The Homebuyers Assistance Act of 2021 amends the National Housing Act to allow state-licensed professionals to conduct appraisals for FHA-insured properties.

Also, first-quarter results from Invitation Homes and Americans Homes 4 Rent — the two corporate SFR giants — show an increase in business.

The so-called rent-a-bank scheme allowed nonbanks to get around state caps on interest rates, according to Democratic lawmakers.

Two separate bills aim to improve the mortgage process for borrowers who have a limited proficiency of English and to combat discrimination in the consumer marketplace.

Loan officers’ wallets continued to get fatter in the first quarter, thanks to mortgage origination volumes hitting new records. However, industry bean-counters expect that to change once rates start to increase.

Sterling Bancorp recently reached a $12.5 million settlement for allegedly violating the Securities Act. The company is now ready to turn the page on its non-agency past.

Gate House Strategies, which features former FHA Commissioner Brian Montgomery as one of its founding members, will focus on FHA/Ginnie Mae/HUD and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac policy issues. The Collingwood Group V2?

Private mortgage insurers are noticing that an increasing number of COVID-impacted borrowers are curing delinquencies. Also, fewer new defaults are emerging.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act and the Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act are both aimed at making homeownership more affordable for borrowers.