Benefits that distressed homeowners receive from credit counseling translate into mortgage servicers saving millions of dollars, according to The Stratmor Group. Counseling enables borrowers to remain in their homes and avoid foreclosure, short sales or deed‐in‐lieu transfers of their property to the lender, allowing servicers to avoid substantial losses on the loans, the mortgage banking … Continue reading Mortgage servicers, investors save millions from credit counseling
Month: December 2011
Foreclosure Free Ride – Years of No Payment
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Delinquent borrowers facing foreclosure are learning that they can stay in their homes for years, as long as they're willing to put up a fight. Among the tactics: Challenging the bank's actions, waiting to file paperwork right up until the deadline, requesting the lender dig up original paperwork or, in some … Continue reading Foreclosure Free Ride – Years of No Payment
1.17 Million Short Sales Initiated through Equator
Equator saw 1.17 million short sales initiated Default servicing technology company Equator says nearly 1.2 million short sales were initiated through its module over the past two years. The company tracks this data through its default servicing platform, which helps mortgage industry clients deal with loan modifications, short sales, deeds-in-lieu, foreclosure processing and REOs. Los … Continue reading 1.17 Million Short Sales Initiated through Equator
Fannie Mae Removes ‘Ability to Repay’ from HARP 2.0 Guidelines
Fannie Mae has updated its Selling Guide to reflect the recently announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). Most of the revisions had been previously announced in November, but there’s one nuance that stands out, and until this week, had been absent the HARP 2.0 discussion. Fannie Mae has removed the “reasonable ability … Continue reading Fannie Mae Removes ‘Ability to Repay’ from HARP 2.0 Guidelines
38% of 2011 Homes Purchased were bought with Cash
Study Finds 38% of Homes Purchased in 2011 Bought with Cash Despite record low mortgage rates, 2011 has seen a surprisingly high level of cash home purchases, according to the real estate research firm Hanley Wood Market Intelligence. Jonathan Dienhart and Ken Lee, two analysts with the company, say between tight lending standards and a … Continue reading 38% of 2011 Homes Purchased were bought with Cash
Lawmaker Presses for Criminal Investigation of GSEs
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) says the civil lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week against six former executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac “does not go nearly far enough to achieve justice and accountability for the American people.” Brown is pressing the Department of Justice and the SEC to immediately … Continue reading Lawmaker Presses for Criminal Investigation of GSEs
Smaller Mortgage Originators In Demand
Smaller mortgage originators see surge in demand Despite a 2.6% drop in mortgage applications last week, some small mortgage firms say business is booming as homeowners race to nab low interest rates before year end. Leif Thomsen, CEO of Mortgage Master in Walpole, Mass., said about 80% of his firm's business is refinancing. However, he … Continue reading Smaller Mortgage Originators In Demand
Flipping Rules for FHA thru 2012
FHA Extends Waiver of Anti-Flipping Regulations Through 2012: In an effort to continue stabilizing home values and improve conditions in communities experiencing high foreclosure activity, Acting Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Carol J. Galante will extend FHA’s temporary waiver of the anti-flipping regulations. With certain exceptions, FHA regulations prohibit insuring a mortgage on a home … Continue reading Flipping Rules for FHA thru 2012
BofA Settles Lending Case: Bank’s Record $335 Million Payout Tied to Countrywide’s Alleged Minority Bias
Bank of America Corp. will pay $335 million to settle allegations that its Countrywide Financial Corp. unit discriminated against black and Hispanic borrowers, in the largest residential fair-lending settlement in history. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, involves more than 210,000 minority borrowers who were charged higher fees or who could have qualified for a prime … Continue reading BofA Settles Lending Case: Bank’s Record $335 Million Payout Tied to Countrywide’s Alleged Minority Bias
Settlement announced over Countrywide loans
WASHINGTON—Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and federal officials today announced a $335 million national settlement with Bank of America stemming from former mortgage giant Countrywide allegedly steering minority borrowers into subprime loans and charging them higher interest rates and fees on mortgages. Approximately 15,000 African-American and Latino mortgage-holders in Illinois who took out loans from … Continue reading Settlement announced over Countrywide loans
The Law Office of Beth Mann, P.C. 