FDIC May Revive Three U.S. Bank Lawsuits Over Soured Mortgage Debt

Reuters, July 11, 2017–Jonathan StempelA federal judge granted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. permission to revive lawsuits against Citigroup Inc, Bank of New York Mellon Corp and U.S. Bancorp that he had dismissed last September, to recoup more than $695 million of losses on soured mortgage debt that a failed Texas bank once owned.

Sindeo’s Savior Revealed: Renren Revives Mortgage Startup

HousingWire, July 11, 2017–Ben LaneSindeo CEO Nick Stamos confirmed the details of Renren’s acquisition of the company and said that the company is committed to continuing its previously shuttered operations.

Three Key Economic Questions Facing Yellen in Congress This Week

Bloomberg, July 11, 2017–Craig Torres, Jeanna Smialek, Christopher CondonJanet Yellen is getting ready to feel the heat, and not just because it’s July in Washington. The Federal Reserve chair, during her semiannual testimony to Congress over the years, has been quizzed on topics ranging from the Volcker rule to God’s plan for interest rates.

The Next Job Humans Lose to Robots: Real Estate Appraiser

Bloomberg, July 11, 2017–Joe LightTwenty-five years ago, Brian Weaver was told at a seminar that the real estate appraisal profession would be killed off by technology in five years. It didn’t happen. But he now thinks the forecast wasn’t exactly wrong-just early.

Banks and Credit Card Companies Can’t Try to Stop You From Joining a Class Action Lawsuit–For Now

Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2017–David LazarusConsumers had good reason to celebrate Monday after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, after years of preparation, issued a rule blocking credit card companies, banks and other financial firms from putting roadblocks in the way of customers joining class-action lawsuits. It’s a big deal. But the party won’t last.

Grocers Could Breathe New Life Into Retail Property Market

Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2017–Esther Fung (subscription)Grocery chain expansions are likely to spark robust construction in the coming years, analysts said, bucking the overall trend in retail development.

Lender Loses FHA Approval Over Bogus Financials

Mortgage Daily, July 11, 2017Seckel Capital LLC, Newtown, Pa., ost its approval to originate government-insured loans because it submitted false financial statements.

Mortgage Firms Hire Seasoned Executives

Mortgage Daily, July 11, 2017–Sam GarciaAmong several recent hires at home-lending organizations are two executives with more than two decades in the mortgage business.

U.S. Job Openings Fall from Record Peak; Quit Rates Rise

Reuters, July 11, 2017–Lucia MutikaniU.S. job openings fell in May from a record high amid a surge in hiring, but an increase in the number of Americans voluntarily quitting their jobs suggested the labor market remained robust.