Regulatory Compliance

FTC revisits noncompete rules after Biden-era ban blocked

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday issued a public request for information on noncompete agreements as it seeks to identify practices it considers “unfair” and “anticompetitive,” a topic that has drawn attention across the mortgage and real estate industries.  Under the Trump administration, the FTC said it will take a case-by-case approach rather than […]

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HUD moves to bar non-permanent residents from Section 184 tribal loan program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has revised residency requirements for the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program to exclude non-permanent resident aliens. “This update aligns HUD’s requirements with recent executive actions that emphasize the prioritization of federal resources to protect the financial interests of American citizens and ensure the integrity

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Advalis CEO speaks on expanded FinCEN compliance platform

Compliance software provider Advalis has launched a new version of its platform designed specifically for title companies, escrow officers and settlement agents facing the upcoming Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule. The rule, which takes effect Dec. 1, will require reports on certain all-cash real estate transactions — essentially expanding what

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Caliber Home Loans fined $2.3M for overcharging California borrowers

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) confirmed on Monday that it has reached a $2.3 million settlement with former mortgage lender and servicer Caliber Home Loans Inc. California regulators found that in 2016, Caliber overcharged borrowers per diem interest and later identified 4,912 affected loans between 2012 and 2019, totaling $550,316. These

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HUD’s English-only policy slams the door on the American Dream

“One voice” or no voice at all? As of August 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is officially enforcing an English-only policy across its operations. Under direction from the Trump administration’s executive order that declared English the “official language” of the United States, HUD has begun removing all translated materials from

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Mortgage lenders urged to build AI compliance foundations

Mortgage lenders deploying artificial intelligence should prepare now for Colorado’s comprehensive AI law that will take effect in February 2026 and rethink how they manage compliance risk. That’s according to Mike Brown, chief product officer at Xactus, and Wendy Lee, managing partner at LOGS Legal Group, who appeared on stage this week at HousingWire‘s AI

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Arizona homebuilders challenge groundwater restrictions

As Arizona grapples with rapid growth and a changing climate, long-standing groundwater regulations are being tested in courtrooms, boardrooms and booming desert suburbs. Developers and regulators are locked in a deepening dispute over how to manage the state’s finite water supplies — with the future of real estate, agriculture and sustainability hanging in the balance.

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FHFA plans to eliminate GSEs’ equitable housing finance plans

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is proposing to repeal its fair lending, fair housing and equitable housing finance rule, arguing that the regulation is duplicative that the repeal aligns with prior executive orders aimed at streamlining agency functions. The rule, finalized in May 2024 under the Biden administration, required Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

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Michigan title agents suspended over escrow allegations

Two Oakland County, Michigan, title insurance agents have had their licenses suspended following allegations of misappropriating millions in escrow funds. The agents are also accused of failing to cooperate with auditors and a state investigation — as well as contributing to at least one homeowner’s foreclosure, according to a local news report. The Michigan Department

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California creates office dedicated to housing, homelessness issues

In a move to overhaul how California manages its housing and homelessness response, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed to divide the state’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two distinct entities — the California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA) and the Business and Consumer Services Agency. With no veto coming from the California State

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