Tag Archives: Processing

Nearly 20 percent of credit reports reviewed by consumers and experts, according to a congressionally mandated study by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The study, based on the findings of 1,001 participants reviewing 2,968 credit reports issued from Transunion, Experian, and Equifax, showed that approximately 25 percent of consumers identified errors material enough to affect their credit scores. About 5 percent found errors large enough to trigger higher payments for mortgages or other financial products.

Freddie Mac's board has a new member. The company announced the election of Steven W. Kohlhagen, Ph.D. to its board of directors. Kohlhagen brings more than three decades of experience with him, having held senior executive positions at leading financial institutions, including First Union National Bank (predecessor to Wachovia National Bank), American International Group, Stamford Capital Group, Bankers Trust Corporation, and Lehman Brothers.

Mortgage Builder Software, a provider of loan origination and loan servicing software systems, is renaming its loan servicing software platform.

loanDepot.com, LLC, an independent mortgage lender based in California, announced four additions to its executive lineup.

Mortgage Master, a super-regional mortgage bank and one of the country's largest privately owned mortgage companies, announced it is expanding its geographic footprint into the Midwest with the opening of a new branch in Chicago. The company also announced the hiring of Brian Jensen as Midwest regional manager and Craig Achtzehn as area manager in the Chicago branch. The company also announced the hiring of Brian Jensen as Midwest regional manager and Craig Achtzehn as area manager in the Chicago branch.

According to the NAR, the depleting share of lower-priced homes is contributing to price growth as distressed sales--foreclosures and short sales--diminish. The association found the national median price for an existing single-family home rose to $178,900 in Q4, up 10 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase marks the biggest year-over-year gain since the fourth quarter of 2005, when the median price was up 13.6 percent. Existing-home sales improved as well in Q4, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.90 million.

Two U.S. senators reintroduced legislation designed to open up competition and limit barriers to refinance for qualified homeowners.

The number of homes purchased with cash in California reached an all-time high in 2012 as the mortgage environment kept other interested buyers out, according to DataQuick, a real estate information service. The company's data shows a total of 145,797 condos and houses were bought without mortgage financing in 2012, up from 125,812 in 2011 (the previous high) and 39,731 in 2007. According to DataQuick's John Walsh, the increase comes from high investor interest and a currently difficult mortgage environment.

Genworth's U.S. Mortgage Insurance (USMI) unit unveiled a new set of underwriting guidelines designed to allow lower credit scores and eliminate nearly all geographic restrictions.

HUD announced Friday the issuing of a final rule to formalize a national standard for determining whether a practice violates the Fair Housing law based on an unjustified discriminatory effect. According to the agency, the rule establishes a three-part test that shifts burden of proof in a discriminatory housing case back and forth between the plaintiff and defendant. It is designed to address recent debates over whether or not a housing practice can be considered discriminatory if it seems neutral on the surface.