Compliance & Regulation

The ongoing push for more robust loan data will continue in 2015, as market participants across the mortgage lifecycle adopt new regulatory requirements and take advantage of recent developments in paperless processing and self-service capabilities.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Ocwen Financial Corporation's bond rating from B to B- with a negative outlook after the sudden departure of the company's chairman following a settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services.

Aaron Seltzer, an attorney from the eastern shore of Maryland, pled guilty earlier this week to wire fraud connected to a real estate investment scheme.

The government-sponsored enterprises' changes to their representations and warranties regulations could increase lending — and some risks. Here's the downside to the move and how lenders can mitigate related concerns.

Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN) was ordered to face a lawsuit by New York's attorney general accusing the bank of fraud in sales of mortgage-backed securities before the recession.

Federal regulators formally issued a final risk retention rule for mortgage securitizations, a long-awaited and hotly debated measure that is nevertheless expected to have little market impact when it takes effect a year from now.

The CFPB has at least six active investigations into servicers amid concerns that defaulted borrowers will not get foreclosure relief if their loan is bought and transferred to a new servicer.

Appraisers are often the only party involved in a real estate transaction that has no "skin in the game," unlike mortgage originators and real estate agents.

Farmland Partners has expanded its secured note line of credit with Farmer Mac to $150 million, from $75 million.

The number of mortgages outstanding is down considerably from pre-recession levels but is starting to slowly increase. How much further it needs to go depends on certain public policy goals.