As previously reported, based on an unopposed motion submitted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the October 2021 redlining consent order with Trustmark National Bank was terminated early, and the DOJ is seeking early termination of the September 2022 consent order with Lakeland Bank.… Continue Reading
Mortgages
DOJ Seeks Early Termination of Lakeland Bank Redlining Consent Order
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a motion with a federal district court to terminate early the September 2022 consent order with Lakeland Bank (Lakeland) that settled allegations of redlining under the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The motion also seeks the dismissal with prejudice of the case that the DOJ brought that resulted in that consent order.… Continue Reading
Court Denies CFPB/Townstone Bid to Undo Consent Order
As previously reported, in March 2025 the CFPB and Townstone Financial (Townstone) filed a joint motion with a U.S. District Court seeking to reverse the November 2024 consent order between the parties that resolved CFPB allegations of redlining on the part of Townstone in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).… Continue Reading
House Financial Services Committee approves ‘trigger leads’ bill
The House Financial Services Committee has approved a bill that would restrict the use of “trigger leads” in the mortgage industry.
The committee approved H.R. 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act in a 46-0 vote. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate; no action has been taken on the legislation in that body.… Continue Reading
Trigger Leads – Don’t Forget about the States
As Rich Andreano blogged on April 15, 2025, legislation to prohibit or restrict so-called “trigger leads” in the home-buying process has been reintroduced in the House and Senate. The legislation has broad industry and consumer group support.
While we await the outcome of the proposed bills, it is worth noting that a number of states have enacted laws that impose restrictions on the manner in which brokers or lenders are permitted to leverage trigger leads in connection with their mortgage activities. … Continue Reading
Disparate Impact Executive Order and HUD to Reconsider Disparate Impact Rule
President Trump recently signed an Executive Order entitled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy“ to eliminate the use of disparate impact liability. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also has indicated that it intends to yet again reconsider its disparate impact rule under the Fair Housing Act.… Continue Reading
HUD Modifies Exclusive REO Listing Period and Eliminates Exclusive Sales Period
Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-13 to revise the exclusive listing period for certain parties in connection with HUD real estate owned (REO) properties, and eliminate the exclusive sales period for the same parties in connection with the FHA loan claims without conveyance of title (CWCOT) post foreclosure sales process.… Continue Reading
VA Winding Down VASP Program
As previously reported, last year the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program, which VA characterized as a “last-resort tool” for VA home loan borrowers facing severe financial hardships. Pursuant to the program, VA purchases defaulted VA loans, modifies the loans, and then places them in the VA-owned portfolio as direct loans.… Continue Reading
HUD further revises servicing and claims requirements and loss mitigation options
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 February 2, 2026.
HUD recently issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-12 further revising the requirements and options effective October 1, 2025.… Continue Reading
Legislation to prohibit ‘trigger leads’ in mortgage industry reintroduced in House, Senate
Legislation to prohibit so-called “trigger leads” in the homebuying process once again has been reintroduced in the House and Senate.
“Trigger leads” are controversial for both consumers and mortgage industry participants. When a mortgage lender orders a credit report on a consumer, the credit bureau providing the report may then alert various other mortgage lenders who have subscribed to a service of that fact, which is a good indication that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan.… Continue Reading