After a brief respite, Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is back on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) enforcement radar. On August 17, 2023, the CFPB issued two parallel consent...more
On August 17, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it had taken action against a residential mortgage loan originator that provided illegal incentives to real estate brokers and agents in...more
Each month, we host a 30-minute webinar outlining the month's key announcements and takeaways from the CFPB to be considered by financial services providers. In this first article in the series, we share our top "bites"...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB ) rescinded Bulletin 2015-05, RESPA Compliance and Marketing Services Agreements on October 7, 2020, stating that the bulletin did not provide the regulatory clarity necessary...more
In the News. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it adopted Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), providing a new regulatory framework for fund-of-funds and final...more
In an important new development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Oct. 7, 2020, announced that it has rescinded Compliance Bulletin No. 2015-15 (Bulletin) regarding the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act...more
On October 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took steps to clarify its interpretation of how settlement service providers may comply with the “no kickback” and “unearned fee” provisions of Section 8 of the...more
In a significant action, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has abruptly rescinded a 2015 compliance bulletin concerning marketing services agreements (MSAs) while also issuing RESPA Section 8 (referral fee...more
The CFPB recently issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing the referral fee and fee splitting prohibitions under Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The CFPB also rescinded its...more
HomeStreet Bank recently agreed to the issuance of an order to settle an allegation by the FDIC that the bank’s discontinued Home Loan Center-based mortgage business line violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act...more
Celebrities sometimes fall from grace and their endorsements can fall with them. Corporate contracts with "morals" clauses are common and important, but need to be extremely clear on certain points, like what constitutes a...more
Some very important and potentially game-changing legislation was recently passed. On Oct. 24, 2018, Congress enacted the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (or EKRA) – a statute that potentially eliminates legal...more
On Friday February 9, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division announced a settlement with Henry Ford Allegiance Health (“Allegiance”) of claims that Allegiance and certain other hospitals unlawfully...more
For years many industry participants wondered if allowing their real estate agents or loan officers to engage in co-marketing on Zillow Group applications and websites posed a risk to their companies under RESPA. The...more
On January 31, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced a Consent Order (“Order”) with Prospect Mortgage LLC and certain of its affiliates (“Lender”). The CFPB alleged in the Order widespread...more
On January 31, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it ordered a California-based mortgage lender to pay $3.5 million in civil penalties for an illegal mortgage kickback scheme. According to...more
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (“BAP”) for the First Circuit recently upheld a licensee’s rights to use a debtor’s trademarks and logo after a rejection by the debtor of the underlying licensing and distribution agreement....more
The residential mortgage origination industry has long used Marketing Services Agreements (MSAs) to establish the terms of certain marketing arrangements. An MSA, written or oral, addresses the terms according to which a...more
The CFPB’s Deputy Assistant Director for origination recently warned mortgage lenders of the four main examination priorities for 2016—loan originator compensation plans, the ability-to-repay rule, the TILA-RESPA Integrated...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently provided guidance discouraging mortgage industry participants from entering into marketing services arrangements (MSAs). An MSA is an agreement under which a settlement...more
On October 8, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) issued a Compliance Bulletin on RESPA Compliance and Marketing Services Agreements (“MSAs”)(“Compliance Bulletin”). The Compliance Bulletin’s...more
On October 8, 2015, the CFPB issued compliance Bulletin 2015-05 cautioning against the use of marketing services agreements (MSAs), due to the “substantial legal and regulatory risk” of violating the Real Estate Settlement...more
Regulatory Developments: FINRA Proposes Rules for Funding Portals - On Oct. 9 FINRA filed with the SEC a proposed rule change to adopt Funding Portal Rules 100 (general standards), 110 (funding portal application),...more
On October 8, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued long overdue guidance (Bulletin 2015-05) regarding marketing services agreements (MSAs) and compliance with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act...more
On October 8, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a compliance bulletin concerning marketing services agreements (MSAs) under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). RESPA - RESPA...more