Compliance & Regulation

With appraisers now generating valuation reports in the new data and format standards set by the government-sponsored enterprises, lenders are adopting new procedures and practices ahead of full implementation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's Uniform Mortgage Data Program.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency Monday morning unveiled long awaited changes to a White House refinancing program, waiving the LTV cap and certain origination fees on underwater Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

Before coming to Congress, I worked in the residential real estate industry for 33 years, and now as a policymaker, I welcome every opportunity to work on issues relating to housing finance and sustainable homeownership.

The head of CMG Mortgage has one demand for federal regulators - get busy and give the mortgage industry the new rules and the industry will abide by them.

Calling his first meeting with GSE regulator Edward DeMarco "disappointing," the chairman of a House task force on housing stabilization wants more answers from the regulator - plus he wants to see the agency's national refinancing plan before it's announced publicly.

Thomas Hoenig's retirement from regulatory work was apparently short-lived.

The Senate late Thursday approved an amendment to restore the $729,750 maximum loan limit on government-back mortgages for two more years.

Nine subservicing firms this week received approval to handle loans underlying Bank of America-owned Countrywide RMBS as part of a proposed $8.5 billion settlement.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has enlisted former Minnesota attorney general Hubert Humphrey III to head a special effort to identify and prevent scams targeted at senior citizens.

The New York State Court of Appeals late Wednesday agreed to hear an appeal from Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, which claims its status as a federally chartered credit union should exempt it from the state's recordation transfer tax on all real estate transactions.