Synergy One acquiring national lender Mann Mortgage
Kalispell, Montana-based Mann Mortgage, which operated branches in states throughout the West and Southeast, had previously tangled with regulators in Idaho and Washington
by Matt Carter Oct 1
OceanFirst Bank settles DOJ redlining allegations for $15M
Since launching an initiative to combat redlining in 2021, prosecutors at the Department of Justice have reached settlements with 13 mortgage lenders totaling more than $137M
by Matt Carter Sep 18
UWM and Rate join the $802K conforming loan limit party
With prices rising, it's becoming standard operating procedure for big lenders like Rocket to help homebuyers avoid jumbo loan pricing by getting a jump on FHFA's official announcement
by Matt Carter Sep 18
Trump allies formulating plans to privatize Fannie and Freddie
A new 'Wall Street Journal' report reveals that talks about privatization have been taking place since the spring and have included Trump confidants Larry Kudlow and John McEntee
by Jim Dalrymple II Sep 13
Mortgage industry vet Diana Reid is first woman to lead Freddie Mac
With former JP Morgan Chase Director Priscilla Almodovar serving as Fannie Mae's CEO since 2022, both mortgage giants are now led by women for the first time in history
by Matt Carter Sep 10
City National revamps mortgage after redlining settlement
Royal Bank of Canada subsidiary now offering grants of up to $50K in minority census tracts in the metro LA market as part of larger initiative to boost lending in underserved communities
by Matt Carter Sep 5
NAR to fight DOJ investigation all the way to the Supreme Court
The case dates back to a 2020 settlement between NAR and the DOJ, and to the DOJ's 2021 attempt to withdraw from that settlement — something NAR is trying to block
by Jim Dalrymple II Aug 30
Mortgage brokers warned of warehouse lending scammers
Victims have been cheated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars overnight, with imposters also gaining access to borrowers' sensitive personal information, California regulators say
by Matt Carter Aug 28
Fannie, Freddie mulling tighter rules for multifamily lenders
Concerns about fraud mean lenders who want to sell multifamily loans to the mortgage giants may be required to do more due diligence on borrowers and their properties
by Matt Carter Aug 5
Private mortgage insurers again losing market share to FHA, VA
FHA premium cuts spur growth, but borrowers with stellar credit can still do better taking out conventional Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-eligible mortgages with private mortgage insurance
by Matt Carter Jul 30
Mortgage lenders gearing up to use more inclusive credit scoring
Release of historical credit scores on tens of millions of loans will help lenders prepare for transition to VantageScore 4.0 next year. Release of FICO Score 10 T data next on deck
by Matt Carter Jul 29
Debate over title insurance alternatives is heating up again
Republican attorneys general in 14 states urge Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's federal regulator to kill a pilot program that allows some borrowers to refi without obtaining title insurance
by Matt Carter Jul 25
Regulators modernizing giant database of mortgage pros
Launched during the 2008 financial crisis to weed out bad actors, the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System will be updated this weekend as part of a multi-year modernization project
by Matt Carter Jul 18
HUD: Appraisal that erased $220K in home value was discriminatory
Appraisal management company Solidifi and lending giant Rocket Mortgage are also charged with violating the Fair Housing Act in 2021 refinancing request. Rocket says it expects to prevail
by Matt Carter Jul 16
'Historic' agreement aims to break racial barriers in appraisal industry
The Appraisal Foundation will establish $1.22M scholarship fund to help aspiring appraisers get training and fulfill experience requirements said to have contributed to lack of diversity
by Matt Carter Jul 12
Feds want to expand their control over real estate sales to foreigners
A proposal would expand an existing rule and give the 'Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' power to review real estate sales near 56 military installations in 30 states
by Jim Dalrymple II Jul 9