Redlining is the illegal practice of refusing to lend or offering less favorable terms to residents of certain geographic areas, often based on the racial or ethnic composition of those areas.
"Redlining is the practice of denying or restricting financial services to certain neighborhoods based on race or ethnicity."
- CFPB, What is redlining?
References:
CFPB, What is redlining?
SAFE MLO National Test Study Guide

According to RESPA (Regulation X), a borrower generally has the right to choose their own settlement service providers. However, the appraiser is selected by the lender (not the borrower), and the borrower is required to use the appraiser chosen by the lender to ensure appraisal independence and lender risk management.
"A lender may require the use of a particular appraiser to perform the appraisal for a loan."
- RESPA, 12 CFR § 1024.2(b); Appraiser Independence Requirements
References:
CFPB, Your Home Loan Toolkit
Fannie Mae, Appraiser Independence Requirements

Under the Appraiser Independence Requirements (AIR), appraisers are obligated to perform their duties free from outside influence or coercion. Asking the appraiser to substantiate a value is permissible because it falls within the scope of ensuring an accurate and credible appraisal. However, it is not permissible to pressure the appraiser into achieving a target value (A) or to withhold payment (B) for unfavorable valuations.
* Direct communication between the loan officer and the appraiser (D) may be restricted or controlled to prevent undue influence.
References:
Dodd-Frank Act, Appraisal Independence Rules
CFPB Valuation Independence Requirements

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the term "elderly" is defined as anyone who is 62 years of age or older. This designation is significant in fair lending, as the ECOA prohibits discrimination based on age in any aspect of a credit transaction, including mortgage lending.
* ECOA protects borrowers from being denied credit or offered unfavorable terms based solely on their age, and it provides additional protections to borrowers considered "elderly." References:
* Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691(a)
* CFPB Regulation B, 12 CFR Part 1002

An underwriting fee is considered an origination fee because it is a charge for the lender's services in processing and evaluating the mortgage application. Origination fees include any fees associated with creating and underwriting the loan.
* Appraisal fees (A), title insurance fees (C), and prepaid interest fees (D) are not considered origination fees; they are separate charges related to third-party services or pre-paid interest.
References:
* TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID)
* CFPB Mortgage Origination Fee Guidelines