CFPB considers ban on charging buyers for lender’s title policy

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering a ban on mortgage banks charging homebuyers for the lender’s title insurance policy, according to a report by Bloomberg.Lender’s title policies protect lenders from issues that may arise with the title of the property, but they are paid by the
Read MoreHeartland MLS joins forces with Down Payment Resource

Kansas City-based Heartland Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has announced a strategic integration with Down Payment Resource (DPR) to enhance accessibility to homeownership for residents across the Greater Kansas City area.DPR, known in the housing industry for its database and homebuyer assistance p
Read MoreWSFS president talks motivation for reverse mortgage survey, potential future action

Last month, Northeast regional lender WSFS Mortgage released the results of a survey that measured reverse mortgage product sentiments. It found that more people seem to be aware of the potential value that a reverse mortgage could provide for older homeowners, including as a tool to age in place an
Read MoreKeller Williams named to yet another profit-sharing lawsuit

Keller Williams was named to an eighth class-action lawsuit that takes issue with alterations made to the brokerage’s profit-sharing program. In the past few weeks, seven agents formerly affiliated with Keller Williams — Jerri Moulder, David Bueker, Robert Hill, Kevin Ortiz, Edward Fordyce, Paul Dav
Read MoreFannie Mae: Prohibited/subjective language in appraisal reports has declined

Fannie Mae this month issued a recent progress report on its ongoing effort to scan appraisal reports for “prohibited or subjective language,” updating stakeholders on a process that began in 2021 to rid appraisal reports and valuation decisions of verbiage that could be construed as contributing to
Read MoreGen X is already looking for housing appropriate for aging in place

Baby boomers are exhibiting an overwhelming desire to age in place in their own homes, but their children — largely members of Generation X — are also making their desires felt by seeking out homes that can accommodate their needs as they get older, according to a recent report from the New York Tim
Read MoreMortgage rates change little ahead of big inflation report

Mortgage rates remained unchanged last week despite the release of the stronger-than-expected jobs report. HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center showed the average 30-year fixed rate for conventional loans at 7.16% on Tuesday, unchanged from one week earlier. At the same time one year ago, the 30-year
Read MoreRocket launches patented AI-driven tech platform

Rocket Mortgage’s bet on artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in a patented platform called Rocket Logic, which can automatically process nearly 90% of data points extracted from documents in a month and reduce by 25% the number of times a professional interacts with a mortgage loan year over y
Read MoreOpinion: Agencies are key to fixing housing affordability

It’s an election year, and housing affordability appears to be a big concern for voters. So, it’s not surprising to see the administration and members of Congress announcing big-ticket legislative initiatives to boost homeownership — like a first-time homebuyer tax credit and the Neighborhood Invest
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In a message to mortgage brokers, United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) defended itself from the Hunterbrook Media report that claims the lender orchestrated a scheme to steer loans. The wholesale lender said it’s offering legal support to partners in case they are sued and once again accused Rocket Mortg
Read More FHFA appoints artificial intelligence czar

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced this week that it has appointed Tracy Stephan to serve as its chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO), adding the position to her existing duties leading the agency’s Office of Financial Technology.Stephan is described as a 25-year veteran in
Read MoreInsurance companies rely on aerial images to ditch risky properties

Insurance companies are leveraging aerial images of homes to drop properties deemed too risky, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Consumer advocates are concerned that customers are not always able to challenge images that could be out of date or inaccurate. The increased use of aeria
Read MoreReverse mortgage volume, HMBS issuance see improvement in March

After a few months of downward data in its performance metrics, the reverse mortgage industry saw a slightly different story play out in March that should come as welcome news.Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements increased 8.3% to 2,058 loans in March, an increase helped by new case n
Read MoreWhat will happen to home prices with more inventory?

With the Easter holiday last week, data for housing inventory, new listings and the pace of new contracts started all took a breather from their growth pace. Each of those notched down from a week ago and compared to a year ago. This is a holiday effect and it should all be reversed back onto the ye
Read MoreMBA advocates for remote reverse mortgage counseling in Mass.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s policy advocacy group, the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), is urging its members in the state of Massachusetts to support the continued use of remote telephone and video counseling for reverse mortgages in the state following the lapse of an exemption allowin
Read MoreCFPB report focuses on ‘discount points,’ but paints an incomplete picture

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Friday issued a report indicating that it is taking a closer look at the impact of “discount points” on mortgage transactions, noting that use of the practice has picked up over the past two years with undetermined value for mortgage borrowers.“The
Read MoreThe Real Brokerage settles Umpa commission lawsuit for $9.25M

Fast-growing, publicly traded The Real Brokerage announced Monday that it had reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in the Umpa commission lawsuit. The Umpa suit is the only commission lawsuit in which Real has been named as a defendant. The brokerage will pay $9.25 million into a quali
Read MoreDOJ will intervene in NAR’s commission lawsuit settlement: KBW analysts

Analysts at investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods believe that the Department of Justice will intervene in Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit after receiving the green light to reopen its investigation into the National Association of Realtors.In a note published on Sunday, the analysts wrote that
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The National Association of Realtors (NAR) unveiled a new partnership with SoFi on Monday. As part of the agreement, NAR members and their clients will be eligible to receive exclusive rates and discounts on mortgages, student loan refinancing, and personal loans, among other perks.“This partnershi
Read More Premise of the Hunterbrook Media thesis on UWM is ‘misplaced:’ BTIG analysts

United Wholesale Mortgage’s (UWM) revenue margins “don’t stand out like” one would expect if the company was overcharging borrowers, analysts at BTIG said on Monday. The comments follow a Hunterbrook Media report from last week stating that UWM pressures brokers to send loans its way, resulting in h
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