Florida, noted that its underwriting for the loans includes “limited income and asset documentation” including options for stated income and stated assets. A&D offers non-QMs aimed at investors and foreign nationals. The lender said the loans are typically for non-owner-occupied ... [Includes four briefs]
One observer who follows the program had this to say: “It’s nice of them [FHA] to give money away in an election year. It’s not like they need the volume.”
With nonbanks fearing they could be stuck with error-laden mortgages that violate the integrated disclosure rule, a secondary market has developed for this new breed of “scratch and dent” loans, according to interviews conducted by Inside Mortgage Finance. One investor, requesting his firm’s name not be identified, said his shop bought such a mortgage for 90 cents on the dollar. Participants in the market – including investors and traders – concede...
The turmoil in financial markets around the world is fueling a flight to safety on the part of investors into U.S. dollar-denominated assets, helping to keep mortgage rates in the U.S. housing market lower than they otherwise would be. But how long that will continue is anyone’s guess. “The recent volatility in worldwide financial markets caused Treasury rates to decline, so we’ve seen that being picked up in mortgage rates,” Danielle Hale, managing director of housing statistics for the National Association of Realtors, told Inside Mortgage Finance. Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, said...