Michael Calhoun, CRL President, testified before a House Financial Services Subcommittee on Dodd-Frank's impact on homeownership. He said that, as a whole, these rules expand access to credit while ensuring that loans are sustainable for borrowers.

CRL compares the dual track foreclosure restrictions and requirements in the National Mortgage Settlement, the California Homeowner Bill of Rights and related rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In this comment to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), CRL and seven allies comment on proposed practice limitations and broader recommendations regarding lender-placed insurance (LPI). LPI markets are characterized by reverse competition in which LPI premiums paid by mortgage servicers and LPI amounts subsequently charged to borrowers and investors areinflated because LPI insurers/vendors compete for the servicers’ business by providing considerations – kickbacks – to the servicers and including the cost of these considerations in the LPI premiums and LPI amounts charged to borrowers and investors. The extent of the overcharges is demonstrated by the very low loss ratios (claims incurred divided by premiums earned) of LPI compared to loss ratios for homeowners insurance. LPI charges to borrowers and investors are at least twice the reasonable cost of providing LPI. In addition, excessive LPI charges to borrowers and the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are a source of servicer-induced foreclosures, and such excessive charges are also inconsistent with the mission and affordable housing goals of the GSEs. For these reasons, CRL and its allies support the direct purchase by GSEs of LPI and insurance tracking services and support prohibitions against kickbacks from LPI insurers/vendors to mortgage servicers.

Congress should not allow high fees and loopholes to return to mortgage lending. HR.1077 will lead to more expensive and dangerous loans for borrowers.

Asregulators move to define Qualified Residential Mortgages (QRMs), CRL urges the same standard that CFPB defined for Qualified Mortgages (QM).

This brief urges state actions to prevent avoidable foreclosures with a Homeowner Bill of Rights

National and statewide consumer groups are urging that the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) be extended, citing success in foreclosure prevention and modification.

CRL's analysis of "Ongoing Implementation",a report on 2012 efforts under the National Mortgage Settlement to halt foreclosures through loan modifications, and other assistance.

States are in a strong position to prevent unnecessary foreclosures, stabilize local housing markets and protect homeowners from mortgage servicing abuses. Through practical enhancements to the standards set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and California’s Homeowner Bill of Rights, states can help borrowers get full and fair consideration for loan modifications before losing their homes to foreclosure.