Now that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has delivered its integrated mortgage disclosure project, the agency is asking consumers to identify the key “pain points” associated with closing and how they might by mitigated by market innovations and technology. “The CFPB seeks to encourage the development of a more streamlined, efficient and educational closing process as the mortgage industry increases its usage of technology, electronic signatures and paperless processes,” the bureau said in a recent notice. The plan is to “encourage interventions that increase consumer knowledge, understanding and confidence at closing,” the agency said. Specifically, comment is sought...

As expected, the Mortgage Bankers Association this week lowered its 2014 origination forecast to $1.12 trillion, a $57 billion decrease from its previous estimate. Word of the reduction was making the rounds last week.

Mobile technology may seem to be all the rage, with many lenders tapping vendors to help borrowers to shop for rates, mortgages and lenders from the palms of their hands. But a new Fannie Mae survey suggests that borrowers prefer to go “old school” and use their personal computers to find the best mortgage. The use of technology in mortgage shopping is likely to continue – especially among younger borrowers with higher income and educational levels. “Consumers say they use traditional ...

New FHFA Director Mel Watt is expected to shakeup some of the senior staff at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

One mortgage executive had this to say about the W.J. Bradley case: “This is fascinating for the implications of whether the LO or the company owns the customer. As you know, LOs have their little black books (or thumb drives) of all their customers and their information."

The GSEs’ common industry dataset that supports the CFPB’s new disclosure form is called the Uniform Closing Dataset, and is one component of the Uniform Mortgage Data Program, an ongoing effort being directed by the FHFA.

The government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are stepping up their development of a standardized dataset to support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recently finalized consolidated closure disclosure forms – a project that could represent a tipping point in the mortgage industry’s use of electronic mortgages, technology vendor representatives say. The GSEs’ common industry dataset that supports the CFPB’s form is called the Uniform Closing Dataset, and is one component of ...

Bexil American Mortgage partnered with a private real estate investment trust to launch a correspondent program. Meanwhile, New Jersey filed a lawsuit against Credit Suisse regarding non-agency mortgage-backed securities issued before the financial crisis.

Ellie Mae has annualized revenues of roughly $130 million. The company went public two years ago.

Inside Mortgage Finance is hearing rumblings about a mid-sized nonbank that was contemplating an initial public offering pulling the deal.