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Key Updates
February 9, 2009	This Week In Congress
February 5, 2009	Senate Committee Hearing: "Oversight of the Financial Rescue Program"
January 16, 2009	HUD Delays RESPA Rule
January 15, 2009	Frank Introduces TARP Reform and Accountability Legislation
January 13, 2009	House Committee to Examine Priorities for the Next Administration: Use of TARP Funds under EESA
January 9, 2009	House Committee to Discuss the "FHA Oversight of Loan Originators"
December 29, 2008	IRS Offers Lien Relief for Financial Distressed Homeowners
December 10, 2008	Committee Examines the "Collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac"
December 4, 2008	SEC Approves Measures to Strengthen Oversight of Credit Rating Agencies
November 26, 2008	Don't Miss Your Chance to Hear HUD Experts Explain the New RESPA Rule
November 24, 2008	ALTA to Hold RESPA Teleconference With HUD Officials -- Free for Members
November 19, 2008	K&L Gates Webinar: Finally a Final RESPA Rule
November 18, 2008	House Committee: Oversight of Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
November 12, 2008	RESPA Final Rule Posted [PDF]
November 12, 2008	HUD Issues New Mortgage Rules to Help Consumers Shop for Lower Cost Home Loans
November 10, 2008	Conforming Loan Limit For U.S. To Remain $417,000 In 2009; Different Limits In Some Areas
October 15, 2008	House Comm. to Hold Hearing on Financial Regulation
September 29, 2008	House Version of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Sept 29 2008
September 26, 2008	HUD Allocates Nearly $4 Billion To Stablize Neighborhoods Hard-hit By Foreclosure
September 25, 2008	JEC Holds Hearing on "The Economic Outlook"
September 23, 2008	Senate Committee Examines Turmoil in US Credit Markets
September 22, 2008	Text of Draft Proposal for Bailout Plan
September 16, 2008	House Conducts Hearing on HUD’s Proposed RESPA Rule
September 15, 2008	FHFA Statement on Golden Parachute Payments
September 8, 2008	U.S. Takes Over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac A Compilation of News
August 22, 2008	VA Raising Home Loan Ceilings in Many Areas
August 15, 2008	IRS Launches E-News for Small Businesses
August 11, 2008	Fannie Mae Sets Up New Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Attorney Network
July 30, 2008	Summary of Key Provisions The Housing Stimulus Bill Signed by President
July 26, 2008	Key Provisions of the Housing Bill Passed by Congress
July 23, 2008	Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearings on Housing "Squeeze"
July 23, 2008	House to Consider H.R. 3221
July 14, 2008	Federal Reserve Board Issues Final Rule Amending Regulation Z Provisions (Truth In Lending)
July 8, 2008	VA Reaching Out to Vets with Mortgage Problems
June 30, 2008	Housing Bill Stalls Pending Resolution Of Energy Tax Amendment
June 26, 2008	House Passes The National Guard And Reservists Debt Relief Act
June 17, 2008	FTC Staff Files Comments with HUD on Proposed Amendments to RESPA Regulations
June 10, 2008	FHA Seeks Downpayment Ban
May 28, 2008	FHA Revises Forms: Loan Underwriting and Transmittal Summary, and Addendum to Uniform Residential Loan Application
May 28, 2008	OCC Undermines OFHEO's Appraisal Agreement with NY AG
May 22, 2008	House Comm. Examines Impact on Homebuyers and Housing Market of Conforming Loan Limit Increase
May 20, 2008	Senate Banking Committee Passes Major Housing Legislation
May 15, 2008	ALTA® Comments on RESPA by Kurt Pfotenhauer
May 13, 2008	HUD To Implement FHASecure Expansion Using Fair, Flexible Premium Pricing
May 6, 2008	Temporary Conforming Loan Limits Updated In Three Areas
May 5, 2008	Financial Services Committee Approves FHA Housing and Homeowner Retention Act
April 21, 2008	OFHEO Issues Examination Guidance On Fair Value Option
April 11, 2008	House Committee Hold Second Hearing - "Using FHA for Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention"
April 10, 2008	FHFB Approves A Proposed Rule Authorizing the FHLBs to Establish Set-Aside Programs For Refinancing Subprime Mortgage Loans
April 9, 2008	House Committee Holds First Hearing on Using FHA for Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention
April 8, 2008	Financial Services Committee to Hold April 9 and April 10 Hearing on Economic, Mortgage and Housing Rescue Bill
April 7, 2008	Foreclosure Relief Bill Debated on Senate Floor
April 2, 2008	Federal Reserve System Unveils a New System to Show Subprime and Alt-A Loan Mortgage Conditions
March 26, 2008	OFHEO Issues Final Guidance On Conforming Loan Limit Calculations
March 21, 2008	Comments Sought On Revisions To The Interagency Q&A Regarding Flood Insurance
March 19, 2008	OFHEO, Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Rollout Initiative To Increase Mortgage Market Liquidity
March 16, 2008	OFHEO Seeks Comments On Enterprise Appraisal Code
March 12, 2008	OFHEO Finds Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as Adequately Capitalized At End of 2007
March 6, 2008	Senate Comm. Holds Hearing on GSE Reform Legislation
March 6, 2008	OFHEO Temporarily Increases GSE Conforming Loan Limits For High Cost Areas
March 6, 2008	FHA Raises Mortgage Limits In High-Cost California Counties
March 3, 2008	Fannie, Freddie to Overhaul Appraisals in Cuomo Deal
February 8, 2008	Senate Committee Examines “Reforming the Regulation of the Government Sponsored Enterprises.”
