The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has rescinded a number of appraisal policies instituted during the Biden Administration. In a Mortgagee Letter released last week, FHA rescinded three previous Mortgagee Letters released during the previous administration, effectively restoring the policies in place prior to these three letters.
Mortgage professionals can now access FICO’s Score Mortgage Simulator on the Xactus360 Verification Platform, the companies announced earlier this month. FICO announced the tool in October. It’s designed to simulate potential impacts to a consumer’s FICO score with hypothetical changes in credit report data. Examples include a potential borrower reducing their credit card balance or getting rid of a collection account.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported strong financial results for 2024, in what could be the last annual report for the enterprises under government conservatorship. Fannie Mae booked net income of just under $17 billion for the full year, about 2 percent below what it reported in 2023. In its statement, Fannie said last year’s performance was driven by guaranty fee income on its $4 trillion guaranty book of business, “consistent with the transformation of our business model that began well over a decade ago.”
Within days of the introduction of legislation to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the agency’s director was let go by President Donald Trump. Neither action was surprising to those paying attention to the new administration or the Republican-controlled Congress. The agency has been a point of contention in Congress since it was formed as part of Dodd-Frank in 2010.
As new President Donald Trump tapped a new director for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the agency has hit the brakes on a major initiative. Trump announced a few days before his January 20 inauguration that he was nominating Bill Pulte to lead FHFA. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Sandra Thompson, who resigned just prior to Inauguration Day.
For those of us that work with many first-time homebuyers or low-to-moderate income buyers, we may from time-to-time come across a client that has a Section 8 Homeownership Voucher. This program was introduced by HUD as a way to increase homeownership for low-to-moderate income families. It works very similar to the Section 8 Rental assistance program in which the voucher will pay a portion of the borrower’s mortgage payment each month for up to 15 years or the entire term of the mortgage if one of the borrowers is disabled.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
As volume continues to grow where overall originations of the FHA 203k program is concerned, so of course do errors. I realize that many of the lenders currently underwriting the program are proficient where policy and procedure for this program is concerned, however there are those lenders that are still somewhat new to the program and I thought I would share a little insight as to a few things to keep in mind while underwriting and servicing the program which hopefully spare some of you later issues with both HUD and your investors.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
HUD finally “threw us a bone” on Wednesday when they posted their Moratorium on Risk Based Premiums at the FHA website. According to the Moratorium, the new premiums will be required for cases assigned on and after October 1st, 2008 through September 20th of 2009.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
I realize HUD’s Mortgage Letter 2009-15 generated a lot of excitement and buzz for the industry upon it’s posting on May 12th but no one was more pleased to see HUD retract it just as quickly on May 13th than I. Please note that when I voice my pleasure for the retraction, it certainly doesn’t include any nod for HUD’s methods.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
As I’m sure we’ve all learned by now, HUD announced late last Wednesday afternoon that another extension had been issued in regards to the implementation of the new condominium project approval procedures mentioned in Mortgagee Letter 2009-19. I, for one, am extremely grateful for the additional time; though the extension was issued just as I was wrapping up a very thorough review of the Mortgagee Letter- go figure!
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
The anticipated guidance from HUD in regards to the final Condo Policy finally arrived last week in the form of two Mortgagee Letters. ML 2009-46B, which replaces the previously issued ML 2009-19 and ML 2009-46A which communicates additional temporary guidance on a number of topics.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
I initially titled this article, “HUD Sues Lenders over Omission of Manufactured Housing Engineering Certificates,” but I decided that it might be a little over the top. But, the facts are this. A letter issued by the HUD Inspector General (MEMORANDUM NO: 2007-KC-0801) dated September 2007 recommended just that.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Though I had planned to discuss FACTA this week, HUD recently issued a very important Mortgagee Letter with some long awaited news for all of us so let’s take a break from my series on credit and talk about Mortgagee Letter 2009-14! We’ll pick up right where I left off on the credit series next week.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
I usually check HUD’s Mortgagee website at least once daily for any signs of newly issued Mortgagee Letters that haven’t yet been announced. Today I see that Mortgagee Letter 2009-42 is posted and the subject is Sub-Servicing of FHA-Insured Mortgages.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Mortgagee Letter 2009-51 communicates HUD’s acceptance of FNMA Form 1004D effective for cases assigned on and after January 1st. The form is actually designed to serve two purposes:
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Written By: Bonnie Wildt
I have said it before and I will say it again and that is, do not believe everything you hear or read for that matter. In this particular instance I am referring to AUS Findings. I have had countless conversations with processors and loan officer who want to know why I am asking for documentation that the AUS findings have clearly stated wasn’t needed or worse, they can’t believe I am turning a loan down that has an Approve/Eligible. So here it is again and pay particular attention to the details because just because you have an Approve/Eligible or Accept doesn’t necessarily mean you have a done deal.