Fair Lending Shake-Ups: CFPB Vacates Townstone Settlement, FHFA Ends GSEs' Special Purpose Credit Programs — The Consumer Finance Podcast
The Latest on Junk Fees and New York's Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act — The Consumer Finance Podcast
The Latest on HUD's Disparate Impact Rule - The Consumer Finance Podcast
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Law Brief®: Robert Wolf, Alexander Tiktin and Richard Schoenstein Discuss the Continuing Foreclosure/Eviction Moratorium
Credit Eco to Go Podcast - Not a Normal Mortgage Crisis: How the Mortgage Industry Weathered the Pandemic
Not a Normal Mortgage Crisis: How the Mortgage Industry Weathered the Pandemic
On June 3, HUD published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2025-14, “Updates to Modernization of Engagement with Borrowers in Default and Loss Mitigation,” which revised requirements for mortgagee interviews with FHA borrowers in default...more
The House Financial Services Committee has approved a bill that would restrict the use of “trigger leads” in the mortgage industry. ...more
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed legislation that will impact the banking and financial services industries in the state. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. The Georgia General Assembly adjourned the 2025 legislative...more
Litigants in data breach class actions often fight over whether a data breach investigation report prepared in response to the breach is protected by the work-product doctrine. Common areas of dispute include whether the...more
Our Financial Services Group reviews the Maryland Secondary Market Stability Act, which overrides the Office of Financial Regulation’s requirement that passive trusts holding Maryland loans in residential mortgage-backed...more
In a highly anticipated and welcome development, on April 22, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed into law the Maryland Secondary Market Stability Act of 2025 (emergency measures HB 1516 and its companion SB 1026) with...more
In January 2025 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-06 revising servicing and claims requirements and loss mitigation options for FHA insured mortgage loans effective...more
Eight years ago, on March 1, 2017, the New York Department of Financial Services enacted its landmark cybersecurity regulation covering financial services companies, 23 NYCRR Part 500, known as “Part 500.” Part 500 was the...more
In the previous 3 articles of this 4-part series I identified and explained three types of fatal flaws in the 2023 CRA rule: 1. The unreliable and sometimes misleading performance ratings based on unrealistic assessment...more
The CFPB has announced that Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Modified Loan Application Register (LAR) data for 2024 are now available on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (FFIEC) HMDA Platform for...more
The latest edition of the Consumer Finance State Roundup highlights recently enacted measures of potential interest from two states: California: Effective January 1, California Assembly Bill 3108 addresses mortgage fraud. ...more
AT A GLANCE - In response to market concerns regarding licensing guidance for assignees of certain residential mortgage loans and installment loans released by the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation in January, that...more
On January 10, 2025, the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) issued guidance significantly expanding licensing requirements for assignees of residential mortgage loans in Maryland. The guidance stems from an April...more
On January 10, 2025, the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation issued emergency regulations revised to clarify that “passive trusts” holding residential mortgage loans must obtain a Mortgage Lender License and if the trusts...more
On January 10, 2025, the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) issued formal guidance asserting that assignees of residential mortgage loans—including certain “passive trusts” that acquire or obtain assignments of...more
Previously, I have written about regulatory enforcement of anti-redlining regulations. I pointed out the problems and potentially misleading statistical conclusions caused by the application of what is called a “REMA” or...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) recently released its semi-annual regulatory agenda, outlining its planned rulemaking initiatives. The CFPB releases regulatory agendas twice a year in voluntary...more
The complexity of loss mitigation programs designed to assist distressed mortgage borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been too daunting for many borrowers to seek help, the CFPB said, in a report released last...more
The CFPB recently issued its long-awaited proposed rule amending the mortgage servicing rules under Regulation X, with a focus on streamlining and expanding the loss mitigation procedures and foreclosure protections. The...more
Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) approved lenders and mortgagees will no longer be required to register their branch offices. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) published a final rule (the “Final...more
The following newsletter provides a roundup summarizing enforcement actions, guidance, rulemakings, and other public statements taken by a federal and/or state financial services regulatory agency, specifically focusing on:...more
The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions is amending the rules that implement the state’s Residential Mortgage Lending Act. The Division is seeking preliminary feedback on the administrative rules,...more
On March 21, Arkansas enacted HB 1439 to clarify the sponsorship process and amend licensing requirements under the state’s Fair Mortgage Lending Act. The amendments modify the definition of a “transitional loan officer...more
In the wake of the tragic condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida, Fannie Mae issued new temporary eligibility guidelines for loans insured by Fannie Mae for condominium units or co-op apartments which are...more
On the first day of renewals the NMLS brought to me, system issues and lock outs. Yes, the 2021 Renewal season brought no holiday joy to either regulator or industry users. The first twelve days did present challenges with...more