Home prices in many areas have fully recovered from the declines seen during the financial crisis, according to a variety of home price indices. While prices above levels seen before the financial crisis could cause alarms about another housing bubble, Sean Becketti, chief economist at Freddie Mac, is seeking to ease concerns. Last week, Freddie economists published an in-depth analysis of home price trends and median household income. They said the house price-to-income ratio appears to be the clearest indicator of the long-run sustainability of house prices. And even the PTI ratios that are relatively high in specific areas don’t necessarily indicate that there’s another housing bubble. “Based on this approach, we’re...

A bill making its way through the New York state legislature has prompted concerns among servicers and the Mortgage Bankers Association, who warn that the bill’s requirements regarding abandoned properties would increase costs and legal risks for servicers. A.6932-A, the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act, was recently approved by New York’s Assembly on a 116-22 vote. The bill would require servicers to periodically inspect properties tied to delinquent mortgages, report vacant properties to a state registry and provide authorities with tools to prompt servicers to maintain abandoned properties, among other provisions. “There is...

A coalition of multi-sectoral groups is urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to work with other federal agencies to provide strong protections for mortgage applicants and homeowners who have limited English proficiency (LEP). The Americans for Financial Reform, an umbrella organization for more than 200 civil rights, consumer, labor, business, investors, faith-based, and civic and community groups, said that while the CFPB has taken steps to assist LEP consumers, the agency and federal banking regulators should go further to make the mortgage marketplace fully and fairly accessible to these consumers. “Mortgage origination and servicing must be...

However, Fitch did raise concerns about the expenses associated with Pentalpha Surveillance, which will review potential breaches of representations and warranties…

Rumor has it that a mid-sized nonbank based in the Western U.S. is entertaining takeover offers...

Changes include an ability-to-repay safe harbor for loans held in portfolio...

Joe Garrett of Garrett, McAuley & Co. wonders whether the day is coming when the CFPB will take up residence at some of the nation’s largest nonbank lenders.

Better loan grading on the way?

FMC bought these current loans out of Ginnie pools at lower prices applicable to delinquent loans, the SEC said. But in reality, the mortgages were really current…

A new jumbo MBS from Redwood Trust will mark the second non-agency MBS to include mortgages subject to the TRID mortgage disclosure rule. The real estate investment trust plans to issue a $344.89 million deal next week, according to a presale report from Kroll Bond Rating Agency. The rating service said 366 mortgages, accounting for 74.8 percent of the loan pool, are subject to the combined Truth in Lending Act/Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act rule. Redwood will issue...