The VA circular came just one day before Congress averted a federal government shutdown with a 45-day continuing resolution.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development can and should do more to help increase the availability of personal property and mortgage loans for manufactured housing, a recent report from the Government Accountability Office said.

If the federal government shuts down starting Oct. 1, the mortgage market will largely carry on, but with some complications.

The heads of mortgage industry trade groups are frustrated that the federal government is crowding out non-agency market participants.

Late last year, Ginnie seized the mortgage servicing assets of Reverse Mortgage Funding after the company filed for bankruptcy, citing liquidity issues.

The VA loss-mitigation service program will more likely be launched next year, Michelle Corridon, deputy director of policy at VA, said during a recent MBA conference.

FHA home equity conversion mortgage endorsements declined by 16.4% from the first to second quarter of the year. (Includes three data charts.)

Panelists at a Community Home Lenders of America roundtable discussed the challenges in targeting low- to moderate-income borrowers, including first-time and minority homebuyers.

State housing finance agencies want to be exempted from proposed FHA audit requirements for investing mortgagees, the National Council of State Housing Agencies said in a comment letter.

The updated guidance, which will go into effect Jan. 1, notes that housing counseling must be provided by a qualified, independent third party and not by anyone compensated by a mortgage originator or servicer.