Loan Think

Real Estate Settlement Procedure Act violations cited in a recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau action suggest the technical compliance required rises in line with the aggressiveness of past or present marketing.

One of the most difficult conversions for lenders to accomplish is turning a past customer into a future customer.

It could take quarters or years. It may require fatter yields to entice investors, or move-up homebuyers in need of jumbo loans. This much is agreed upon: Nobody really knows.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last week quietly issued over $70 million in fines to entities which have been through private settlements without specifying why. Here are some likely causes.

Mortgage lenders may have managed to learn about hashtags and followers, but streaming audio and podcasts are still pretty mysterious to them.

Prior to 2006, the industry primarily relied on enforcing lender representations and warranties. Recent widespread litigation has shown the immense costs of relying on cures. Prevention is a better solution.

Mortgage originators do not meet two of the eight required tests to qualify for tax purposes as statutory employees.

White papers don’t always get much respect in our industry, probably because so many are just veiled brochures, pitching products and services.

A mortgage originator gives his take on whether the gift card giveaway violates RESPA's anti-kickback provision.

Last month, BMO Harris Bank changed policies on auto lending to pay a flat percentage of the loan amount to auto dealers making loans (sound familiar?).