The mortgage financing industry will push harder in 2011 for less stringent risk-retention regulations, harmonized mortgage disclosures and certain regulatory relief issues facing industry participants. Rulemakings, mostly implementing provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, must not...

Maryland. Fannie Mae has announced an increase in attorney’s fees for non-judicial foreclosures for properties located in Maryland. For loans referred to an attorney on or after Feb. 1, the maximum allowable attorney’s fees for legal work related to non-judicial foreclosures will...

Federal Housing Administration Anti-Flipping Waiver Extended. The FHA has extended its temporary anti-flipping waiver to hasten the resale of foreclosed homes in neighborhoods with high foreclosure rates. With certain exceptions, current FHA regulation prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. Early last year, the FHA temporarily set...

The Mortgage Bankers Association has filed suit in federal court in Washington, DC, to overturn a controversial rule interpretation on overtime for mortgage loan officers issued by the Department of Labor last year. The lawsuit challenges procedures the DOL followed...

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) handed the mortgage industry something to crow about regarding the validity of mortgage loan assignments in foreclosure cases – which, ironically, may not amount to a hill of beans beyond the Bay State, according to compliance experts. Contrary to claims of consumer victory and negative implications for the mortgage industry, the SJC in U.S. Bank National Association v. Ibanez held...

In a rare show of solidarity, industry and community groups urged federal risk-retention rulemakers not to settle for a narrow definition of “qualified residential mortgage.” A coalition of consumer advocates and real estate industry trade associations warned...

Creditors obliged to provide consumers notice if offered a loan with terms less favorable than those offered to less risky consumers have two alternative methods for determining which consumers must receive notice. These two methods are discussed...

Revisions to Community Reinvestment Act regulations to support stabilization of communities affected by high foreclosure levels take effect soon. Starting Jan. 19, bank and thrift activities aimed at supporting eligible development activities in areas designated...[Includes two data charts]

Federal regulators are divided on whether to add national mortgage servicing standards to forthcoming risk-retention rules, and unless the agencies come to an agreement soon, risk-retention rulemaking could be seriously delayed. Regulators are hoping...

Rhode Island. The state Department of Business Regulation has delayed the implementation of new statutory requirements for mortgage loan originators regarding surety bonds and minimum net worth. Implementing regulations (Banking Regulation 6) would have taken effect on Jan. 18. The department said...