February 1, 2008	House Passes Important Housing, Refinance and Foreclosure Avoidance Assistance in Economic Stimulus Bill
January 31, 2008	Senate Committee Holds Hearing On "Foreclosure Prevention and Neighborhood Preservation."
January 30, 2008	House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the "Growing Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis"
January 24, 2008	Economic Stimulus Deal Reached By House and Administration—Final Deal Could Jumpstart Refinance Market
January 14, 2008	OFHEO Examines the Conforming Loan Limit and High-Cost Areas
December 27, 2007	President Signs Terrorism Insurance Extension
February 5, 2007	FDIC Extends Moratorium on ILC Applications
December 28, 2006	Fed, OTS Issue ARM Handbook
December 19, 2006	OFHEO Files Notice Of Charges Against Former Fannie Mae Executives [PDF]
December 13, 2006	Predatory Lending Rules Approved By Joint Committee Of Agency Rule Review
December 11, 2006	Traditional Mortgage Solution Now Even More Affordable
December 6, 2006	FTC Issues Interim Report to Congress on Results of Studies Required by FACT Act
December 5, 2006	Fannie Mae Announces Scheduled Restatement of 2004 10-K Will Host Investor/Analyst Conference Call
November 30, 2006	OFHEO Director Says It's "Time to Get the Housing GSEs in Order" [PDF]
November 28, 2006	California Department of Insurance Issues Revised Proposed Regulations
November 17, 2006	FTC Brings Data Breach Case Company Failed to Use Reasonable Security Measures to Protect Consumers’ Data
November 16, 2006	OFHEO Establishes Procedures For 2007 Conforming Loan Limit
November 6, 2006	FinCEN Assessment Reveals Suspected Mortgage Loan Fraud Continues to Rise
November 3, 2006	FEMA Publish Final and Proposed Flood Plain Elevations
November 2, 2006	HUD Publishes Final Rules for Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program [PDF]
October 27, 2006	OHFEO Publishes Final GSE Record Retention Rules
October 16, 2006	MPF Provides Guidance on Title Policies
October 13, 2006	FEMA Publishes Final Rule on Flood Insurance Claims Appeals Process
October 13, 2006	HUD Announces Three Settlements With Builders Involved In Captive Title Reinsurance Arrangements
October 3, 2006	OFHEO Adopts Strategic Plan
October 3, 2006	Presidential Workings Group Finds Terror Insurance Market Improves
October 2, 2006	USDA Rural Development Introduces Guaranteed Underwriting System Pilot
September 27, 2006	House Subcommittee Hears About Catastrophic Terrorism Risk
September 21, 2006	Senate Committee Examines :Calculated Risk: Assessing Non-Traditional Mortgage Products"
September 20, 2006	House Subcommittee Examines "Improving Transparency in State Regulation of Insurer Investments."
September 15, 2006	Financial Services Committee Members Urge Senate Action on GSEs
September 13, 2006	2005 HMDA Data Released
September 13, 2006	Senate Committee Holds Hearings on "The Housing Bubble and Its Implications for the Economy"
September 2, 2006	House Subcommittee Holds Hearing On "Improving Transparency in State Regulation of Insurer Investments."
