On February 7, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion to protect consumers from double dealing on digital mortgage comparison-shopping platforms. Companies operating these digital platforms appear to shoppers as if they provide objective lender comparisons, but may illegally refer people to only those lenders paying referral fees. When shoppers use a lender that is not the best option for their needs, they may end up with a lower quality lender […]
Category: Section 8 Violation
CFPB ISSUES SECTION 8 FAQS
On October 7, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published guidance in the form of fourteen Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Section 8 topics. The FAQs provide an overview of the provisions of RESPA Section 8 and respective Regulation X sections, and address the application of certain provisions to common scenarios described in CFPB inquiries involving gifts and promotional activities, and marketing services agreements (MSAs). In addition, the CFPB determined […]
FDIC SETTLES RESPA VIOLATIONS FOR $1.35 MILLION
On November 6, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced a settlement with HomeStreet Bank, Seattle, Washington, for violations of Section 8(a) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). HomeStreet stipulated to the issuance of an Order to Pay Civil Money Penalty (“Order”) in the amount of $1,350,000. The FDIC determined that HomeStreet Bank, through its now discontinued Home Loan Center-based mortgage banking business line, entered into co-marketing arrangements in which the bank and […]
ZILLOW?
Recently a member of our Compliance Masters Group inquired, “It looks like the CFPB has dropped their case with Zillow according to a statement by Zillow. We had a lot of our lenders wanting to co-market with realtors on Zillow. Now what?” Good question. What we do know – Zillow Group received a letter from the CFPB on June 22 stating that the CFPB “had completed its investigation, that it did not intend to take […]
CFPB LOSSES FIGHT WITH SMALL FAMILY-OWNED LAW FIRM
No question about it – the CFPB will bully you when they can. This time David fought back and defeated Goliath. In 2013 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Borders and Borders PLC, a small family-owned law firm located in Louisville, KY. The CFPB alleged that the firm and principals Harry Borders, John Borders, Jr. and J. David Borders accepted kickbacks in exchange for referrals of real-estate closing services. Most companies cannot afford to […]