Tag Archives: Attorneys & Title Companies

Adding to its legal lineup, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has announced the promotion of three new partners. The law firm revealed recently that Joseph Bial, Andrew Forman, and Peter Isajiw were made partners at Cadawalader as of January 1.

Ending last year on a high note, United Wholesale Mortgage has released its 2011 scorecard. THe company showed demonstrable growth during the year, and UWM is preparing to continue its expansion in 2012.

Federal Reserve Gov. Elizabeth Duke offered to reassure bank executives Friday that the central bank wants to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation and work with smaller financial institutions to ensure that new mortgage banking rules work effectively. Speaking before the California Bankers Association in Santa Barbara, the official, a former banker-turned-regulator, said that the Fed will strive to prepare examiners and work with banks ahead of stress tests and final rules. She said regulators will include statements before every rule for bankers.

A new president has been appointed at Redwood Trust, with the company's announcement that Brett Nicholas would take on the executive role. Replacing CEO Martin Hughes in the position, Nicholas was previously Redwood's chief investment and chief operating officer.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index polls an estimated 500 households per month to calculate the consumer sentiment values, and the U.S. is rebounding off of low recordings seen as recently as August 2011, at which time consumer sentiment sat at only 55.

A New Jersey man formerly in the employ of a lender pled guilty to mortgage fraud, as a onetime mortgage originator from Maryland received jail time for his role in bilking friends and family members out of millions, according to sources. Both made MReport's mortgage fraud blotter Friday. MReport sourced the stories from news outlets that found either of the originators acquiring their illicit funds by means of straw buyers, falsification schemes, and promises to homeowners in distress.

The Justice Department issued a legal opinion Thursday in which it backed President Barack Obama's decision to recess appoint Richard Cordray director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last week. The agency wrote that three-day pro forma sessions fail to constitute an actual session for the Senate. Obama riled the industry when he appointed Cordray and several others despite three-day sessions in which several lawmakers would meet without filing motions to consider nominees or legislation. Critics charge that the decision breaks with years of legal precedent under the agency.

Total Mortgage Services, LLC, has announced the appointment of a new national retail sales manager. Joining Total Mortgage with more than 25 years of industry experience, Neil Bader will now be responsible for leading the company's retail origination channel.

Americans from both political parties overwhelmingly value a role for the federal government in housing and oppose any efforts by lawmakers to eliminate traditional home buying incentives, according to a recent survey. The National Association of Home Builders polled more than 1,500 likely voters from swing states across the country in early January, with help from conservative-leaning Public Opinion Strategies and left-leaning Lake Research Partners. Three out of four voters agreed that it is appropriate and reasonable for the federal government to back homeownership.

Twenty-eight California Democrats urged President Barack Obama Wednesday to sidestep Congress by recess-appointing another agency director ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô this time for the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Democratic signers criticized the FHFA for failing to assist more homeowners and prevent foreclosures, beginning with an energy program described by the members of Congress as one that would lower energy payments and help Americans afford their mortgages. Last week Obama bypassed Republican opposition by recess-appointing Richard Cordray.