The Lede

The Mortgage Bankers Association, in a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, expressed concerns with the Bureau's proposed amendments to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, saying that many MBA member companies have not had sufficient time to prepare for the numerous changes required.

PHOENIX--The commercial real estate industry has been slower to adopt some cutting-edge technologies such as e-signatures and online bill-paying than the residential sector, but it is making progress, executives said at the recent MBA Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference.

First American Financial Corp., Irvine, Calif., said its monthly Loan Application Defect Index rose in April, the fifth consecutive monthly increase.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency released its third report on sales of non-performing loans by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, noting they sold 72,502 NPLs with an unpaid principal balance of $14.2 billion in 2016.

PHOENIX--The commercial real estate industry has been slower to adopt some cutting-edge technologies such as e-signatures and online bill-paying than the residential sector, but it is making progress, executives said at the recent MBA Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference.

PHOENIX--The commercial real estate industry has been slower to adopt some cutting-edge technologies such as e-signatures and online bill-paying than the residential sector, but it is making progress, executives said at the recent MBA Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference.

New York Times, June 2, 2017--Vivian MarinoAn increasing number of older Americans prefer to have a mortgage. Some lenders can be more flexible than others. "I encourage people to shop at least three lenders," said David H. Stevens, the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association, "and then likewise, ask real estate agents or financial planners, who are good resources for helping a retiree."

Mortgage Daily, June 5, 2017S&P Global said volume of residential loan securitizations has more than doubled the level activity at the same point last year.

Mortgage Daily, June 5, 2017The American Bankruptcy Institute said businesses and consumers collectively filed 69,668 new cases in the nation's bankruptcy courts in May.

HousingWire, June 5, 2017--Brena SwansonThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and PHH entered their next court room battle, and possibly their last, to finally answer at least two major issues plaguing the industry.

Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2017--Andrew KhouriConsumer groups, regulators and lawmakers are increasingly raising concerns about Property Assessed Clean Energy loan programs, which are authorized by governments but largely administered and funded by private lenders.

Mortgage Daily, June 2, 2017Performance on securitized commercial real estate loans was worse in any month since 2015, said Morningstar Credit Ratings LLC.

HousingWire, June 2. 2017--Ben LaneAccording to the S&P report, 2017's total RMBS-related issuance, which S&P defines as prime, re-performing/nonperforming, rental bonds, servicer advances, and risk-sharing deals, sat at $27 billion at the end of May.

Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2017--Andrew Scurria (subscription)Officials representing 244 mortgage-backed securities trusts have largely accepted a settlement offer Thursday that puts a floor of $2.4 billion, subject to a judge's approval, on claims against the Lehman bankruptcy estate.

Washington Post Writers Group, June 4, 2017--Kenneth R. HarneyAccording to a new study of 30 million credit files by score developer FICO, many Americans will experience bumps in the coming months, mainly modest increases of less than 20 points. But hundreds of thousands of the increases will be super-sized--in the range of 40 to 60 points and higher.

National Mortgage News, June 2, 2017--John Heltman (subscription)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is in the direct crosshairs of a federal lawsuit questioning the bureau's leadership structure. But in a larger context, it might be the independence of all federal agencies on trial.

Washington Times, June 4, 2017--David SherfinskiCongressional Republicans say they will preserve popular tax breaks for charitable giving and mortgage interest, but advocacy groups say even if they aren't directly targeted, nonprofits and the housing industry are likely to take hits. Some analysts are anticipating as much as a 10 percent drop in home prices if Republicans go ahead with its tax plans, which would flatten out the system.

National Mortgage Professional, June 2, 2017--Phil HallDelinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans were saw mostly unchanged or down slightly during the first quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report.

Mortgage Daily, May 30, 2017This summer, Fannie Mae is updating its automated underwriting system with more relaxed requirements for ratios, credit and adjustable rates.

Reuters, June 1, 2017The Federal Reserve bought $4.1 billion of agency mortgage-backed securities in the week from May. 25 to May. 31, compared with $5.2 billion purchased the previous week, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said on Thursday.

Mortgage Daily, June 1, 2017Monthly securitizations of single-family loans backed by the agencies moved up from a month earlier but retreated compared to a year earlier.

Mortgage Daily, June 1, 2017"This proposal is clearly self-serving and designed to confuse unsuspecting, innocent taxpayers into supporting a plan that is intended to line the pockets of hedge funds who invested in Fannie and Freddie," MBA President and Chief Executive Officer David Stevens said.

Bloomberg Markets, June 1, 2017--Light, Joe; Basak, Sonali Paulson & Co. and Blackstone Group LP are among investors backing a proposal that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac be recapitalized and released from U.S. control without legislation. MBA President David Stevens said his group doesn't believe Moelis's proposal would sufficiently reform the market.

HousingWire, May 31, 2017--Brena SwansonA lack of bipartisan support derailed any chance of reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for years, but the Bipartisan Policy Center is set on correcting this as talks for reform start to resurface.

Bloomberg, May 30, 2017--Matt ScullyDeutsche Bank AG chief John Cryan urged regulators in Europe to reject the same kind of heavy-handed rules for banks' mortgage holdings that have been adopted by their American counterparts.

HousingWire, May 30, 2017--Kelsey RamirezOver the next five years, about 6 million Americans will have their bankruptcies disappear, possibly sending a flood of more homebuyers into the housing market.

Forbes, May 30, 2017--Trefis TeamThe total mortgage servicing portfolio at the the five largest U.S. banks continues to shrink at a rapid pace, as these banks now service under $3.4 trillion in outstanding U.S. mortgages - down from a figure of almost $3.7 trillion at the end of Q1 2017.

Mortgage Daily, May 30, 2017In the midst of its own regulatory war, Ocwen Financial Corp. is accusing Fidelity Information Services LLC of fraudulent over billing for work required under a settlement with California.

Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2017--James Rufus KorenMortgage discrimination lawsuits filed by Los Angeles against Bank of America and Wells Fargo & Co. have hit a roadblock, with a federal appeals court saying the cases spurred by last decade's housing bust lack merit.