Wells Fargo's noninterest income for Q1, $10.3 billion, was an increase of $29 million from the previous quarter. The bank received higher income from trading activities, debt security gains, mortgage origination gains, and insurance, which were offset by lower other income, such as from mortgage servicing (which were $108 million for Q1, compared to $235 million for the previous quarter).
Read More »Many Borrowers Face Higher Payments When HELOCs Reset
In raw dollars and cents, take this example from Bankrate: A $30,000 balance at 3.25 percent interest (the current prime rate) equals a minimum payment of $81.25. But after the 10-year mark, that balance resets to a 20-year repayment schedule and the minimum due each month bloats to $170.16.
Read More »Fannie Mae Launches Program to Assist First-Time Buyers With Closing Costs
Fannie Mae has announced the launch of the HomePath Ready Buyer program, through which qualifying homebuyers can receive up to 3 percent of the home's purchase price in closing cost assistance toward the purchase of a HomePath property.
Read More »Ocwen Financial Announces $564 Million Loss for 2014
Despite the recent turmoil, Ocwen’s president and CEO, Ron Faris, said he expects his company to have a profitable 2015. "I am encouraged by the progress Ocwen has made so far,” Faris said. “We currently expect to … meet all of our ongoing financial and servicing obligations.”
Read More »Researchers Break Down Advantages and Challenges of Alternative Credit Scores
As the MReport reported last week, credit is still tight for most borrowers, according to an April Urban Institute report. The report studied loan trends between 2009 and 2013, and found that mortgage credit is tighter than it was at the peak of the housing bubble in 2005 and 2006, as well as pre-housing crisis in 2011.
Read More »Reverse Mortgages Will Soon be Tougher to Get
By 2013, the FHA‒‒the nation’s largest insurer of reverse mortgages‒‒received it’s first-ever bailout of $1.7 billion. At the same time, HECM defaults started to rise. By the middle of 2013, more than a half-million HECMs remained outstanding and the default rate hovered around 10 percent.
Read More »Fed Seeks Input on Proposed Regulatory Changes
The Fed wants to permit interest payments on certain balances to be based on a daily rate, rather than on a maintenance period average rate, as it has existed for years. It is proposing to rewrite rules defining interest on reserve-balance (IORR) and interest on excessive-balance (IOER) rates.
Read More »Community Advisory Council Now Seeking Members
While the CAC will advise the Fed on a broad range of issues and offer diverse perspectives on economic circumstances of different consumers and communities, the council's particular focus will be on concerns of low- and moderate-income areas.
Read More »Fannie Mae Encourages New Mortgage Borrowers to Shop Around
In the latest Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, studying the mortgage shopping experience homebuyers navigate these days, the authors found that two-thirds of buyers‒‒particularly the young and those who’ve already bought homes‒‒obtain multiple mortgage quotes, though newbies to the process typically rely on friendly advice to find a suitable lender and terms.
Read More »Lambert Moves From Making Home Affordable to Another Position in Treasury
When asked what she was most proud of having accomplished with MHA, Lambert said, "There are so many things. If I had to pick one thing, I would say we're proud of the way we were able to put resources together to help homeowners and I’m proud I was able to participate in the direct assistance of homeowners in so many ways, including our PSA campaigns, online presence and outreach events.”
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