As previously reported, recently a US District Court granted a preliminary injunction preventing the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from implementing new requirements for government-provided down payment assistance in connection with FHA insured loans. The requirements were announced in Mortgagee Letter 2019-06 and originally were scheduled to go into effect for case numbers assigned on or after April 18, 2019.… Continue Reading

As previously reported, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued Mortgagee Letter 2019-06 in April of 2019 to impose new documentation requirements for down payment assistance provided by government entities to be used in connection with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured loans. CBC Mortgage Agency, which is an instrumentality of the Cedar Band of Paiutes Indian American tribe and operates the Chenoa Fund down payment assistance program, challenged HUD’s action the in the U.S.… Continue Reading

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Growth Act) enacted last year includes a provision to protect veterans from loan churning by providing, among other requirements, that a loan to a veteran that refinances an existing loan is not eligible for guaranty by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) until the date that is the later of (1) the date that is 210 days after the date that the first monthly payment is made on the existing loan and (2) the date on which the sixth monthly payment is made on the existing loan.… Continue Reading

For some time the mortgage industry, without success, has asked the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide a clear answer to the question of whether Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients are eligible for FHA loans.  HUD finally provided a clear answer in responding to an inquiry from Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA): “DACA recipients remain ineligible for FHA loans.”… Continue Reading

As previously reported, in May 2019 the CFPB issued both a proposed rule to modify the existing Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) rule and an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on additional potential changes to the rule. The drafts of the items indicate a 30 day comment period for the proposed rule and 60 day comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking.… Continue Reading

On June 3, 2019 the United States House of Representatives approved H.R. 2157, which provides for aid to address the consequences of various natural disasters and also includes an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until September 30, 2019. The Senate previously approved the bill. According to news reports, President Trump will sign the bill into law.… Continue Reading

The CFPB recently updated the TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule FAQs to address construction loans. The guidance falls well short of what the industry is seeking from the CFPB.

Because of the lack of guidance from the CFPB on how to disclose construction loans under the TRID rule, the industry asked Congress to intervene.… Continue Reading

Congress has once again temporarily extended the National Flood Insurance Program. As previously reported, at the end of 2018 Congress temporarily extended the Program until May 31, 2019. The recent legislation (S.1693) extends the Program to June 14, 2019. The temporary extension provides time for the House of Representatives to vote on H.R.… Continue Reading

Continuing our coverage of the CFPB’s proposed debt collection rules, this blog post will focus on a few provisions that pertain specifically to mortgage servicers.

In part, the proposal continues the CFPB’s efforts to harmonize mortgage servicing regulation (which generally promotes communication with consumers) and debt collection regulation (which generally restricts communication with consumers). … Continue Reading