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As mortgage interest rates rise and fewer prime borrowers are in the market to refinance, lenders are starting to loosen credit standards again, years after the housing crisis sparked a flight to quality. But amid growing compliance requirements and increased regulatory scrutiny, will this time be different?

In the past, third party suppliers to banks and mortgage servicers were to some degree insulated from the effects of regulations. With new guidelines from the CFPB, the OCC and the Fed, there will be a much higher level of scrutiny on banks and in direct consequence, the third party suppliers. In this video, industry expert Mike O'Connel discusses how these guidelines affect you as a vendor and what you can do to stay compliant. For more information, click here.

The OCC and other regulatory agencies have identified the inadequacy of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) as one of the main causes of the credit crunch of 2008. In this video, Nationwide industry expert  Myron Finley answers how ERM is important in the mortgage industry and addresses ways ERM can mitigate loss and lower your exposure to risk. For more information, click here.

The Fix-It Award recognizes technology that provides an effective solution to a specific industry problem, need or channel. Learn about this year's finalists and see who won the 2013 MT Award.

Prospect Mortgage's victory in a court case brought by a loan officer who sued for minimum wage and overtime has been the talk of the industry. Following are comments posted by readers on NationalMortgageNews.com showing the wide range of interpretations of the case.Many loan officers view themselves as independent contractors. Others think W-2 tax classifications by employers are at odds with that view.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's crackdown on mortgage servicers' operations will increase the pressure on lenders to improve their processes, paperwork and communications with borrowers. National Mortgage News journalists discuss how both banks and nonbank servicers can get ahead of the new regulatory scrutiny.

The Green Lender Award acknowledges a lender that uses technology to promote sustainable and environmentally conscious business practices in the mortgage industry. Learn about this year's finalists and see who won the 2013 MT Award.

The Federal Housing Administration's long-awaited decision to start accepting electronic signatures on mortgage documents will cut down on costs and streamline operations for banks and other mortgage lenders. But the industry still faces several hurdles before it can reap the benefits of this technology upgrade.

The Harnessing Mobile Award commends the development and implementation of mobile technology in the mortgage industry. Learn about this year's finalists and see who won the 2013 MT Award.

New rules the industry is contending with continue to be overwhelming and often unclear but there are still areas that some think need reform, recent reader comments suggest. It all adds up to depict a challenging mortgage business environment today that, as one reader puts it, "Ain't for sissies."