Impac launches broker to banker program

Jimenez still at HUDMortgagePress.comJimenez,HUD,RESPA Former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Chief-of-Staff Frank Jimenez, who officially left HUD with the departure of Mel Martinez, is remaining at the department temporarily to help with the transition in the secretary's office. Jimenez still plans on leaving HUD soon, though, saying that his replacement, Camille Pierce, "has been with [Acting Secretary Alphonso Jackson] for a long time and will do a great job as the chief of staff." Jimenez responded to speculation that his departure may have been related to the tension caused between HUD and Congress as a result of HUD's decision to issue a final RESPA rule while Congress was in recess, by saying that he had always intended to leave whenever Secretary Martinez left. In fact, Jimenez defended HUD's decision to release the rule, saying, "To our knowledge, no HUD official ever promised that the rule would not be transmitted ... during the recess."