Mortgage Lenders Win Stay in Fight Against Pay Changes

An appellate court has blocked new rules from taking effect that would completely change the way mortgage lenders get paid. The ruling represents at least a temporary victory for the mortgage industry. The decision means that the compensation changes set to take effect today won't be in place until at least next week. They had been scheduled to take effect today. Two mortgage industry trade groups sued to block the rules' implementation. They appealed after a judge on Wednesday denied their motion. The changes handed down by the Federal Reserve would make it illegal for a loan officer to make a commission based on a mortgage's interest rate. Consumer advocates have argued that during the peak of the housing boom, too many borrowers were steered toward bad loans they couldn't affordby greedy lenders who were being paid to jack up interest rates. The changes would see loan officers paid only on the size of a mortgage. But he mortgage industry says the rules go too far and would actually hurt some homebuyers. Michael D'Alonzo, president of the trade group National Association of Mortgage Brokers, says a hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.