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NOTE 24 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Loss contingency, allegations
Litigation Contingencies In September 2006, the Bankruptcy Trustee in Chapter 7 proceedings involving American Business Financial Services, Inc. (ABFS) brought an action against multiple defendants, including Ocwen, in Bankruptcy Court. The action arises out of Debtor-in-Possession financing to ABFS by defendant Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc. and the subsequent purchases by Ocwen of MSRs and certain residual interests in mortgage-backed securities previously held by ABFS. The Trustee filed an amended complaint in March 2007 alleging various claims against Ocwen including turnover, fraudulent transfers, accounting, breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy and conversion. The Trustee seeks compensatory damages in excess of $100.0 million and punitive damages jointly and severally against all defendants. In April 2008, Ocwen filed an answer denying all charges and a counterclaim for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and indemnification in connection with the MSR purchase transaction. On August 30, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order granting Ocwen’s motion for partial summary judgment and denying the Trustee’s motion for partial summary judgment. This order effectively rejects the bulk of the Trustee’s damage claims against Ocwen. In light of this order, the parties entered into a definitive written settlement agreement that provides for a final resolution and termination of this matter. This settlement has been approved by the Bankruptcy Court, and Ocwen’s involvement in the matter has ended. This settlement did not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Loss contingency, damages sought, value $ 100
Site contingency, status of regulatory proceedings
Regulatory Contingencies We are subject to a number of pending federal and state regulatory investigations, examinations, inquiries, requests for information and/or other actions. In July 2010, OLS received two subpoenas from the Federal Housing Finance Agency as conservator for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in connection with ten private label mortgage securitization transactions where Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have invested. The transactions include mortgage loans serviced but not originated by OLS or its affiliates. On November 24, 2010, OLS received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the FTC requesting documents and information regarding various servicing activities. On June 6, 2012, the FTC notified OLS that it had referred this CID to the CFPB. On November 7, 2011, OLS received a CID from the Attorney General’s Office of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requesting documents and information regarding certain foreclosures executed in Massachusetts. On January 18, 2012, OLS received a subpoena from the New York Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) requesting documents regarding OLS’ policies, procedures and practices regarding lender-placed or “force-placed” insurance which is required to be provided for borrowers who allow their hazard insurance policies to lapse. Separately, on December 5, 2012, we entered into a Consent Order with the NY DFS in which we agreed to the appointment of an independent Monitor to oversee our compliance with the Agreement on Servicing Practices. Ocwen’s understanding is that NY DFS has selected the firm which will act as the Monitor, and we intend to continue to cooperate with the NY DFS and the Monitor once the NY DFS and the Monitor finalize the terms of the engagement. On August 13, 2012, OLS received a request from the Multi-State Mortgage Committee of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (MMC) to provide information and data relating to our loan servicing portfolio, including loan count and volume data, loan modifications, fees assessed, delinquencies, short sales, loan-to-value data and rating agency reports. The MMC, along with the CFPB, certain state Attorneys General and other agencies who were involved in the National Mortgage Settlement executed on February 9, 2012 by the five large banks, also requested that we indicate our position on behalf of OLS and Litton on the servicing standards and consumer relief provisions contained in that settlement. We are cooperating with and providing requested information to each of the agencies involved in the foregoing actions. Specifically in response to the request from the MMC, CFPB, state Attorneys General and other agencies, we indicated our willingness to adopt the servicing standards set out in the National Mortgage Settlement with certain caveats. We further indicated our willingness to undertake various consumer assistance commitments in the form of loan modifications and other foreclosure avoidance alternatives. On February 26, 2013, the MMC, CFPB and state Attorneys General requested that we consider a proposal to contribute to a consumer relief fund that would provide cash payments to borrowers foreclosed upon by OLS and various entities we have acquired. We believe the maximum liability under this proposal would be approximately $135.0 million. We do not believe such a contribution from us is warranted under the circumstances and have so notified the requesting parties. Nevertheless, in an attempt to bring finality to this matter, we have entered into discussions with the requesting parties while reserving all our rights and defenses. It is reasonably possible, however, that a resolution may not be concluded in which case legal proceedings could ensue which we would defend vigorously. At this time, the amounts, if any, that ultimately could be incurred with regard to this matter are not reasonably estimable. On November 30, 2012, prior to our completion of the Homeward Acquisition, two CIDs were issued to Homeward by the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Texas, as part of an investigation of whether Homeward violated the False Claims Act in connection with its participation in HAMP. We were advised by Homeward that documents and information have been provided pursuant to these CIDs. The investigation remains open, and we intend to cooperate in the event there are further informational requests. As part of the ResCap Acquisition, OLS is required to service the ResCap loans in accordance with the requirements of the National Mortgage Settlement, although OLS is not responsible for any payment, penalty or financial obligation, including but not limited to providing Ally’s share of financial relief to borrowers under that settlement. The Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with obligations under the National Mortgage Settlement, issued a report on February 14, 2013 confirming that Ally/ResCap have completed its minimum consumer relief obligations. One or more of the foregoing regulatory actions or similar actions in the future against Ocwen, OLS, Litton or Homeward could cause us to incur fines, penalties, settlement costs, damages, legal fees or other charges in material amounts, or undertake remedial actions pursuant to administrative orders or court-issued injunctions, any of which could adversely affect our financial results or incur additional significant costs related to our loan servicing operations. In addition to these matters, Ocwen receives periodic inquires, both formal and informal in nature, from various state and federal agencies as part of those agencies’ oversight of the mortgage servicing sector. Such ongoing inquiries, including those into servicer foreclosure processes, could result in additional actions by state or federal governmental bodies, regulators or the courts that could result in an extension of foreclosure timelines, which may be applicable generally to the servicing industry or to us in particular. In addition, a number of our match funded advance facilities contain provisions that limit the eligibility of advances to be financed based on the length of time that advances are outstanding, and two of our match funded advance facilities have provisions that limit new borrowings if average foreclosure timelines extend beyond a certain time period, either of which, if such provisions applied, could adversely affect liquidity by reducing our average effective advance rate. Increases in the amount of advances and the length of time to recover advances, fines or increases in operating expenses, and decreases in the advance rate and availability of financing for advances could result in increased borrowings, reduced cash and higher interest expense which could negatively impact our liquidity and profitability.
Loss contingency, range of possible loss, portion not accrued $ 135
Commitments, contingencies and guarantees In several recent court actions, mortgage loan sellers against whom repurchase claims have been asserted based on alleged breaches of representations and warranties are defending on various grounds including the expiration of statutes of limitation, lack of notice and opportunity to cure and vitiation of the obligation to repurchase as a result of foreclosure or charge off of the loan. Ocwen is not a party to any of the actions, but we are the servicer for certain securitizations involved in such actions. In connection with these actions, Ocwen is in the process of negotiating tolling agreements with respect to its role as servicer for a very small number of securitizations and may enter into additional tolling agreements in the future. Should Ocwen be made a party to these or similar actions, we may need to defend allegations that we failed to service loans in accordance with applicable agreements and that such failures prejudiced the rights of repurchase claimants against loan sellers. We believe that any such allegations would be without merit and, if necessary, would vigorously defend against them. If, however, we were required to compensate claimants for losses related to seller breaches of representations and warranties in respect of loans we service, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.