July 21, 2017
Friday’s Government Reports Roundup
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) battled with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency over the public release of the CFPB’s new arbitration rule. Companies can no longer mandate arbitration clauses. As a result, consumers will be able to file class action lawsuits. This new rule mostly impacts credit card companies and banks.
- The National Mortgage Servicing Association (NMSA) wants to revamp how municipalities treat vacant and abandoned properties. The goal is to lessen the burden of servicing such properties. Another goal of the NMSA is to help reduce the number of occurrences of “vandalism, squatting, and violent crimes.”
July 21, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 20, 2017
Thursday’s Advocacy & Think Tank Roundup
- Three California residents attempted to defraud borrowers in a mortgage modification scheme. The trio garnished at least 11 million dollars from homeowners across the nation. The author of the scheme used some of the funds to produce a reality t.v. show and live lavishly. Together, all three participants will serve a combined 39 years in prison.
- The pool of homes for potential homeowners is expanding. For months, reports mentioned the lack of homes available to potential buyers. As a result, investors are building new homes to correct the existing homes and newly constructed homes imbalance. The Midwest and Northeast will see this growth the most.
- California is in a housing crisis. Many are living below the poverty line and cannot afford California’s expensive rent. State and local legislators are grappling with solutions to resolve the issue. Some California residents resorted to living in vans while others whom make more than $180,000 a year commute over 150 miles per day to travel to work.
July 20, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 19, 2017
Wednesday’s Academic Roundup
- The Collapse of Unlisted Mortgage Companies: A Regulatory Dilemma, Keneley, Jain, and Wines
- An Explorative Study on Mandatory CSR Spending with Reference to Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013, Champramary, Shanmugam, and Veerarghavan
- Dynamics of Prices on Residential Real Estate, Malginov, G. Sternik, and S. Sternik
- Real Estate Price Dynamics and the Value of Flexibility, Geltner and Neufville
July 19, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 18, 2017
Tuesday’s Regulatory & Legislative Roundup
- The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), allocated two billion dollars to aid in the country’s homelessness. Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program funds this program for many displaced families and individuals. The goal with the program is to ensure permanent housing for all.
- The House Appropriations Committee passed the “fiscal year 2018 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill.” The amended bill overrides a portion of the Second Circuit decision Madden v. Midland Funding. Further, the bill reforms the role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau such as removing the agency’s UDAAP authority.
July 18, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 17, 2017
Monday’s Adjudication Roundup
- A Florida Court ruled that a resolution enacted by Palm Beach Gardens’ is unconstitutional. The Court determined the city’s resolution impeded on the Sears Roebuck and Co.’s right to contract. The Court also sanctioned opposing counsel.
- A judge in Illinois allegedly attempted to defraud lenders in the Chicago area. Judge O’Brien and an alleged co-conspirator attempted to submit “falsified mortgage, refinanced, and commercial loan applications to lenders.” Judge O’Brien is seeking a stay until the alleged co-conspirator is available in court to respond to her counsel’s subpoena.
- A lawyer representing a Florida country club asked the Court to sanction opposing counsel for allegedly filing a frivolous suit. Counsel for the club believes the claims filed by the class are without legal merit. Further, the country clubs attorneys’ seek a bond from opposing counsel to show an act of good faith in filing the suit. Here, the class claims the county club’s practices caused the value of their homes to decrease and seek damages for such.
July 17, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 14, 2017
Friday’s Government Reports Roundup
- Each year the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards a HUD Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. This award recognizes home programs in the nation that made “indoor environments healthier through the healthy homes program.” Healthy home programs in Colorado, Vermont, Alaska, and New Jersey were all awarded. Some of the Healthy home programs target indoor issues such as bed bugs and clean air.
- America could be in trouble. Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, explained to Congress, the recent U.S. Treasury report breeds trouble. According to Yellen, based on two key actions laid out in the Treasury report will send America into another recession. If the nation continues with its current financial practices, she predicts the nation will be in good shape.
July 14, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
July 13, 2017
Thursday’s Advocacy & Think Tank Roundup
- Fannie Mae helped current homeowners by lowering their interest rates for its standard mortgage modifications. Instead of the 4.125% rate used earlier by Fannie Mae, they now offer a 4% mortgage modification interest rate. Earlier this year, Fannie Mae decided to increase modification rates to 4.25%, so one must consider what is the true reason behind such a sudden shift after an initial increase.
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) finally received its relief for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s violation of federal and state securities law. Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBSG) paid over 4 billion dollars to Freddie Mac and close to one billion to Fannie Mae as part of their settlement agreement. The settlement between the RBSG and the FHFA stem from Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s activities with mortgage-backed securities during the financial crisis in the early 2000’s.
July 13, 2017 | Permalink | No Comments