September 1, 2006	Oxley Urges Action on GSE Reform
August 30, 2006	OCC Releases A Study of Foreclosures of Subprime Mortgages in Chicago Examines the Role of Predatory Lending Practices
August 29, 2006	IRS Extends Katrina Filing Deadline for Businesses
August 25, 2006	HUD Clarifies HECM Program Subordinate Liens and State and Local Court-Ordered Judgments and Judgment Liens [PDF]
August 24, 2006	Justice Department Drops Investigation of Fannie Mae
August 23, 2006	House Committee Holds Field Hearing on "Community Solutions for the Prevention of and Management of Foreclosures."
August 18, 2006	FEMA Identifies Communities Where Sale of Flood Insurance Are Scheduled for Suspension
August 9, 2006	OTS Concludes Federal Saving Associations May Engage in Insurance Activities [PDF]
August 4, 2006	House Committee Passes Social Security Number Protection Act
July 31, 2006	House Subcommittee Holds Field hearing entitled "Removing Barriers to Homeownership for Native Americans."
July 28, 2006	House Subcommittee Approves Law tor Protecting Social Security Numbers
July 28, 2006	House Sucommittee Examines "The Changing Real Estate Market."
July 26, 2006	House Passes Bill To Modernize Federal Housing Administration Legislation Will Increase Access to FHA for Potential Homebuyers
July 25, 2006	Joint House Committees Examine "Terrorism Threats and the Insurance Market."
July 21, 2006	Baker Subcommittee Approves Brown-Waite’s Insurance Legislation
July 21, 2006	Florida Multi-Faceted Review of the Florida Title Insurance Industry
July 21, 2006	Joint Hearing Scheduled for July 25th On Terrorism and Insurance
July 14, 2006	Insurance Regulation Reform Subject of Senate Hearing US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Conducts a Hearing on Insurance Regulation Reform
July 13, 2006	Property Owners One Step Closer To Getting Equal Access To Justice
July 7, 2006	Senate Banking Committee To Hold Hearing On Optional Federal Insurance Charter
June 29, 2006	House Passes The Flood Modernization and Reform Act (H.R. 4973)
June 28, 2006	President Signs Executive Order Regarding Private Property Rights
June 23, 2006	Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form and Instructions
June 22, 2006	Senator Talent Introduces Measure to Boost Homeownership
June 16, 2006	Senate Committee Holds Hearing on OFHEO's Special Examination of Fannie Mae
June 14, 2006	HUD Announces Review Of Fannie And Freddie Investments To Ensure Charter Compliance
June 13, 2006	Market Regulators Propose New Standards For Title Insurance And Annuity Products
June 13, 2006	Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Hearing Entitled "Home Mortgage Disclosure Act: Newly Collected Data and What It Means."
June 9, 2006	House Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises Conducts Hearing Entitled "OFHEO’s Final Report on Fannie Mae."
May 25, 2006	Senate Committee Passes Flood Insurance Bill
May 23, 2006	OFHEO Director Lockhart to Testify on OFHEO Report
May 18, 2006	Lawmakers Propose Bill to Reform Section 404
May 18, 2006	SEC: Small Companies Not Exempt From Law
May 12, 2006	Fannie Mae Updates Hurricane-Related Special Relief Measures
May 10, 2006	Real Estate Services Company Settles Privacy and Security Charge Company Tossed Consumers' Confidential Information in Dumpster; Company Computers Were Hacked
April 26, 2006	House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Hearing entitled "Title Insurance: Cost and Competition."
April 25, 2006	ALTA® Testifies on Title Insurance Before House Subcommittee nation’s title insurance marketplace, and the regulation and competitive nature of the title insurance industry.
April 25, 2006	GAO Releases a Report About the Title Industry
April 25, 2006	House Subcommittee to Survey Title Insurance Industry
April 21, 2006	Freddie Mac to pay $410 million in lawsuit settlements Expects settlements to ding Q1 earnings by $220 million
April 19, 2006	Freddie Mac Settles With Federal Election Commission
April 19, 2006	House Subcommittee to hold hearing on title insurance, AfBAs
April 19, 2006	OFHEO Summarizes Comments Received Regarding Existing Regulations Of GSE
April 7, 2006	FCC Amends Rules To Implement Junk Fax Prevention Act Of 2005
April 5, 2006	House Subcommittee Examines "Transforming FHA for the 21st Century."
