The Federal Trade Commission has launched a preliminary investigation into the residential servicing practices of Bear Stearns' servicing affiliate to see whether the company is violating consumer protection laws.The investment banker disclosed that it has received a civil investigative demand from the FTC "seeking documents and data relating to EMC Mortgage Corp.'s business and servicing practices." Based in Irving, Texas, EMC Mortgage services $51.8 billion in first and second mortgage loans, according to the Quarterly Data Report, a MortgageWire affiliate. The company is known in the industry as a "scratch-and-dent" servicer, specializing in troubled mortgages. The FTC confirmed the investigation, and Bear Stearns said EMC Mortgage is cooperating with the government. Bear disclosed the inquiry in a mortgage securitization filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Lenders may not be able to fully respond to the broader government-sponsored enterprises' rollout of VantageScore 4.0 yet but there is one thing they can do now.
3h ago -
Sellers are easing demands as rates hit 15-month highs, giving buyers leverage. Originators: target sideline buyers before next week's Fed hike lifts rates further.
4h ago -
The decrease in jumbo availability accounted for much of the drop in the latest mortgage credit index, as conforming and government offerings were unchanged.
9h ago -
The consumer price index rose 0.4% last month, in line with July's reading. For a monetary policy committee that has been split on inflation, the inconclusive report will compel the Fed to make a call on whether to raise interest rates or stay put.
10h ago -
Abacus Federal Savings Bank in Chinatown scrambled to reopen in the days following the World Trade Center attacks. The exercise resulted in the bank's first disaster-recovery plan.
September 11 -
The current transaction has the largest collateral pool that the platform has issued all year, with 294 loans, and it has the highest percentage of conforming loans, at 45.1%.
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