CFPB: VA Refinancing Offers that Sound Too Good to Be True
By Patrick Campbell and Anthony Vail – NOV 20, 2017 Situation The CFPB and VA are issuing their first WARNO, “Warning Order,” to servicemembers and veterans with VA home loans. If you have a VA home loan, then there is a good chance that you have already come into contact with unsolicited offers to refinance…
Joint Release: Agencies Announce Threshold for Smaller Loan Exemption from Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that the threshold for exempting loans from special appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans during 2018 will increase from $25,500 to $26,000. The threshold amount will be effective January 1,…
FHFA: Total Refinance Volume Ticks Up Slightly in Third Quarter 2017
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that more than 362,934 refinances were completed in the third quarter of 2017, compared with 356,707 in the second quarter. FHFA’s third quarter Refinance Report also shows that more than 6,913 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), bringing the total number of HARP…
FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Will Re-enter the LIHTC Market
Equity Investments Will Support Underserved Markets The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will be allowed limited re-entry into the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) market as equity investors, effective immediately. The LIHTC, established in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, is the primary government program…
Federal Reserve: Speech | Where Do Consumers Fit in the FinTech Stack?
Where Do Consumers Fit in the Fintech Stack? Governor Lael Brainard The new generation of fintech tools offers the potential to help consumers manage their increasingly complicated financial lives, but also poses risks that will need to be managed as the marketplace matures.1 In many ways, the new generation of fintech tools can be seen…
HUD: FHA Releases 2017 Annual Report to Congress
Capital Reserves remain above statutory minimum for third straight year The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today released its 2017 Annual Report to Congress on the economic condition of the agency’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMI Fund). FHA reports that at the end FY 2017, the MMI Fund had a total economic net worth of $25.6…
FDIC: Banker Teleconference Series: Small Business Resources for Community Banks
Printable Format: FIL-59-2017 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: The FDIC will discuss small business resources and research pertinent to community banks, including the Money Smart for Small Businesses financial education program; the FDIC’s Small Business Lending Survey; and Community Reinvestment Act consideration for small business lending, services, and investments. A teleconference is scheduled for Tuesday,…
CFPB: Add Your Company to the List of Sources for Free Credit Scores
If your company offers free credit scores and would like to be included on our list, respond to our recently posted Federal Register Notice. By Maria Jaramillo When people have access to their credit score, they can feel empowered to better manage their financial lives. They can do this by learning about their credit…
SBA: DFW Small Businesses Receive Record Lending of Over $1 Billion for a Consecutive Third Year
Herbert Austin, District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) District Office announced today that fiscal year 2017 lending in the district’s 72 counties reached over $1.187 billion to 2062 small businesses. “This is another major milestone for the DFW district” said Austin. “For the third year in a row our…
CFPB: Tips for Servicemembers with Student Debt
The unique nature of life in the military can create financial challenges for servicemembers. This is especially true for servicemembers with student loans. We routinely hear from servicemembers who enter military service not simply with student loans, but because of them. And yet, military borrowers continue to tell us about the obstacles they face when…