Compliance & Regulation

There were fewer institutions originating mortgages in 2013, while low- and moderate-income borrowers took a smaller share of industry volume, according to the recently released Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.

Mortgage underwriting overlays are not only tighter than they were precrisis, they're more restrictive than they were 15 years ago — a trend that Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro wants to change.

There is a good chance legislation that would provide regulatory relief to small banks and address concerns about which banks are dubbed systemically important could be wrapped in the same Senate bill next year, experts said at National Mortgage News's 4th Annual Regulatory Symposium.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complaint database is an excellent source of information to help lenders make adjustments and refine their operations.

To move quality control earlier into the origination process, lenders should rely on automated data checks

The U.S. Attorney General seeks to lift a cap on whistleblower incentives that encourage a practice increasingly used in mortgage-based claims even as another U.S. official presses for more lending.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau remains committed to working with the financial services industry to improve the mortgage closing experience for consumers through the use of technology, CFPB director Richard Cordray said.

The commitment by the two housing giants marks a win for upstart VantageScore Solutions in its quest to compete against industry leader Fair Isaac Corp. However, the outcome of the review is uncertain, and Fannie warned that the costs of adopting new credit scores might prove to be "substantial" for lenders and others.

The loosening of mortgage credit "hasn't been as significant as some have reported," and first-time buyers remain scarce, complains Stuart Miller of homebuilder Lennar.

All the mistakes and errors in a loan file should be dealt with prior to the mortgage funding.