A nonprofit organization that assists a government agency in providing secondary financing through FHA does not need approval by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or placement on the agency’s roster of approved nonprofits that meet certain requirements. According to Mortgagee Letter 2014-08, to qualify for the exclusion, the nonprofit’s functions must be limited to the government entity’s secondary financing program as well as to the note and deed of trust, which name the government agency as the mortgagee. Currently, HUD requires nonprofits to be HUD-approved and listed on the agency’s roster of nonprofit organizations before engaging in secondary financing for closing costs, prepaids and downpayment assistance on behalf of the government entity. In a mortgagee letter last year, HUD acknowledged that some government entities could not legally or operationally ensure that they are “making” second mortgages. As a result, the agency allowed ...
A revised-areas map that meets the new definition of “rural area” for U.S. Department of Agriculture housing programs is now available to USDA lenders and borrowers seeking affordable rural-home financing. The map was posted on the USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site on May 6 and users may access it by selecting “single family housing” under the Property Eligibility menu. More details about the changes will be available soon in frequently asked questions guidance, the agency said. The new definition of rural area is contained in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill), which was enacted on Feb. 7 and made changes to federal rural development programs. Among other things, the bill redefined rural areas as those with populations up to 35,000 that are “rural in character” for eligibility in the USDA housing programs. The previous population requirement was less than 20,000 people. The area must be ...
AAG, NCRC Announces Fair Lending Partnership in Reverse Mortgages. American Advisors Group, ranked first among the nation’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage lenders in 2013 by Inside FHA Lending, has collaborated with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition to ensure fair lending to older borrowers. Through this partnership, AAG employees will complete an NCRC fair housing training course. In addition, the AAG will consult with NCRC to develop best practices for complying with the Fair Housing Act. An umbrella group of more than 600 community-based organizations, the NCRC will also serve as an adviser to AAG in providing HECM mortgages to qualified borrowers age 62 or older. AAG Chief Executive Officer Reza Jahangiri said the partnership is a huge step toward the promotion of fair lending practices and responsible lending. AAG was the top HECM lender in 2013 with $1.4 billion in total originations representing ...
At the end of March, Two Harbors affiliate TH Insurance had $464.5 million of outstanding secured advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
It seems that GSE officials, to some degree, are trying to manage future expectations, but one thing is certain: guaranty fee income remains very strong.
The most significant bill up for debate Wednesday is the Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Barr, R-KY, which would deem all loans held in portfolio to be qualified mortgages under the CFPB’s ability-to-repay rule.
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