Donovan Defends Steps Taken to Improve FHA Fund, Says HUD Would Consider Raising FICO Score, Other Measures
December 6, 2012
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan said this week HUD is considering additional steps to improve the financial health of the FHA single-family program, including raising FICO score requirements and supporting legislation that would take the FHA loan limits back to pre-crisis levels. The HUD secretary found himself in the hot seat before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development, explaining the results of a recent actuarial audit that placed the FHAs Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund capital reserve ratio below zero at negative 1.44 percent, representing a negative economic value of $16.3 billion. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, ranking minority member of the committee, raised...