The Lede

MBA News

MBA Education Tax Reform: The Potential Impact on Residential Lending Webinar Feb. 28
MBA Education presents a new webinar, Tax Reform: The Potential Impact on Residential Lending Webinar, on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. ET.
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Top National News

Freddie Earnings Jump Thanks to Interest Rate Increases
National Mortgage News, Feb. 16, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)Freddie Mac's net income increased to $4.8 billion in the fourth quarter, more than double what it earned a quarter earlier, the government-sponsored enterprise announced Thursday.
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Ocwen Agrees to Big Penalties to Resume Business in California
National Mortgage News, Feb. 17, 2017--Kevin Wack (subscription)Ocwen Financial has reached a deal with California authorities to resolve allegations that the mortgage servicing firm--a frequent target of regulators in recent years--again violated a range of state and federal laws.
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MGIC Relaxes Program Requirements
Mortgage Daily, Feb. 21, 2017MGIC has relaxed some of its underwriting guidelines. Among the changes are higher loan-to-value ratios, increased loan amounts and reduced credit scores.
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Nearly $800 Million in GSE Loans for Sale
Mortgage Daily, Feb. 17, 2017Nearly $800 million in distressed government-sponsored enterprise residential loans have been put on the auction block.
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Trump’s In-Laws May Put Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac in Tough Spot
Bloomberg, Feb. 17, 2017--Joe LightKushner Cos. has apartment buildings from New Jersey to Maryland with more than $500 million in government-backed mortgages financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That could put officials at those agencies in an awkward spot: If Kushner Cos. applies for a new loan, or wants to refinance, would Freddie turn them down? If Kushner Cos. fails to comply with the terms of a loan, will Fannie seek to foreclose on a property owned by the president's in-laws?
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Fannie Mae’s Support of Invitation Homes’ IPO Boosts SFR Market
GoRion, Feb. 17, 2017--Kerry CurryFannie Mae's backing of Invitation Homes' recently completed IPO bodes well for the future of the single-family rental market as the government-sponsored enterprise's decision to securitize a $1 billion loan adds an important layer of credibility.
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Fannie Mae’s Focus Will Not Change with New Administration, CEO Says
National Mortgage News, Feb. 17, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The change of power in the White House will not affect Fannie Mae's focus for 2017 in bringing innovations similar to the Day 1 Certainty program to its customers, CEO Timothy Mayopoulos said in an interview.
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Fannie Mae Reports $5 Billion in 4Q Net Income
National Mortgage News, Feb. 17, 2017--Jacob Passy (subscription)Fannie Mae reported higher net income in the fourth quarter over the previous year.
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CMBS Issuance Down as Multifamily, GSE Lending Up
Mortgage Daily, Feb. 21, 2017Estimates were based on an analysis of CRE lending reports issued by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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U.S. Household Debts Climbed in 2016 by Most in a Decade
Wall Street Journal, Feb. 16, 2017--Josh Zumbrun (subscription)The total amount of debt held by American households climbed in 2016 by the most in a decade, driven by broad and steady increases in credit card debt, auto and student loans, and a fourth-quarter surge to the highest amount of mortgage originations since before the financial crisis.
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Can Ocwen Reinvent Itself?
National Mortgage News, Feb. 14, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Few companies attacked the financial-crisis fueled boom in distressed servicing as aggressively as Ocwen Financial Corp., and not many have survived as abrupt a reversal of fortune as the company has faced.
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‘Rocket Mod:’ The Future of Mortgage Default Servicing?
HousingWire, Feb. 15, 2017--Ben LaneOver the last few years, technological advancements took mortgage originations from the fax machine to the smartphone and from months of waiting to approval in minutes. Could the same thing be coming for mortgage modifications?
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Mortgage Lenders Urged to Simplify Loan Mods
National Mortgage News, Feb. 16, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)Developers of new loan-modification programs need to streamline application processes and stop making borrowers chase down useless documents.
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Court of Appeals Agrees to Rehear CFPB Case, Agency to Fight ‘Unconstitutional’ Ruling
HousingWire, Feb. 16, 2017--Ben LaneIf President Donald Trump wants to fire Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray, he's going to have to wait a little longer to do it, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Thursday in favor of the CFPB. The ruling allows the embattled agency to defend the constitutionality of its leadership structure.
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Fix-and-Flip Mortgage Bonds: Wall Street’s New Housing Bet to Boost Home Flippers
Inman.com, Feb. 15, 2017--Teke WigginNew mortgage-backed securities could benefit communities, but also may raise concerns.
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Ocwen’s Board Chair Makes Diversity Her Mission
National Mortgage News, Feb. 15, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)When Phyllis Caldwell was considering whether to accept a seat on Ocwen's board of directors, one of the items she prioritized was the company's commitment to diversity. "Ensuring that women and minorities are involved in leadership roles brings different background, experiences, and points-of-view to the forefront, ultimately making a more successful enterprise," emphasized Rodrigo Lopez, CMB, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association and executive chairman of NorthMarq Capital.
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CFPB Analyst: We Use Consumer Complaint Database as Insider Guide for Exams
HousingWire, Feb. 15, 2017--Ben LaneSpeaking during the "Preparing for Servicing Exams" session at the Mortgage Bankers Association's National Mortgage Servicing Conference, being held currently in Dallas, CFPB Senior Analyst Ann Thompson said that the CFPB uses the complaint database as a guide for determining whether to pursue an exam against a particular company.
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Mortgage Delinquencies Among Some Homeowners Just Spiked
CNBC, Feb. 15, 2017--Diana OlickMortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens, CMB appeared on CNBC to discuss the MBA 4th Quarter National Delinquency Survey.
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Mortgage Investor Premium Point Discloses SEC Probe
Reuters, Feb. 14, 2017--Lawrence DelevignePremium Point Investments LP is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission over the valuation of structured products and other assets held by its funds, according to a letter sent to clients of the New York-based investment firm.
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AIG Posts $3.04 Billion Loss, Adding to CEO Hancock’s Woes
Bloomberg, Feb. 14, 2017--Sonali Basak; Lisa DuAmerican International Group Inc. posted its fourth loss in six quarters, burned again by higher-than-expected claims costs as Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock struggles to sustain profitability.
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Say Goodbye to the Controversial CFPB Consumer Complaint Database?
HousingWire, Feb. 14, 2017--Brena SwansonThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's consumer complaint database might not make it too much further past the one-millionth-complaint threshold due to a Republican-led effort to repeal the much-criticized database.
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Mortgage Payments Eat Up More Median Household Income
National Mortgage Professional, Feb. 16, 2017--Phil HallWhat is the true cost of homeownership? According a new data analysis from Zillow, today's typical monthly mortgage payment requires more of the average household income than it has anytime in the previous six years.
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