April 3, 2006	Report Issued on Improving Financial Privacy Notices for Consumers
March 29, 2006	Fannie Mae Lists Changes for Resale-Restricted Properties
March 29, 2006	HUD Clarifies Closing Costs for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages [PDF]
March 24, 2006	FTC to Host Workshop on Alternative Mortgages on May 24
March 17, 2006	House Panel Clears Flood Bill
March 16, 2006	Interagency Advisory On Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
March 14, 2006	House Committee on Financial Services Conducts Hearing to "Review of the Rudman Report on Fannie Mae."
March 9, 2006	Rudman to Testify on Fannie Mae Report
March 9, 2006	Small Business Subcommittee to Examine: "The State of Small Business Security in a Cyber Economy"
March 8, 2006	OTS Finds Local Lending Law Preempted for Federal Savings Associations
March 7, 2006	HUD Reports on Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac: Enhanced Public Data And Recent Housing Goal Performance
March 2, 2006	President’s Working Group on Financial Markets Seeks Comments on Long-Term Availability and Affordability of Terrorism Risk Insurance
February 24, 2006	Oxley Releases GAO Request Letter on Title Insurance
February 23, 2006	Fannie Mae Releases Rudman Report
February 23, 2006	Fitch Revises RMBS Guidelines for Antipredatory Lending Laws
February 23, 2006	Oxley Calls for Federal Investigation of Title Insurance Requests report from Government Accountability Office
February 14, 2006	CRS Releases Report on "Data Security: Federal and State Laws"
February 10, 2006	Update on FEMA's Flood Hazard Map Modernization Initiative
February 3, 2006	Sen. Shelby Announces Banking Committee Priorities For Second Session Of 109th Congress
February 2, 2006	Fannie Mae releases an update to 2006 Selling Guide. [PDF]
February 2, 2006	NAIC Property and Casualty Insurance (C) Committee Reports on Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA)
January 31, 2006	HUD Revises Borrower’s Closing Costs Guidelines (Mortgagee Letter 06-04) [PDF]
January 25, 2006	FTC Finds Identity Theft Top Fraud [PDF]
January 25, 2006	US Senate Committee Conducts Hearing On Proposals to Reform the National Flood Insurance Program
January 24, 2006	New Publication Explains Tax Law Changes Related to Recent Hurricanes
January 17, 2006	The House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Examines “Housing Options in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita”
January 16, 2006	Federal Financial Regulators Announce Public Service Campaign to Help Hurricane Victims
January 10, 2006	ALTA® Comments on Proposed RESPA Web Site Complaint Questionnaire [PDF]
January 9, 2006	Treasury Offers Guidance to Terrorism Insurance Providers, Policyholders Under TRIEA [PDF] Jan. 31 Deadline Looms for Insurers to Renew Lapsed Policies
January 4, 2006	FICEN Publishes Final Rule Implementing Section 312 of the USA PATRIOT Act [PDF]
January 4, 2006	Terrorism Insurance Act Extended by P.L. 109-144
December 19, 2005	President Expected to Sign TRIA Legislation
December 14, 2005	FCC's Junk Fax Rules Coming
December 13, 2005	CRS Releases Analysis of: "Terrorism Risk Insurance" [PDF]
December 6, 2005	D.C. Circuit Rejects FTC Conclusion That Attorneys Are Subject to the GLBA Privacy Provisions
December 6, 2005	House Overwhelmingly Approves TRIA Legislation
December 2, 2005	Freddie Mac Foreclosure Suspension In Gulf Coast Hurricane Disaster Areas Extended Until February 28, 2006 Borrowers Urged to Call Servicers Following Dec. 1 End to Mandatory Forbearance
November 29, 2005	OFHEO Announces Maximum 2006 Conforming Loan Limit
November 21, 2005	8th Annual Analysis of Bundling Real Estate Service Released By Swanepoel Group
November 21, 2005	RESPA Resources
November 18, 2005	Terrorism Risk Insurance Bill Advances
November 11, 2005	Final EPA Rule Provides Liability Protection To Encourage Redevelopment Of Brownfields
November 11, 2005	HUD Finalizes Rule To Make More Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Mortgage Data Available To The Public
November 9, 2005	House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Hearing on H.R. 3997, the "Financial Data Protection Act of 2005."
