Ocwen Financial reported a net loss of $87.20 million for the second quarter of 2016, with most of the loss related to so-called legacy issues. A planned settlement with the Department of Justice of two lawsuits involving the Home Affordable Modification Program and FHA mortgages caused $40.10 million in pre-tax losses for the nonbank lender-servicer. The company also paid $28.10 million during the quarter to cover the cost of monitoring settlements involving federal regulators ...
EverBank Financial announced this week that it’s in “advanced discussions” with a “well-respected financial services company” that plans to acquire the depository. Everbank ranked 15th among jumbo lenders as of the first quarter of 2016 with $725.0 million in such originations during the quarter, according to Inside Nonconforming Markets. The company formerly known as NovaStar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, citing ... [Includes four briefs]
Senate legislation that would make it easier to obtain FHA financing for condominium projects has been sent to the president for signature, though lenders seem to be more eager for long-anticipated condo reform guidelines from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Senate lawmakers unanimously approved H.R. 3700, the “Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act,” before Congress retired for the August recess. The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 427-0 back in February. Industry observers said the bill would essentially codify FHA condo-financing guidelines, which HUD recently drafted and are currently undergoing clearance at the Office of Management and Budget. Under H.R. 3700, the FHA would be required to establish and implement a recertification process that is substantially less burdensome than the ...
The CFPB went on to say its proposal does not – and cannot – address every concern that has been brought to the agency’s attention since the rule first came out.
Fannie Mae has announced new enhancements to its 97 percent loan-to-value mortgage product, including acceptance of FHA-approved housing counseling, to help attract more borrowers.The improvements would expand access to HomeReady, which allows borrowers to pay as little as 3 percent down on a home purchase. The 3 percent may include income from non-borrower household members. Fannie said it would accept one-on-one, pre-purchase counseling from providers that have been approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for FHA borrowers. The goal is to help conventional borrowers meet HomeReady’s homeownership education requirements. Later this year, Fannie will offer lenders a $500 credit to encourage borrowers to take advantage of the housing counseling option to help sustain long-term homeownership. In addition, Fannie simplified income-eligibility requirements for ...
FHA has announced updates to the Electronic Appraisal Delivery (EAD) portal and FHA Connection (FHAC) to make it easier for entities to view and work with appraisal reports. The latest improvement would ensure that EAD portal users, lenders/underwriters in particular, are approving appraisal reports for the FHA case number assigned to them. The FHA also released guidance regarding case transfers in relation to appraisal reports in the EAD portal and FHA Connection. If, prior to case transfer, the original mortgagee uploaded an appraisal, the new mortgagee to whom the case was transferred will be unable to view the appraisal in EAD. Hence, the new mortgagee must obtain a copy of the appraisal from the original mortgagee and submit it through the EAD portal. The original mortgagee must first transfer the case number to the new mortgagee in FHAC. Once the case transfer is complete, the ...
USMI Names MGIC Chief as Chairman. U.S. Mortgage Insurance has tapped Patrick Sinks, chief executive of MGIC Investment Corp., to be the trade group’s new chairman. Sinks succeeds USMI Chairman Rohit Gupta, president and CEO of Genworth Mortgage Insurance. Sinks served previously as USMI’s vice chairman. Bradley Shuster, chairman/chief executive for NMI Holdings, will take overNew Reverse-Mortgage Product. California Mortgage Advisors has expanded its reverse-mortgage menu, with the addition of a non-FHA reverse mortgage option of up to $6 million for select clients. With the new product, CMA joins a handful of private reverse-mortgage lenders that will consider properties valued up to $6 million. Last year, American Advisors Group, the largest Home Equity Conversion Mortgage lender, announced its AAG Advantage lending program, which features the ...