It is no secret that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) actively monitors its banks for compliance with Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA Section 8). However, in its March 2024...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been making waves in the mortgage settlement services space with its renewed increased attention to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act’s (RESPA) anti-kickback...more
The American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section held its annual Spring Meeting in Washington, DC, on March 29–31, 2023. The Spring Meeting sessions featured updates from federal, state, and international antitrust...more
On February 7, 2023, the CFPB issued an Advisory Opinion, "Digital Mortgage Comparison-Shopping Platforms and Related Payments to Operators." Introduced by Director Rohit Chopra as a measure meant to protect mortgage...more
On February 7, the CFPB issued an Advisory Opinion to address the applicability of RESPA section 8 to operators of certain digital technology platforms that enable consumers to comparison shop for mortgages and other real...more
A new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) advisory opinion refreshes the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s computer loan origination system policy statement for a new generation of online marketing...more
The FDIC recently announced a consent order with an Oregon regional bank for violations of Section 8 of RESPA, the FTC Act, and the FRCA, resulting in a civil monetary penalty totaling $425,000. After conducting its...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ended a more than decade-long hiatus since the last formal guidance regarding Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) on February 7, 2023, by issuing its...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
On October 7, 2020, the CFPB announced that it was "provid[ing] clearer rules of the road for RESPA marketing service agreements" in the mortgage industry by rescinding its 2015 guidance regarding marketing services...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
A&B ABstract: On October 7, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB” or “Bureau”) rescinded Compliance Bulletin 2015-05, RESPA Compliance and Marketing Services Agreements (“Bulletin 2015-05”). In addition, the...more
As anyone who is associated with the residential real estate settlement services industry can appreciate, resolution of the PHH case by the full bench of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has brought much-needed clarity and...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
The D.C. Circuit Court issued its long-awaited opinion in PHH Corporation v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, No. 15-1177 (D.C. Cir., filed 2015) regarding the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection...more
The constitutionality of the CFPB’s structure was front and center at this past Tuesday’s oral argument in PHH Corporation et al. v. CFPB before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The case involves PHH’s appeal...more
Break out the short shorts everybody: it’s summer! We know you could use a palate cleanser between the 50 Shades novels and Game of Thrones wikis you’re reading on the beach. Supervisory Haiku-lights to the rescue! The Summer...more
In a new compliance bulletin (Bulletin 2015-02), the CFPB “reminds” creditors of their obligation not to discriminate against applicants because their income includes vouchers from the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)...more
On February 10, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) added another company to its litany of alleged Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”) Section 8 offenders (Michigan Title, PHH Corporation, New...more