Preferred Language Question Added to the URLA. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced on Oct. 20 that it decided to add a preferred language question to the redesigned URLA. The regulator noted that the question will enable borrowers who prefer to communicate in a language other than English to identify that language. They said that it also provides clear disclosures that the mortgage transaction is likely to be conducted in English and that language resources may not be available. FHFA Director Mel Watt said following stakeholder outreach and input the agency has taken steps to mitigate concerns about the inclusion of a language preference question. Fannie Exec Withdrew Treasury Job Consideration. Brian Brooks, Fannie’s general counsel, decided to opt out of being...
The GSEs are also working toward issuing credit-risk transfer deals as real estate mortgage investment conduits, which would allow REITs to hold more of the assets.
Plenty of executives we’ve spoken to the past few months believe the industry is in for a considerable spate of M&A in the year ahead. Then again, we’ve heard that prediction before...
Most of the final amendments the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made to its mortgage servicing rules kicked in late this week, and the biggest challenge firms will have to contend with is the increased complexity. In an interview this week with Inside Mortgage Finance, Nanci Weissgold, a partner with the Alston & Bird law firm in Washington, DC, highlighted which provisions took effect this week and those coming on line next spring, and what they mean for ...
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is getting good reviews from mortgage industry participants regarding his congressional testimony late last week on program reforms, particularly his strategy for dealing with FHA exposure under the False Claims Act. Industry observers noted an improvement in Carson’s knowledge and understanding of HUD programs since taking office in March. His nomination by President Trump was controversial because ...
The Structured Finance Industry Group agrees with many of the proposals made by the Treasury Department in its recent report on regulatory reform for financial markets but seeks more clarity about risk retention requirements. Published earlier this month, the Treasury report said that the requirement that sponsors retain a residual interest in securitizations adds unnecessary cost to securitization as a funding source. In turn, it inhibits the prudent expansion of credit through securitized products ...
JPMorgan Chase, like most mortgage industry participants, endorses the solution that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has planned to resolve what’s known as the “black hole” in the bureau’s integrated disclosure rule. However, some big changes still need to be made if private capital is going to fully return to the mortgage market; namely, more cures for errors and greater clarity when it comes to legal liability. “Chase strongly supports the CFPB’s proposal to eliminate ...
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