The spread of the coronavirus has slowed global and U.S. economic activity to a halt. Public and private measures to stem the spread of the virus have led to indefinite interruptions in many sectors of the economy, as well as future uncertainty surrounding how long this pause in the global economy will last and what the potential economic losses could be.
Category: News and Trends
Federal, State Agencies Issue Joint Statement Encouraging ‘Flexibility’ with COVID-Impacted Homeowners
Federal and state regulatory agencies on Friday issued a statement conceding the need for regulatory flexibility as mortgage servicers work with struggling homeowners affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
MBA, Trade Groups Release Statement Urging Regulators to Establish Liquidity Facility
The Mortgage Bankers Association and a broad coalition of organizations representing financial industry and affordable housing advocates on Saturday released a statement calling on government regulators to provide a source of liquidity to those mortgage servicers that may need additional capacity to support homeowners and renters impacted by COVID-19.
First American: Fraud Risk Continues to Drop
Today’s housing market benefits from new technology and policy guardrails against fraud and defect risk, innovations that will serve the industry well in the uncertain days ahead, said Mark Fleming, Chief Economist with First American Financial Corp. Santa Ana, Calif.
ATTOM: February Foreclosure Activity at Record Low
ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., reported 48,004 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in February, the lowest number of total foreclosure filings recorded it began tracking in April 2005.
FHFA Authorizes Loan Processing Flexibilities for GSE Customers; Extends Comment Period on Proposed Minimum Financial Eligibility Requirements
The Federal Housing Finance Agency this week announced several loan processing flexibilities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac designed to help their customers.
Mortgage Action Alliance ‘Call to Action’ Targets States’ ‘Essential Services’ Designation
The Mortgage Action Alliance, the grassroots advocacy arm of the Mortgage Bankers Association, issued a “Call to Action,” urging its 23,000-plus members to urge state governors and officials to include government agencies and offices that support housing and mortgage transactions as “essential services” during the coronavirus pandemic.
MBA, Trade Groups Petition FCC for ‘Emergency Purposes Exception’ on Mortgage Servicing Calls
The Mortgage Bankers Association joined other industry trade groups in a letter Monday to the Federal Communications Commission, arguing that mortgage servicing calls (and other financial institution notices) should be deemed emergency calls by the FCC and exempt from the Telephone Consumer Protection Act during the COVID19 emergency.
Ginnie Mae, FHA Update Servicer Policies in Coronavirus Wake
Ginnie Mae and FHA on Friday issued updates addressing mortgage servicer liquidity issues that could result from the coronavirus pandemic.
MBA Raises Concerns with SEC on Broker-Dealer Margin Call Volatility
The Mortgage Bankers Association, in a letter Sunday to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, raised “urgent concern” about dramatic price volatility in the market for agency mortgage-backed securities over the past week that leading to broker-dealer margin calls on mortgage lenders’ hedge positions that are unsustainable for many such lenders.