Members of the Hope Now alliance have agreed to do a mass mailing to reach 200,000 troubled borrowers and develop methods for quickly determining whether a loan modification or refinancing would prevent foreclosure, according to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson."Members of the alliance told me they are developing methods, criteria, and metrics that any industry participant can use to systematically evaluate a borrower's ability to pay a resetting adjustable mortgage," Secretary Paulson said. This approach will allow servicers to fast-track borrowers who are current on their ARM into a loan modification or refinancing and provide others with different options. Treasury Under Secretary Robert Steel, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, Sandor Samuels, executive managing director of Countrywide Financial Corp., and others will be testifying at a House Financial Services Committee hearing Nov. 2 on the Hope Now efforts to prevent foreclosures and encourage loan modifications.
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A federal judge in Texas dismissed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's medical debt rule and prohibited states from passing their own laws prohibiting medical debt on credit reports.
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Dr. Mark Calabria takes on the additional role of chief statistician of the United States; retired Ally Bank executive Diane Morais has joined First Citizens Bancshares' board of directors; MainStreet Bank has promoted Alex Vari to chief financial officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.
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While refinances are behind the latest increases, the pace of purchase activity may be a stronger indicator of where the housing market sits.
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The share of economists expecting a September rate reduction grew in the July Wolters Kluwer survey, but the October or later percentage also increased.
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Rising home prices and softening sales offer a mixed view of a market that some say is shifting to favor buyers.
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The notes are backed by home improvement installment loans originated by approved dealers in Foundation Finance Company's network.
11h ago