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Michael G. Branson Michael G. Branson, CEO of All Reverse Mortgage, Inc., and moderator of ARLO™, has 45 years of experience in mortgage banking, with the past 20 years devoted exclusively to reverse mortgages. A Forbes Real Estate Council member, he developed the industry's first fixed-rate jumbo reverse mortgage and has been featured in Forbes, Kiplinger, the LA Times, and Yahoo Finance. (License: NMLS# 14040)
Cliff Auerswald Cliff Auerswald, President of All Reverse Mortgage, Inc., and co-creator of ARLO™ — the industry's first real-time reverse mortgage pricing engine — has 27 years of experience in mortgage banking, with 20+ years focused exclusively on reverse mortgages. A recognized expert in reverse mortgage technology and consumer education, he has been featured in Kiplinger, Yahoo Finance, Realtor.com, and HousingWire. (License: NMLS# 14041)

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Role in Reverse Mortgages

Michael G. Branson, CEO of All Reverse Mortgage
CEO · 45 yrs in mortgage banking
Cliff Auerswald, President of All Reverse Mortgage
President · All Reverse Mortgage Inc.
3 min read Fact Checked HUD-Lender #26031-0007 3 comments

The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act with one main goal: make financial products as safe and straightforward as possible for consumers.

The agency, created last year, now lists the reverse mortgage industry as one of its areas of oversight and enforcement as it oversees banks and non-banks as well as organizations large and small.

Consumers have the ability to contact the agency regarding questions or concerns about financial products they purchase or use, including loans such as reverse mortgages.

Launched in July, 2011, the CFPB has yet to say much about reverse mortgage products.

Having inherited authority from five different government agencies, it has been busy in auditing lenders across the country and ensuring that the required consumer protections are in place, including fair lending.

While the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other federal agencies have been responsible for regulating reverse mortgages in the past, the CFPB will likely play a very active role in the marketplace.

The agency has been tasked to conduct a study of the reverse mortgage industry, to be completed in July of 2012.

Depending on the findings of the study, the CFPB could implement changes it feels are needed to protect consumers.



Consumer resources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Role in Reverse Mortgages


Earlier this year the agency launched a “Ask the CFPB” initiative as a resource for consumers to obtain information on financial products.

Reverse mortgage questions and answers can be found on the site, from what happens when the loan becomes due and payable to how to prepare for a reverse mortgage counseling session—a required step in the loan process.

The CFPB also established an Office of Older Americans and chose Director Skip Humphrey to lead the new division, which is charged with ensuring that American senior citizens are protected in the financial choices they make.

The new agency has also launched a new feedback tool that allows consumers to file complaints through the CFPB’s consumer complaint portal.



Changes ahead for reverse mortgages

One potential change that is being discussed by the lending community and the CFPB involves the rules around origination fees that brokers and lenders can charge on mortgage loans.

Another agency effort toward borrower-facing change is to combine mortgage disclosures including the Truth in Lending Disclosure and the HUD-1 Settlement Statement into a single, easy-to-understand document.

That process is under way for forward mortgage disclosures, with a review of reverse mortgage documents that is expected soon.

While there are many protections already in place for reverse mortgages, the CFPB is one more government body that serves to make the lending process as safe and transparent as possible.



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Michael G. Branson CEO, All Reverse Mortgage, Inc. and moderator of ARLO™ has 45 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry. He has devoted the past 20 years to reverse mortgages exclusively.

