The odds are currently zero that Congress will find a legislative solution to the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this year, which is causing anxiety for the man charged with being both conservator and regulator to the government-sponsored enterprises: Mel Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Moreover, there is a growing concern among mortgage bankers that severe interest swings to the downside could cause a large net loss at Freddie in the first quarter of this year, a loss so large it will force the GSE to ask the U.S. Treasury for a draw on taxpayer funds. And it will happen...

Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized its “no-action” policy towards market innovators that develop new financial services products, adopting its proposal largely unchanged. But industry experts think the new policy is not only useless but actually counterproductive in that it will likely discourage lenders from developing new loan products in an evolving mortgage market – not foster more innovation. This new policy – created under the CFPB’s Project Catalyst – “is designed to improve access to consumer financial products and services that promise substantial consumer benefits,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “We want to foster a consumer financial marketplace where companies develop safe, innovative products and approaches that can help make people’s lives better.” Under the policy, bureau staff would issue...

The Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry groups are strongly urging the Department of Labor to reconsider a proposed rule updating overtime regulations that currently exclude mortgage loan officers and certain categories of employees from overtime compensation. Officials reiterated the MBA’s position, which it clearly spelled out in a joint letter with other financial services trade groups in September last year objecting to the DOL’s proposed rulemaking regarding overtime exemptions for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales and computer employees. Among other things, the MBA, American Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers of America, Financial Services Roundtable and The Clearing House cited...

“It is time to shrug off the naysaying consultants and lawyers who breed a culture of fear and hypothesized problems to hype their services,” Cordray added.

Fairholme is feeling the heat from investors over poor performance, with Berkowitz noting the fund’s returns have “put us in the dog house.”

Meanwhile, Fairholme’s case against the government is still pending and Berkowitz said from a legal standpoint, “We’re getting closer to the finish line…”

Roughly 88 percent of lenders plan to grow their origination business this year, and many – 67 percent – will either increase the number of retail branches or add loan officers.

Schilling cites a 2009 amendment to the DOJ’s FCA policy that expanded the boundaries of where it can be applied. He said now a claim can include a request for money made to a recipient of government funds.

Several groups of traditional insurance companies have substantially increased their borrowing capacity from the FHLB system as well.

Currently, employers are required to pay overtime for all employees who make $23,660 or less annually.