MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE IMPROVEMENT ACT (MDIA)

November 10, 2010

RESPA: HUD AND NAR JOIN FORCES TO PRODUCE THREE VIDEOS TO HELP PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYERS UNDERSTAND HOME BUYING PROCESS

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) collaborated to produce a series of videos on YouTube.com which are geared at educating future home buyers on the real estate buying process. The joint effort was unveiled at the National Association of Realtors 2010 National Conference in New Orleans last week.

The first 10 minute video “Shopping for your home” features HUD associate deputy assistant secretary Teresa Baker Payne explaining the home buying process.

The second 12 minute video “Shopping for your loan” features HUD deputy assistant secretary for FHA Vicki Bott explaining what home buyers need to look for when shopping for their mortgage loan and includes a consumer friendly approach to the Good Faith Estimate “GFE.”

October 5, 2010

MARX STERBCOW AND CHARLES CAIN SPEAKING AT AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO ON OCTOBER 15, 2010

by Marx Sterbcow

The Sterbcow Law Group’s Marx Sterbcow and Charles Cain will be presenting “The Next Regulatory Tidal Wave — New Regulation Z Rules” on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 2:30 – 3:45 at the American Land Title Association’s (ALTA) Annual Conference in San Diego, California.

The presentation will focus on how “the closing process has been dramatically impacted lately by MDIA in 2009, then RESPA changes in 2010 and now Reg Z changes are set to take effect in 2011. Because of these regulations software changes will be needed and closing time frames will need to be adjusted. This session will introduce title professionals to the basics of the new rules and the potential impact upon their businesses. Among the topics discussed will be how will the new rules directly affect the closing process including documentation, what new calendars the rules will create, and how the new rules conflict or contrast with MDIA, the RESPA changes and other existing laws.”

Click here more information about the ALTA Annual Conference.

September 17, 2010

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU: PRESIDENT OBAMA APPOINTS ELIZABETH WARREN AS ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND AS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO TREASURY

by Marx Sterbcow

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which will oversee the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) now has a decision maker to help set up the CFPB. President Obama announced today the appointment of Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren to implement policies and procedures to protect consumers from financial products. Ms. Warren who is widely known as the person who developed the idea for the CFPB will also be responsible for helping select a director to head up the CFPB.

Warren is considered a strong consumer advocate and her ideology has some in the financial services industry concerned. The concern reached a fevered pitch over the last two months with Republicans and the financial services industry pledged to hold up her confirmation in the Senate. Obama’s move of not appointed her to the CFBP but rather giving Warren supervisory authority of the CFPB without going through a senate confirmation process stunned her critics.

It remains to be seen how Warren will tackle the enforcement of RESPA in the near future but I suspect that we will see a huge increase in both funding and manpower in the RESPA enforcement arena.

August 16, 2010

REGULATION Z (TRUTH IN LENDING) DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR CLOSED-END MORTGAGE LOANS ANNOUNCED

by Marx Sterbcow

The Federal Reserve Board issued an interim proposed rule today, August 16, 2010, that revises the disclosure requirements for closed-end mortgages under Regulation Z (Reg Z) of the Truth In Lending Act (TILA). The Fed said the proposed rule implements provisions of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) which require lenders to disclose how loan borrower’s regular mortgage payments can change over time.

The Fed’s notice can be accessed by clicking here:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/bcreg/bcreg20100816b1.pdf
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April 9, 2010

RESPA: DEPUTY DIRECTOR IVY JACKSON IS SHUFFLED OUT OF RESPA DIVISION

by Marx Sterbcow

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made a number of surprising management changes last month including the shuffling of Ivy Jackson, the Director of the Office of RESPA and Interstate Land Sales to the Office of Insured Health Care Facilities. Ivy Jackson’s departure took the real estate industry by surprise and created uncertainty for state regulators who were relying on her to educate them the new RESPA regulations this year.

