Which entity is primarily responsible for the enforcement of mortgage regulations?

The correct choice is HUD, which stands for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This agency plays a critical role in enforcing mortgage regulations, particularly those stemming from the National Housing Act and other housing legislation. HUD oversees various programs designed to provide housing assistance and enforce fair lending practices. Their responsibilities include ensuring compliance with the Fair Housing Act, enforcing the regulations pertaining to federally insured loans, and implementing policies aimed at promoting affordable housing.

HUD's significant role in the mortgage industry makes it the primary authority for enforcing regulations related to mortgage lending practices. This includes monitoring compliance by lenders and servicers and ensuring that consumers are protected in their borrowing process.

While other entities like the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) contribute to housing finance by insuring loans and creating lending guidelines, they do not have the same regulatory enforcement authority as HUD. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is focused on securities markets and investor protection, and the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) primarily insures bank deposits and oversees financial institutions, but neither is primarily responsible for mortgage regulation enforcement.