Servicing

The Federal Housing Finance Agency banned banks and mortgage servicers from accepting commissions on force-placed insurance policies issued by affiliated companies. At least one mortgage servicer, Ocwen Financial, has found a way around the ban.

After commercial mortgage-backed security delinquencies declined for 15 straight months, this streak came to an end in July.

If consumers can't afford to pay the premium and the policy gets cancelled, servicers can acquire force-placed policies.

Weather-wise, we're having a relatively placid season. But legal and regulatory developments are a different story when it comes to lender-placed insurance.

There was a time years ago when second liens were the toughest legacy home loan asset to find a buyer for in the secondary market.

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management LP sued the U.S. government claiming revised terms of the 2008 bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cheat investors of the profit from the mortgage-financing entities.

Foreclosure rates continued their steady, three-year decline in June, according to a report Thursday from CoreLogic.

PHH is appealing one of the largest judgments ever awarded in a mortgage case. The dispute encapsulates many of the problems that have plagued the servicing industry in recent years.

The ratings agency plans to assess deals based on representations and warranties as well as an analysis of an independent third-party review of data quality and an originator assessment.

Stewart Lender Services in Houston has completed the acquisition of DataQuick Lending Solutions, which adds valuations to Stewart's mortgage service offering.