Loan Defects Rise for 4th Straight Month

First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif., said its Loan Application Defect Index rose in December, the fourth consecutive monthly increase, but remains below historical levels.

IMBs: The Very Definition of ‘Skin in the Game’

SAN FRANCISCO–Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

IMBs: The Very Definition of ‘Skin in the Game’

SAN FRANCISCO–Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

IMBs: The Very Definition of ‘Skin in the Game’

SAN FRANCISCO–Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

Black Knight: Delinquency Rate Entering 2019 Lowest Since Turn of the Century

Okay Baby Boomers: remember when “turn of the century” meant 1900? Black Knight, Jacksonville, Fla., reported as of December, just 3.9 percent of mortgages were delinquent, the lowest year-end total since the turn of the century.  That’s 2000. (Feeling old yet?)

MBA Letter Urges VA to Delay Enforcement of New Cash-Out Refi Interim Rule

The Mortgage Bankers Association, in comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs, identified a “significant operational challenge” with new VA disclosures regarding cash-out refinancings and asked that the VA delay enforcement related to these new requirements.

Waters, Brown Ask FHFA for Details on GSE Reform Plan

Last week, Acting Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Joseph Otting surprised staff, Congress and the real estate finance industry by announcing the White House would submit a plan to end government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac next month, without legislation. On Friday, the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said, essentially, “not so fast.”

Treasury, IRS Issue Final Regs on Section 199A Pass-Through Deductions

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service on Friday issued final regulations providing guidance requested by the Mortgage Bankers Association on the section 199A pass-through deduction included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.