Contracts, Invoices & Legal

The all-stock acquisition of Mountain Commerce Bancorp in Knoxville marks the Arkansas-based company's first M&A foray since 2022. View the full article

In oral arguments held Monday morning, a majority of Supreme Court justices seemed poised to overrule a 90-year-old precedent validating multimember independent commissions, but it remains uncertain what limits — if any — the court may impose on the president's removal powers. View the full article

Hildene, which partners with Crosscountry Mortgage for non-QM securitizations, is doing this deal as part of its buy of an annuity provider, SILAC. View the full article

The provider of actuarial-related services is bringing a company that provides mortgage servicing rights analytics and risk management into the fold. View the full article

Treasury yields climbed to the highest in more than two months, following losses in most global government-bond markets, ahead of a Federal Reserve interest-rate decision that may alter expectations for monetary policy in 2026. View the full article

An attorney for Christopher J. Gallo, who is battling 18 federal charges, said the lender's 18-month delay in pursuing the sign-on bonus makes little sense. View the full article

Michael Burry, the money manager made famous in The Big Short, believes a re-listing of the US housing-finance giants is "nearly upon us." View the full article

In a world assailed by extreme weather, homeowners and purchasers need to know their property's vulnerability to wildfire or flooding. Ratings like those Zillow took down are a big improvement on often outdated federal flood maps and state wildfire maps. View the full article

New rules means sellers and servicers will need to have plans demonstrating proper oversight of their artificial intelligence and machine learning practices. View the full article

In a new interpretive letter, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will allow banks to serve as middlemen for "riskless" crypto trades, extending existing brokerage authority for securities to digital assets. View the full article

Home Depot Inc. is offering cautious preliminary guidance for next year, a sign that the home-improvement retailer doesn't anticipate the housing market to rebound in the short term. View the full article

An influx of adjustable-rate and cash-out refinance mortgage programs during the month pushed the Mortgage Credit Availability Index 0.7% higher in November. View the full article

Patrick Terrance Donlon, CEO of Trusted American Mortgage, settled allegations from 21 states another person took industry education courses for him. View the full article

The bank regulator is proposing to strengthen national preemption in the wake of conflicting decisions in related court cases. View the full article

Fannie Mae sees growth in refinance activity pushing volumes upward, but flattening purchases will temper lender momentum, according to its December report. View the full article

The MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped 5% on a seasonally-adjusted basis and 6% on an unadjusted basis. View the full article

CMBS originated between 2017 and 2021 are especially vulnerable. Brighton counsels CMBS lenders to expect clear workout memos. View the full article

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will face an existential crisis in 2026 between the The President administration's efforts to shut down the agency and the employee union and consumer advocates who want to stop them. View the full article

Mortgage lenders test crypto-backed mortgages as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac review digital assets in underwriting, weighing risk, non-QM loans and access for nontraditional homebuyers. View the full article

The bank regulator is proposing to strengthen national preemption in the wake of conflicting decisions in related court cases. View the full article

Three Democratic Senators say Demotech's assessments "raise profound governance and reliability concerns" in letters to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. View the full article

Rialto Capital allegedly engineered a way to keep it in default so that the company could win extra fees over time, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. View the full article

The Federal Reserve is slated to undertake a number of important rules and regulations in 2026, but decisions around agency leadership and the The President administration's avowed effort to exert greater control over the central bank are likely to leave a lasting legacy at the agency. View the full article

A modest improvement in prices and mortgage rates encouraged buyers. Signings have now increased for four straight months, matching a pandemic streak. View the full article

A significant portion of the loans in the pool by balance, 44.5%, are designated at non-QM, according to DBRS, adding that about 50% of the loans in the pool were made to investors for business purposes. View the full article