Mortgage borrowers still have plenty to complain to the CFPB about, especially on the mortgage servicing front, the latest monthly consumer complaint report from the bureau suggests. “The most common issues identified by consumers are problems when they are unable to pay (loan modification, collection, foreclosure),” which were cited by 49 percent, according to the CFPB, followed by issues making payments (loan servicing, payments, escrow accounts), identified by 33 percent. Other homeowners brought up problems having to do with applying for a loan (application, originator, mortgage broker), which was noted by 9 percent, followed by signing the agreement (settlement process and costs), which was highlighted by 5 percent, and receiving a credit offer (credit decision, underwriting [With Two Data Charts]....
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, is looking to retain the CFPB, restructure key parts of the agency, and drastically limit its authority, Inside the CFPB has learned.According to a draft memorandum of the major changes to Hensarling’s Financial CHOICE Act, now dubbed CHOICE Act 2.0, the bureau “is to be retained and restructured as a civil law enforcement agency similar to the Federal Trade Commission, with additional restrictions on its authority,” as follows: Sole director, removable by the president at will. Rule-making authority limited to enumerated statutes. Unfair, deceptive acts or practices authority repealed in full. Supervision repealed. Consumer complaint database repealed.•Market monitoring authority repealed. Enforcement powers limited to cease-and-desist and civil investigative demand/subpoena powers....
President Trump has been in office nearly a month and CFPB Director Richard Cordray is still on the job, despite some early developments that suggested his days as head of the bureau are numbered under the new administration. The most recent headhunting expedition reportedly involved Brian Brooks, currently general counsel at Fannie Mae, who reportedly has close ties to Steve Mnuchin, Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, CNBC reported last week. Up on Capitol Hill, Republicans such as House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, and Sen. Ben Sasse, R-NE, a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, both recently called on Trump to sack Cordray. “The bureau’s mission to prohibit ‘abusive practices’ sounds great. But all that ...
After the government stalled on a September ruling to turn over close to 60 documents regarding the GSEs’ net worth sweep, a judge rejected its appeal. The court ordered the government to disclose the bulk of the documents to the plaintiff’s attorneys in Fairholme Funds Inc. v. United States. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investors, upholding Judge Margaret Sweeney’s earlier decision. The government is to release all…
The Cato Institute is a conservative think tank and a quick read of Calabria’s blog makes it sound like he favors getting the government out of the MBS guaranty business...
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