Mortgage Complaints Down as Overall Complaints Up

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 29, 2017In its Monthly Complaint Report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported 26,262 financial services complaints filed in February. Mortgage complaints fell to 3,715 in February from 4,195 in January.

FHA Changes Expected Before GSE Reform

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 3, 2017While reform of the government-sponsored enterprises is expected by many, changes to the Federal Housing Administration are expected more quickly.

Equity-Sharing Mortgages Make a Comeback, with Freddie’s Help

National Mortgage News, Apr. 3, 2017–Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Freddie Mac has quietly been testing out automated purchases of conforming loans with equity sharing stakes of typically 10%. The equity stake is provided to consumers by a private company that was previously knowns as FirstREX, but rebranded itself last year as Unison.

Student Debt May Prevent Some Americans From Buying Homes

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 3, 2017–Josh Mitchell (subscription)Americans continue to default on student loans at a “stubbornly high” rate, and a small share of borrowers are unable to buy homes due to high levels of student debt, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Tappable Equity Hits 10-Year High

National Mortgage Professional, Apr. 3, 2017–Phil HallAn annual home price appreciation of 5.5 percent during 2016 helped to increase the number of mortgage holders with tappable equity to 39.5 million, according to new data from Black Knight Financial Services.

Mortgage Compliance Services Enhanced, Automated

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 3, 2017–Sam GarciaResidential lenders have a host of recently launched or enhanced services that will help them maintain compliance with mortgage rules, banking regulations and agency requirements.

3rd Consecutive Monthly Mortgage Delinquency Drop

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 22, 2017Black Knight Financial Services reported for the third month in a row, the share of mortgages that were past due at least one month or in the foreclosure process has moved lower.

‘Bond King’ Jeff Gundlach Is Betting Big on the Mortgage Market

CNBC, Mar. 22, 2017–Tim MullaneyGundlach, CEO of DoubleLine Capital, is betting that the best way to play the coming rate hikes is by holding lots of mortgages, which comprise nearly 60 percent of the holdings of his exchange-traded fund Ticker.