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Last month the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published the revised NFIP Flood Insurance Manual, updated with program changes that will become effective October 1, 2014. The changes primarily impact those issuing FEMA policies, but contain information helpful to those obtaining FEMA policies. Among other items the manual shows where information was previously added in accordance with the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, but removed to comply with provisions of the Homeowner Flood

A homeowners association (HOA) assessment lien is a lien on a property if the homeowner becomes delinquent in paying the monthly fees and/or any special assessments (usually collectively referred to as “assessments”). State law determines the priority of an assessment lien. HOA liens are often junior to first-mortgage liens. Some states have provided “Super Lien” status to HOA assessment liens. A super lien is a category of lien that is given a higher priority than

On September 22, 2014 the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 7,190 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies.   The HMDA data cover 2013 lending activity, and include applications, originations, purchases and sales of loans, denials, and other actions related to applications. The data also include disclosure statements for

Are we in a time warp? Are we back in the 80’s? On September 15, 2014 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a settlement agreement with  U.S. Bank National Association, U.S. Bank subsidiary Red Sky Risk Services, LLC (formerly known as USB Lending Support Services, LLC), and one of U.S. Bank’s loan officers, resolving allegations that they refused to refinance the mortgage of a Native American couple in Belcourt, North Dakota, because

On July 1, 2014 the federal financial institution regulatory agencies published guidance regarding the risk associated with Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) transitioning from their draw periods to full repayment. This is not a new issue. HELOCs have been part of product mix for financial institutions since the 1980s. Most HELOCs have a five or ten year draw period. During the draw period, a borrower has revolving access to unused amounts under a specified