Comprehensive Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007.

 Please read the information below, it is the Readers Digest version of the new bill that is before congress on the Comprehensive Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007. This is something as Realtors and Lenders we all should take an interest in. Write or email your local representatives to get involved in working on this bill. 

10/22/2007 4:12:44 PM On Monday, Reps. Brad Miller (D-NC), Mel Watt (D-NC) and Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced a mortgage reform act into the US House of Representatives, according to a joint press statement issued by the House Financial Services Committee. The "Comprehensive Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007" is said to be the most comprehensive legislation to combat abuses in the mortgage lending market, and to provide basic protections to mortgage consumers and investors.

The reform legislation comes after recent market turmoil and the decline of the housing market in the United States. Nearly $600 billion in adjustable-rate sub-prime mortgages are expected to reset to a higher monthly payment by the end of next year. Credit market problems led to a slew of foreclosures and losses at Wall Street banks and investment firms.

The bill is set to reform mortgage practices in three areas. First, the representatives' bill will establish a federal duty of care, prohibit steering, and call for licensing and registration of mortgage originators, including brokers and bank loan officers.

Second, the new legislation will set a minimum standard for all mortgages which states that borrowers must have a reasonable ability to repay.

Third, the legislation attaches limited liability to secondary market securitizers who package and sell interest in home mortgage loans outside of these standards. However, it was noted that individual investors in these securities would not be liable.

Finally, the bill will attempt to expand and enhance consumer protections for "high-cost loans" under the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act and include important protections for renters of foreclosed homes.

The representatives' bill also contains foreclosure protections for renters. In case of foreclosure, any successor who takes over the property will have to honor preexisting leases, according to the proposed legislation. Tenants without a lease will have at least 90 days before being required to vacate.

The bill will also incorporate recommendations by Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) to require counseling for certain first time homebuyers and Rep. Chris Murphy's (D-CT) anti-steering legislation.

Rep. Barney Frank commented that he hoped the bill would pass the House before the end of the year.

"Barney Frank, Mel Watt and I see protecting vulnerable homeowners from predatory mortgage lenders as a core, defining Democratic value. When a family's home is a stake, lenders had better play by a fair set of rules," said Rep. Brad Miller.

"This bill represents a significant step forward to clean up and prevent a number of the questionable practices that, unfortunately, took hold in the mortgage lending industry in the last several years. I hope the industry will embrace the changes and allow the bill to move forward quickly" said Rep. Melvin Watt

Let's see what we can do.

Lorraine