Senate Banking Committee Approves HUD, FHFA IG Nominees. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs recently approved the nomination of Julian Castro as the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Castro, D, is the incumbent mayor of San Antonio, TX. The panel also approved the nomination of Laura Wertheimer as inspector general of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The Senate has yet to confirm their nominations. Meanwhile, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s nomination for director of the Office of Management and Budget was approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Reform on June 25. FHA Policies on Arm’s Length Transactions and Compliance with State Laws. The FHA is developing guidance to address concerns that laws in certain states may conflict with its arm’s length transaction requirements for preforeclosure/short sales. Until the guidance is issued, FHA lenders should seek guidance and assistance from the FHA National Servicing Center in matters of ...

A tax "extender" for mortgage insurance would help an already-healthy MI industry.

One MI CEO, who we called, said this: “Thanks for reaching out. We, along with the other MIs are currently in confidential discussions with FHFA and the GSEs regarding the new standards. Unfortunately, we cannot comment until they are public.”

Oh, the irony: tough compliance regulations drive up the cost of renovating the HQ of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

NAMB estimates that during the same year brokers nationwide rebated upwards of $2 billion to consumers at the closing table.

Nonbank capital rules from the FHFA will add certainty to the MSR market, but there will plenty of indigestion along the way.

It should be noted that after the FHFA IG report was released, the share value of Nationstar, Ocwen and Walter all suffered in trading...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is picking up where HUD left off, and then some, said one senior attorney.

But it’s not just talk of capital standards for nonbanks that has some in the industry spooked – it’s the issue of what constitutes capital.

The FHFA IG seems to be singling out one nonbank megaservicer in particular. But the Inspector General isn't naming names...