State regulators will likely put more effort into enforcing fair lending laws, even as the CFPB continues to reassess the use of the disparate-impact theory under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
Fannie and Freddie addressed that problem by beginning to structure CAS and STACR transactions as real estate mortgage investment conduits – which REITs can buy more freely.
Law firm Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, along with two affiliates, has agreed to settle a civil lawsuit alleging the companies systematically defrauded Fannie Mae and the Veterans Administration by routinely overcharging them and submitting false bills for foreclosure and eviction-related expenses.
Two federal banking regulators have raised concerns about risks associated with nonbanks gaining market share in the mortgage industry. In a report published this week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said banks are loosening mortgage underwriting standards in response to “intense competition” from nonbanks. The OCC cited higher thresholds for back-end debt-to-income ratios, higher acceptable loan-to-value ratios and lower downpayment requirements. The trends were ...