BlogTalkRadio Podcast, June 28, 2010

2017-12-20T17:34:16+00:00 June 30th, 2010|Categories: BlogTalkRadio Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Mortgage companies and mortgage originators will be significantly affected by what Congress does in the final Financial Reform bill.  The bill made it through the House and Senate Conference Committee last Friday.   Glen Corso, Executive Director of the Community Mortgage Banking Project, returned to the show today to describe what the bill now looks like.  He focused on the two provision directly affecting the mortgage industry: Risk Retention and Loan Officer Compensation. The current Risk Retention provision actually improved in the conference committee.  There is still a requirement for originators to retain 5% of the risk on the loans they originate and sell.  This would be devastating for the industry, except for the fact they the bill exempts almost all of the loans being made today.  The bill says that the requirement to retain risk does not apply to government guaranteed loans (FHA, VA, and USDA) and all other loans “well underwritten.  Well underwritten loans are loans that are fully documented and have reasonable ratios, are not negative amortization loans or loans with large payment adjustments possible.  Most Fannie and Freddie qualifying loans would meet this definition.  Glen believes the bill will allow an allocation of the retained risk between [...]

BlogTalkRadio Podcast – June 21, 2010

2017-12-20T17:34:16+00:00 June 23rd, 2010|Categories: BlogTalkRadio Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Wouldn’t it be nice if Congress would extend the “close-by deadline for those trying to get the Homebuyer Tax Credit?  Sure it would. Wouldn’t it be even nicer if they did it now, June 21st,  before we all break our backs trying to get the thousands of  transactions closed by June 30th?  Any anxiety out there right now? Glen Corso, Executive Director of The Community Mortgage Banking Project and an industry advocate, brought to the BlogTalkRadio show today an up to the minute status report on HR 4213, the bill being considered by the Senate which, if passed, will extend the “close-by deadline to qualify to receive the Homebuyer Tax Credit from June 30th to September 30th.  According to Glen, there is very little controversy on whether or not to extend the deadline. Most are in favor of it.  The rest of the bill, though, includes significant controversy and because of it, might not pass any time soon.  As a result, this is not a time to relax.  Push to close all the purchase loans that you can before the existing June 30th deadline. Glen also provided a shocking update from the House and Senate Conference Committee working on the [...]

In The News: Loan Officer Compensation and Senate Bill 3217

2017-12-20T17:34:18+00:00 May 21st, 2010|Categories: In The News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is being reported that Senate Bill 3217 Restoring American Financial Stability will soon pass out of the Senate.  There are many things in this bill which will effect the mortgage industry.  In an earlier blog post I discussed the likely impact of the "Skin in the Game" provisions of this bill.  In this post, I will discuss the provisions in this bill which will restrict Loan Officer compensation. Glen Corso, Executive Director of The Community Mortgage Banking Project, discussed on the BlogTalkRadio/Lykken-on-Lending show on Monday that the amendment to Senate Bill 3217 which, among other things, prohibits loan originators from receiving compensation based on the terms of the loan.  He explained that the amendment was introduced late Tuesday evening May 11th and was passed on Wednesday morning May 12th, giving himself and other industry advocates no chance to weigh in on the amendment.  The intent of the amendment is to remove any incentive for an originator to charge more in origination fees to a borrower or to give a borrower a higher mortgage rate than the basic rate and price as established by his or her origination company.  So this amendment essentially prohibits companies from paying loan officers a [...]

In The News: “Skin in the Game” – Risk Retention Amendment to Senate Bill 3217

2017-12-20T17:34:18+00:00 May 21st, 2010|Categories: In The News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Senate Bill 3217 Restoring American Financial Stability is working its way through the Senate and is expected to be passed in the coming weeks.  Certain provisions of this bill will have a significant impact on the mortgage industry. As you may recall, the Senate Bill 3217, as originally proposed, included a provision which would have required 5% of the risk on all loans originated be retained by the originator upon sale to investors.  The provision was not clear as to which entity or entities in the origination chain would be required to retain the risk.  It was not clear whether the risk that was to be retained would be an ownership interest in the loan or reserves supported by cash.   It was also not clear how long the originator would have been required to retain the risk.  The original provisions would have been devastating to the mortgage industry.  The 5% risk retention would have forced many mortgage originators from the business and would have driven mortgage rates much higher.  After significant industry efforts, this provision was amended last week. The amendment, as passed by the Senate, does very little to answer these questions, but what it does do is exempt [...]

BlogTalkRadio Podcast – May 17, 2010

2017-12-20T17:34:18+00:00 May 20th, 2010|Categories: BlogTalkRadio Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Senate Bill 3217 Restoring American Financial Stability was the focus of discussion on the show Monday, particularly two recently passed amendments which are of great interest to the mortgage banking industry.  The amendments deal with risk retention and loan officer compensation.  One is good for the industry and the other is not.  Glen Corso, Executive Director of The Community Mortgage Banking Project, joined the show to bring a first hand understanding of the amendments and their status. The amendment that is good for the mortgage industry deals with the risk retention provisions of the original  bill.  The original bill would have required mortgage originators to retain “skin in the game.  It would have required originators to retain 5% of the risk on all the loans they originated and sold to investors.  The amendment exempts from the 5% risk retention requirement certain mortgage loans which meet the definition of Qualified Mortgage Loans.  Since 90% or more of today’s loans will meet the definition of Qualified Mortgage Loan, the amendment significantly reduces the number of loans on which originators will be required to retain risk. The amendment that is not good for the mortgage industry restricts how loan originators are to be [...]