Four industry groups expressed support for FHA changes addressing False Claims Act liability and urged HUD to adopt as quickly as possible FHA’s revised loan-level certification.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage originations fell in the third quarter de-spite a buoyant housing market. FHA policy changes continue to dampen buyer enthusiasm for the product. (Includes two data charts.)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill prohibiting deceptive advertising and marketing of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loans. The law takes effect March 5, 2020.
Borrower demand for FHA-insured loans was strong in the third quarter due to low interest rates. Not surprisingly, refinance activity, streamline refinancing in particular, provided the boost.
Notwithstanding improvement in the financial condition of the FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, HUD has no plans to cut mortgage insurance premiums or drop the FHA life-of-loan policy.
FHA insured at least $13 billion in loans to borrowers with unpaid federal tax debt, according to audit findings by the HUD inspector general. The potential loss on the problem loans could be as much as $6.1 billion, the IG said.
FHA has updated its HECM rule, which allows lenders to offer surviving spouses of deceased borrowers the option of deferring payments and assigning the loan.