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Tag Archives: Ability to Repay

Commentary: What’s in Store for Housing in 2014, Part 2

Despite recent gains, which some of us believe are more of a mirage than an oasis, the economy still isn't creating enough good-paying full-time jobs to drive a full recovery in the housing market. At the same time, stricter lending requirements--and a lending environment likely to get more challenging before it gets easier--are the other major headwinds that could slow down housing.

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With New Regulations, Demonstrating Compliance and Controls Is Key

The mortgage servicing industry is fielding a spate of new rules and regulations--49 mortgage reforms and 63 required rules related to consumer protection. With the regulatory intervention the industry is experiencing today, there is an increased and immediate need for system controls, certification of compliance, and information management controls--for both servicers and their outsourcing partners.

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Analysts Consider How Ability-to-Repay and QM Impact RMBS Losses

As lenders prepare to adopt the Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage (QM) rules in January, so too are ratings agencies preparing for these new rules. Fitch Ratings released a report revealing its expectations for how the rules will impact future loss severities on residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). Overall, Fitch expects the rules to result in greater underwriting uniformity and enhanced due diligence, with 100 percent of reviews completed on all QM and higher-priced QM loans.

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Report: Market Will Prosper Under Ability-to-Repay, QM Rules

Today's resilient capital market has the capacity to adapt readily to the pending Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage (QM) rules set to take effect January 10, 2014, according to a white paper issued by CoreLogic. The paper titled, ATR/QM Standards: Foundation for a Sound Housing Market, provides an overview of the rules themselves and examines their possible impact on the market.

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Regulators See No Fair Lending Risk in QM

The CFPB's mortgage servicing standards--including the Qualified Mortgage (QM) definition and the Ability-to-Repay rule--take effect in less than 90 days. Some bankers have indicated they might limit their offerings to only QM products as the transition is made, and many are concerned that as a result, their operations may run counter to the Equal Credit and Opportunity Act, implemented by the Federal Reserve's Regulation B. Those fears, however, are unfounded, regulators say.

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Industry, Congress Urge DeMarco Not to Lower Loan Limits

Federal Housing Finance Agency Acting Director Edward DeMarco is deliberating lowering the loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congress and the industry, however, are voicing a singular opposition, claiming such action would be detrimental to the housing recovery that is starting to take place across the country. Federal lawmakers and several industry groups sent letters to DeMarco over the past week, some even questioning the legality of such a move.

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FHA to Take First Ever Bailout

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be accepting a bailout of more than $1 billion to make up for losses sustained from the agency's legacy books and its reverse mortgage program. Following reports last week that FHA's financial situation would require a Treasury draw in the neighborhood of the Obama administration's $943 million forecast, Commissioner Carol Galante revealed in a letter to the Senate Banking Committee that the agency is taking an appropriation of approximately $1.7 billion.

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Freddie Mac Reaches Repurchase Settlement with Citigroup

Citigroup and Freddie Mac have reached an agreement to settle potential future repurchase claims on millions of loans sold to the GSE in the last decade. According to a release from Citi, the bank will pay Freddie Mac $395 million, all of which is covered by its existing mortgage repurchase reserves as of the end of Q2.

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