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3 Comments on this Article
  1.   Robert Burrell
    January 21st, 2018
    My mother got a reverse mortgage in 2010. She left her house to me in her will, and we were told that in the event of her death, that A family member could purchase the house if they wanted to, as long as it was left in the will. We were also told that the beneficiary would have up to a year to present proper document ie death certificate, will, etc and to purchase the house, by cash or by private financing. I provided everything the asked for almost immediately except the death certificate because it usually takes 6-8 weeks, and has taken up to a year in Oklahoma because of the backlog in the Oklahoma Examiner's Office. After about two weeks after my mother's death, I received a notice that if the loan wasn't satisfied that foreclosure proceedings would take place. I again called the Reverse Mortgage company named Reverse Mortgage Solutions and was told by the rep to disregard the notice because I had contacted them and made them aware of my intentions of retaining the house. I told her I had not received the death certificate yet, she responded that I needed to just fax or mail it when I received it, and since I had sent most of the pertinent documents, that the foreclosure notice was null and void. After a few months I was served a suit for foreclosure notice. I contacted RMS yet again, and was told by yet another rep that yes I had a year to purchase the property, but only 90 days to produce all the documents. A direct contradiction to what the other reps had told me. She also told me that I still could purchase the property, and to fax the death certificate when I received it. I did. I retained financing through a mortgage company who presented RMS with a purchase contract as requested by RMS. There was no response. The mortgage company rep with me in his office contacted RMS and was told we needed to send an Heir's offer, not a standard purchase offer. So we requested and was told that we would be receiving one in a few days. It never came. I contacted RMS again and asked about when the heir's contract would be sent, and was told by YET another rep that the house didn't qualify for an Heir's offer because the home's value was more than the amount owed on the house, and was told that I could wire the money to them. No mortgage company will just wire money without a signed contract. I contacted the law firm representing RMS and was told basically the same thing, where to wire the money. Between muself and my mortgage broker we have tried to settle this loan to no avail. It's as if they are intentionally dragging their feet in order to keep racking up interest fees and legal fees. Or at the very worst, trying to get me to give up and let the home go so they can profit from it, as the house is more valuable than the amount owed. I have been cheated out of at least $5,000 of additional interest and legal fees due to their procrastination or intentional foot dragging. How can this be brought to light, and how can this practice be stopped and RMS be penalized and made to refund all the unwarranted interest fees by their incompetence? I have read reviews about RMS on the BBB website and they seem eerily the same as my complaints. What can I do?
    Reply to Robert
    • Michael Branson Michael Branson
      January 22nd, 2018
      Hi Robert,
      You have several options at this time. Contact HUD and let them know what has transpired and what you are trying to do and have been attempting and send them all the documentation. I don't know where you are located, but if you go onto the HUD website at HUD.gov, the regional Home Ownership Centers (HOC) are listed and you should be able to determine which is the one that covers your area based on the website. Secondly, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at CFPB.gov. The CFPB has a place for consumer complaints right on the front page in the upper right hand corner and they will help with both lenders and servicers. This type of service is appalling and needs to be reported.
      Next, if you think the servicer is moving quickly toward a foreclosure that will not give you time to complete your goals of financing the home in your name, I would suggest you contact an attorney and discuss the possibility of obtaining a stay on the foreclosure. I can't give you legal advise and quite frankly, I don't know if it could be or how it would be done in your area done, a competent attorney certainly could tell you if you could get a court order that would prevent the lender form going any further at this time based on the information you have given me!
      Reply to Michael
  2.   Suzie Eisenstein
    August 26th, 2013
    I have Champion Mortgage handling my reverse mortgage. Suffice to say that this company is COMPLETELY inaccessible. I was late on one payment because I had back surgery followed by a left hip replacement. I explained this to a representative whom I spoke with after calling about 50 times. She told me I would receive one more "threatening letter" but that I should disregard it. Well, I am not in the habit of disregarding threatening correspondence. I have called Champion Mortgage on umpteenth occasions, left several messages for a representative indicating the time to please call me and this individual has gone out of her way to not call me at the times I have left. I then called her extension on many occasions and have ALWAYS received her voicemail. So I have attempted to call their general number and, after waiting on hold for 22 minutes, I give up. Is there anyway you can assist me? Champion Mortgage collects unbelievable fees on my loan every month. However, they are completely inaccessible.
    Reply to Suzie

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