Senate Republicans have blocked Democrats from rushing to the floor a foreclosure prevention bill that allows bankruptcy judges to restructure subprime and certain nontraditional mortgages. Democrats mustered only 48 of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and start debate on the bill (S. 3221), which also provides revenue bonds for refinancing subprime borrowers and federal grants to purchase foreclosed properties. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the vote a "big victory" for Wall Street, big banks, and mortgage bankers. But as for the millions of people facing foreclosure, "they lost," Sen. Reid said. The American Financial Services Association's top lobbyist, Bill Himpler, said the industry could support the foreclosure prevention bill if the bankruptcy provision is stripped from the package. With all the market turmoil, this is not the time to consider changes to the bankruptcy code that would "essentially undermine investor confidence in mortgage lending," he said. The Democrats will likely push for another vote before March 15, when the Senate takes a two-week break. Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a March 6 mark-up of two competing mortgage bankruptcy bills. The bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., was included in S. 3221. The other bill, sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., allows bankruptcy judges to reduce or freeze the interest rate on adjustable-rate mortgages.
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New guidelines regarding buy-side and sell-side real estate agent compensation are set to go into effect this summer.
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Affordability challenges also have some aspiring homeowners taking second jobs or looking to draw from retirement savings, according to Redfin.
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The lender recorded a $59 million net loss in the fourth quarter, an 83% improvement from its third quarter performance.
March 28 -
Initial analyses of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data show UWM ahead in 2023 loan numbers and dollar volume, but Rocket's market share still looks competitive.
March 28 -
Last year, the Raleigh, N.C.-based Integrated called off a deal to sell itself to MVB Financial after bank stocks took a hit in the aftermath of the regional bank failures. Capital hopes to expand its government-guaranteed lending with the transaction.
March 28 -
The pending end of the program comes as over half of U.S. states have already ceased accepting new applicants for federal aid aimed to help struggling households with mortgage payments.
March 28