A&B ABstract: In the 29nd edition of its Supervisory Highlights, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) focused on the impact of so-called “junk” fees in the mortgage servicing, auto servicing, and student loan servicing industries, among others. CFPB Issues New Edition of Supervisory Highlights: On March 8, the CFPB published a special edition of its […]
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The COVID-19 National Emergency is Ending: Are mortgage servicers ready?
A&B Abstract: On January 30, 2023, President Biden informed Congress that the COVID-19 National Emergency (the “COVID Emergency”) will be extended beyond March 1, 2023, but that he anticipates terminating the national emergency on May 11, 2023. The White House Briefing Room reiterated the President’s position on February 10, 2023. Given the significant updates mortgage […]
CFPB Issues Advisory Opinion Warning Against Kickbacks for Mortgage Rate Shopping Platforms
A&B ABstract: Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion to address the applicability of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)’s Section 8 – the anti-kickback provision – to operators of certain digital technology platforms that enable consumers to comparison shop for mortgages and other real estate settlement services. These […]
Moving to Address Appraisal Bias, Agencies and the Appraisal Foundation Issue Updates
A&B ABstract: A year and a half after President Biden’s announcement of the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (“PAVE”), the past weeks have seen a flurry of activity from federal agencies and the Appraisal Foundation to address issues of bias in residential property appraisal. What should lenders, servicers, and appraisers know? […]
District Court Dismisses CFPB’s Redlining Case Against Townstone Financial
A&B ABstract: On Friday, in the CFPB v. Townstone Financial fair lending case, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed with prejudice the complaint filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), holding that the plain language of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) does not prohibit discrimination against prospective applicants. […]