With more than two years left to go in the Home Affordable Refinance Program, it remains to be seen how many HARP-eligible loans will ultimately be refinanced as borrower education and lender participation in the program continue to be major challenges, according to a recent report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s official watchdog. In its “mid-program assessment,” the FHFA’s Office of Inspector General report noted that since HARP was launched in March 2009 through March 2013, 2.4 million HARP refis have been completed. The HARP 2.0 modifications rolled out in late 2011 and subsequent changes made throughout 2012 and 2013 have “substantially increased” the program’s refi volume, particularly for loans with loan-to-value ratios greater than 105 percent, said the OIG.
The the most powerful consumer regulator in the nation raised concerns about aligning the definitions of 'qualified residential mortgage' and 'qualified mortgage.'
The agency watchdog wants HUD to pursue civil remedies against The Lending Company and impose fines for incorrectly certifying that mortgages were eligible for FHA insurance.
Warehouse lending executives say they are seeing their nonbank clients earn less money this summer, but noted that profits are still strong by historical levels.
HUD eliminated the standard 30-year, fixed-rate HECM in April because the default rate on the loans was about four times that of a non-HECM regular mortgage.
Paul Rozo, CEO of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, said his company’s application volume is down roughly 20 percent since rates jumped a few months back, but some of his competitors are seeing declines of up to 50 percent.
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