Mortgage

WASHINGTON, DC - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The drop in the homeownership rate from an all-time high of 69.2 percent in 2004 to 66.4 percent in the first quarter of 2011 reflects a decline from unsustainable levels to something closer to historical averages, according to a study released today by MBA's Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA). While the homeownership rate may have bottomed out, it could fall another one or two percentage points because of tightened credit and other factors, the paper says.

Washington D.C. - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The deadline for homeowners to qualify for the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP) is rapidly approaching with all Pre-Applicant Screening Worksheets due by Friday, July 22, 2011.The EHLP, launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in conjunction with NeighborWorks® America in June, is designed to help homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure in 27 states across the country and Puerto Rico. The program assists homeowners who have experienced a reduction in income and are at risk of foreclosure due to involuntary unemployment or underemployment, due to economic conditions or a medical condition.Under EHLP guidelines eligible homeowners can qualify for an interest free loan which pays a portion of their monthly mortgage for up to two years, or up to $50,000, whichever comes first.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Henry V. Cunningham Jr., CMB, a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Board of Directors and Chairman of MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), testified today before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity at a hearing titled, “Mortgage Origination: The Impact of Recent Changes on Homeowners and Businesses.”Below is Mr. Cunningham’s oral statement before the subcommittee, as prepared for delivery.

PORTLAND, OR - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two members of an alleged drug trafficking organization were arraigned today on money laundering and marijuana trafficking charges involving the abuse of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), U....

BOISE, ID - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Melody C. Redondo, 33, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for making a false statement to a financial institution, U.S. Attorney We...

Washington, DC - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association applauds the announcement today by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that Carol Galante has been designated by President Barack Obama as the Acting FHA Commissioner and Assistant Secretary of Housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday, July 11, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) sent the attached letter to federal regulators outlining MBA's views and recommendations from the commercial and multifamily mortgage finance perspective in response to the proposed risk retention rule under Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage applications decreased 5.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 8, 2011. This week's results include an adjustment to account for the Fourth of July holiday.The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 24.0 percent compared with the previous week.

River Edge, NJ - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- National mortgage lender, Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. (REMN), is bringing their retail FHA 203(k) program in-house and introducing a new initiative to better manage the experience for homeowners, home buyers, real estate agents and contractors. The recently launched REMN 203(k) Concierge Service will now support the entire 203(k) loan process with a dedicated team of REMN account managers who will be involved every step of the way, from the loan’s origination through payments made to contractors.

WASHINGTON, DC HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its May 2011 mortgage industry data, which estimates declines in foreclosure sales for the second straight month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) issued the following statement following remarks by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) this morning at the National Press Club.

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six Los Angeles County residents have been charged for their roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that used fraudulent loan applications and supporting documents to convince lenders to fund approximately 20 loans that resulted in approximately $4 million in losses.

Boston, MA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On June 20, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) made funding available to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The funding program – the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP) – will provide much-needed funds for homeowners who have lost their job or experienced an involuntary decline in income. Homeowners who have received a foreclosure notice may be eligible for a deferred payment loan that will allow them to pay loan arrearages, back taxes and up to 24 months of mortgage payments. The EHLP loans will be two-year, no interest, forgivable loans. Eligible families must make less than 120 percent of the median income.

Las Vegas, NV - July 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A recent report released by IMS Advanced Realty Data Services named The Myers Team the #1 Short Sale Real Estate Team in Nevada. Number one status was determined by actual short sale listings closed in 2010. According to the report, The Myers Team with the Caliber Realty Group has closed more short sale transactions than any Realtor or Broker in Las Vegas. The Myers Team is nationally recognized as one of the most influential figures in real estate today. According to Myers Team owner, Bill Myers, “Surrendering a home worth half of what you owe is NOT a failure, it's a business decision. A short sale is an opportunity for you and your family to take control and walk away free and clear. Nobody wants to lose their home; however, loan modification doesn’t work and there is no need to go down with a sinking ship

Washington, DC - July 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An estimate of senior home equity owned by Americans aged 62 and over stood at $3.2 trillion as of the end of the first quarter in 2011, according to results from the recently released NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI). The index has tracked reverse mortgage market opportunity since 2000 by analyzing and reporting on trends in senior home values and home equity levels.

Las Vegas, NV - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A recent report released by IMS Advanced Realty Data Services named The Myers Team the #1 Short Sale Real Estate Team in Nevada. Number one status was determined by actual short sale listings closed in 2010. According to the report, The Myers Team with the Caliber Realty Group has closed more short sale transactions than any Realtor or Broker in Las Vegas. The Myers Team is nationally recognized as one of the most influential figures in real estate today. According to Myers Team owner, Bill Myers, “Surrendering a home worth half of what you owe is NOT a failure, it's a business decision. A short sale is an opportunity for you and your family to take control and walk away free and clear. Nobody wants to lose their home; however, loan modification doesn’t work and there is no need to go down with a sinking ship.

DALLAS, TX - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- An August 29, 2011 trial date before Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater has been set for three defendants charged with running a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme in the Dallas area, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Gregory Lashon Thomas, Aja D. Crawford (aka Aja Abercrombie), and Ernest Ohenekitiwa McMillan were arrested on conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud charges outlined in a four-count indictment returned last month. All three pleaded not guilty and have been released on bond.

NEW YORK, NY - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two justices of the New York State Supreme Court have issued sweeping orders to restrain the activities of alleged “loan modification” scammers, providing major victories for financially vulnerable homeowners. On July 5, 2011, Justice Thomas A. Adams of the Nassau County Supreme Court extended a temporary restraining order that restrains the activities and freezes the assets of a group of companies operating under the names “Express Home Solutions” and “Home Preserve Law Group.” The ruling complements a similar order issued on June 28, 2011 by Justice John M. Galasso, also of the Nassau County Supreme Court, which enjoins a group of individuals operating a separate business under the name “Homesafe America.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), testified today before a joint subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee at a hearing titled “Mortgage Servicing: An Examination of the Role of Federal Regulators in Settlement Negotiations and the Future of Mortgage Servicing Standards.”Below is Mr. Stevens’ oral statement before the subcommittee, as prepared for delivery

Washington, DC - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Obama Administration announced adjustments to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requirements that will require servicers to extend the forbearance period for unemployed homeowners to 12 months. The Administration also intends to require servicers participating in the Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) to extend the minimum forbearance period to 12 months wherever possible under regulator and investor guidelines. These adjustments will provide much needed assistance for unemployed homeowners trying to stay in their homes while seeking re-employment. These changes are intended to set a standard for the mortgage industry to provide more robust assistance to unemployed homeowners in the economic downturn.The changes to FHA’s Special Forbearance Program announced today will require servicers to extend the forbearance period for FHA borrowers who qualify for the program from four months to 12 months and remove upfront hurdles to make it easier for unemployed borrowers to qualify.