The changes are meant to better align the program with other federal housing programs and adhere to legislative updates.

Scott Turner’s nomination hearing scheduled for next week; FHA updates draft mortgagee letter on partial claim document recording and payoff statements; Fannie Mae updates Desktop Underwriter in support of FHA and VA loan limit changes; FHA adopts Uniform Residential Loan Application for Title I loan programs; the Mortgage Bankers Association provides feedback on proposed updates to Title I manufactured housing program; FHA outlines changes on multifamily loan underwriting thresholds.

Michael Barr to step down as Fed vice chair for supervision; fifteen states and the National Association of Home Builders sue HUD over energy-efficiency requirements; Ally to exit origination business.

HUD said its current rule adversely impacts the availability of affordable homes for sale.

Mortgage lenders are pushing back on enforcement actions against servicer convenience fees for optional expedited payment services.

The SFLS program is intended to yield a recovery to the MMIF that meets or exceeds the recovery obtained from a foreclosure-based claim.

The final rule will allow lenders to disburse up to 1% of FHA-endorsed multifamily construction loan proceeds before borrower-provided funds are fully exhausted.

One of the nation’s top mortgage lenders wants a federal court to confirm that lenders can’t interfere within independent appraisals, even if they are allegedly discriminatory.

Ginnie Mae’s former acting president will help develop and implement mission-related activities at Freddie.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said HUD regulations don’t expressly prohibit convenience fees, and a retroactive administrative enforcement of an “apparent new policy” is inappropriate and misguided.