November 9, 2005	HUD Solicits Comments on (RESPA) Web Site Complaint Questionnaire
November 9, 2005	Nearly 30 Governors Request TRIA Extension in a Letter to Congress [PDF]
November 4, 2005	House Vote Counters Eminent Domain Measure
November 3, 2005	Media Coverage of this Issue
November 3, 2005	Oxley to End 25 Years of Service in Congress at End of 2006
November 2, 2005	OFHEO Finds Fannie Mae Achieves 30 Percent Capital Surplus
November 1, 2005	HUD Settles Case Against Four Detroit Real Estate Brokers Over Violations Of Anti-kickback Rules Agreements follow earlier settlement against Metropolitan Title Company
October 27, 2005	GSE Legislation Overwhelmingly Approved, 331-90
October 20, 2005	House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Conducts Hearing "Management and Oversight of the National Flood Insurance Program."
October 17, 2005	Fannie Mae Addresses Hurricane-Related Mortgage Servicing and Underwriting Policies [PDF]
October 12, 2005	HUD Releases Revised Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) [PDF]
October 7, 2005	Financial Services Committee Members Introduce Comprehensive Bipartisan Consumer Data Protection Legislation
October 7, 2005	House Overwhelmingly Approves Three Hurricane Housing Relief Bills
September 30, 2005	FEMA suspends some communities from NFIP for noncompliance with the floodplain requirements [PDF]
September 28, 2005	Oxley, Frank Release GAO Report on Real Estate Competition
September 27, 2005	House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Conducts a Hearing "Licensing and Registration in the Mortgage Industry."
September 23, 2005	FEMA Offers Assistance to NFIP Private Sector Property Insurers [PDF]
September 23, 2005	Rep. Manzullo Introduces Legislation to Reduce Taxes on Small Business, Create U.S. Jobs
September 16, 2005	House Committee Conducts Hearing on "Emergency Housing Needs in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
September 15, 2005	Freddie Mac Extends Mortgage Relief To National Guard Engaged In Hurricane Katrina Operations Reminds Servicers to Provide SCRA Protections to Active Duty Federal Service Personnel
September 15, 2005	Freddie Mac's Multifamily Division offers 90-days Forbearance to Borrowers with Apartment Buildings Affected by Hurricane Katrina
September 15, 2005	Hurricane Katrina Information and Resources for Mortgage Industry Professionals
September 13, 2005	Katrina Victims Will Have Until Jan. 3 2006 to File and Pay Taxes IR-2005-96, Sept. 8, 2005
September 13, 2005	OFHEO Enters Into Consent Order With Freddie Mac
September 9, 2005	Hearing Scheduled to Examine the Preventing Identity Theft and Protecting Financial Information
September 5, 2005	OFHEO Reaches Agreements With Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac On Subordinated Debt, Disclosures
August 15, 2005	FinCEN Offers Guidance on Currency Reporting
July 14, 2005	Senate Committee Conducts Hearing on Treasury Department’s Report to Congress Regarding The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002
July 3, 2005	ALTA® Action on SMART Legislation (State Based Insurance Regulation)
June 30, 2005	US Department of Treasury Issues Report on The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act - June 30, 2005 [PDF]
June 8, 2005	ALTA® Submits Comments to House Committee on Predatory Lending [PDF]
May 26, 2005	Financial Services Committee Votes to Create Strong Regulator for the Secondary Mortgage Markets
May 19, 2005	OFHEO Classifies Fannie Mae As Significantly Undercapitalized For Fourth Quarter 2004 And Adequately Capitalized For First Quarter 2005
May 11, 2005	ALTA® Comments on SMART Act Discussion Draft Title VI: Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance, and Title VII: Personal Lines of Property and Casualty Insurance [PDF]
April 29, 2005	NAIC’s Release the Team Findings Review of the SMART Act [PDF]
April 22, 2005	SMART Act Discussion Draft
April 14, 2005	Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to Conduct Three Days of Hearings on "Regulatory Reform of the Housing Government-Sponsored Enterprises"
March 31, 2005	OFHEO Finds Freddie Mac Adequately Capitalized [PDF]
March 28, 2005	Fannie Mae Downgraded to B+ from A- for bank financial strength as new accounting issues identified; Aaa affirmed for senior unsecured debt
March 18, 2005	Committee Approves Bill to Give Uninsured Working Families Access to Affordable Health Care
March 9, 2005	Fannie Mae Agrees to Put in New Controls Fannie Mae Agrees in Second Deal With Regulators to Put in New Accounting Controls
February 3, 2005	Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (SB 335) introduced in the Texas Legislature on 02/02/05 [PDF]
January 4, 2005	Captive Reinsurance Debate

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