The Sterbcow Law Group would like to thank Ivy Jackson for her contributions over the years at RESPA. She will always be remembered as a federal regulator who was fair to the real estate industry and to consumer interests while at RESPA. Ms. Jackson’s work ethic, honesty, and experience will be missed.

HUD promoted Teresa Baker Payne to the position of Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary and Barton Shapiro was named Acting Director of RESPA and Interstate Land Sales. Ms. Payne and Mr. Shapiro both bring experience to their new positions. Ms.Payne and Mr. Shapiro both are excellent choices for their respective roles at HUD.
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January 29, 2010

RESPA: UPDATED RESPA RULE FAQs RELEASED ON JAN. 28, 2010

by Marx Sterbcow

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Division released new updated FAQs on Jan. 28, 2010. The new RESPA frequently asked updated question and answers (FAQs) are in bold.

One of the new questions asks whether a loan originator can require the use of its affiliate company for the tax or flood certificate. The updated RESPA guidance says that the loan originator may not require the use of its affiliate for the tax service or flood certificate, but a loan originator may require the use of a non-affiliated provider.

November 13, 2009

RESPA: HUD OFFICIALLY DELAYS “HUD ENFORCEMENT” OF NEW RESPA REFORM RULE

by Marx Sterbcow

HUD announced today a delay in “HUD ENFORCEMENT” on the new RESPA Rule which goes into effect on Jan. 1st, 2010 on FHA loans. We need to highlight the fact that only HUD Enforcement of the new RESPA rule has been delayed for 120 days on FHA loans. Civil litigation on the new RESPA Rule goes into effect on Jan. 1st, 2010 and therefore is not delayed.

We applaud HUD for delaying enforcement of the new rule for 4 months it still exposes companies that do not implement the new changes to potential civil litigation issues for not complying with the new rule.

Another RESPA attorney said it best: “Better pin on your badge and strap on your gun looks like HUD will look to the plaintiff’s bar to bring the heat in the first 4 months.”

Below is a copy of the HUD press release:
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July 14, 2009

MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE IMPROVEMENT ACT (MDIA) GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 30, 2009

by Marx Sterbcow

On July 30, 2009, some of the provisions of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act of 2008 (MDIA) go into effect and lenders, mortgage brokers, title agents, real estate agents, and real estate brokerages need be alert as to these new federal governmental regulations. Here are the details for the MDIA:

1. The 3/7/3 Rule requires a seven business day waiting period once the initial disclosure is provided before closing a home loan (business days are everyday except Sundays and Holidays). This means that before a borrower can close on a transaction the borrower must receive the initial Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and initial TIL statement disclosing the final Annual Percentage Rate (APR) seven days prior to closing.

2. If the final annual percentage rate APR is off by more than .125% from the initial GFE disclosure then the lender must re-disclose and wait yet another three business days before closing on the transaction.

3. The consumer has the right to cancel and not proceed with the transaction if they so choose.

4. Lenders are forbidden from collecting money for appraisals, loan applications, etc. prior to the delivery of the Truth In Lending (TIL). Lenders can only collect from the borrower the credit report fee at the time of prior to delivery of the final TIL. No other fees are permitted to be collected at the time of application. If the TIL is sent by mail, additional charges can occur after the 3rd business day after the borrower receives the TIL in the mail.

5. The following language must be clearly written on the initial and final TIL: “You are not required to complete this agreement merely because you have received these disclosures or signed a loan application.”

If you are a real estate agent or title agent you need to manage the process very carefully by:

A. Making sure that you check the initial Good Faith Estimate and Truth In Lending form for your buyers and look for discrepancies in charges. The new rules were put in place to protect consumers from being low balled one figure by a loan officer only to find out at the closing table that the fees charged were much higher. The new MDIA rules will absolutely delay closings if these steps are not followed carefully.

B. Buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals should not schedule a closing until the borrower has completed the seven day waiting period as required in the initial TIL.
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