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Opinion: The not-so-surprising resurgence of home equity lending

Housing Wire

Despite rising rates, demand for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) continues to surge with 2022 origination levels up more than 40% from a year ago, according to data from Citizens. Record levels of home equity. This too is changing as innovation in the home equity lending space has finally arrived.

Equity 421
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HUD walks back some proposed changes to HECM for Purchase program

Housing Wire

FHA will move forward with its proposal that permits contributions by the property seller, real estate agent, builder, or developer to HECM for Purchase borrowers’ closing costs,” the update said. These credits can lead to fair lending violations.

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Reverse mortgage professionals react to H4P rule changes

Housing Wire

After the release of proposed new rules for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase (H4P) program late last year, the reverse mortgage industry expressed a lot of excitement. Certner cited fair lending concerns and the potential of undue borrower influence.

Mortgages 419
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Opinion: Is the lending market overcorrecting toward tech? Maybe

Housing Wire

Worsening market conditions are only going to accelerate an already hyper-competitive mortgage lending industry that is still learning to adapt to post-pandemic homebuying behaviors. The most obvious argument against a totally digital lending approach—and the one that requires the least amount of rationale—is that customers don’t want it.

Lending 370
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Online bank Ally launches home grant program

Housing Wire

Ally Home , the residential mortgage lending arm of Ally Bank , is offering a $5,000 grant for eligible homebuyers in the select markets of Charlotte, Detroit and Philadelphia, the company announced on Tuesday. The upfront lump sum can be applied toward a down payment, closing costs or other expenses related to the homebuying process.

Banks 431
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With landmark GSE equity plans, FHFA confronts legacy of redlining

Housing Wire

Both plans rely heavily on special purpose credit programs , which allow lenders to target lending to protected classes without violating the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. . “A Earlier this year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development pointedly told lenders that the programs do not violate fair lending law.

Equity 370
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Wells Fargo workers allege anti-Latino bias in predatory mortgage scheme

Housing Wire

Wells Fargo forces its employees on the Bilingual team to offer predatory lending options to Spanish-speaking customers,” the initial legal complaint reads. The company’s management team implemented this policy, the complaint alleges, because refinancing can come with high closing costs that range between $5,000 and $10,000 dollars.

Mortgages 370