The reverse mortgage lending industry is working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement two policy changes that would strengthen the FHA’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program. One policy change involves the development of a new HECM option that combines features of the fixed-rate, full-draw HECM Standard and the HECM Saver, according to Peter Bell, president and chief executive officer of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. HUD eliminated the standard 30-year, fixed-rate HECM in April because ...

Lenders must correct erroneous disclosures concerning mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) before submitting loans for FHA insurance, according to new FHA guidance. In an update to Mortgagee Letter 2013-04, FHA Commissioner Carol Galante said some mortgages originated since the termination of the MIP cancellation policy earlier this year still contain incorrect MIP-related disclosures. Under the revised policy, MIPs are no longer cancellable when the current loan-to-value ratio reaches 78 percent. Rather, MIP payments must be made over the entire life of the FHA-insured loan. The change is aimed at increasing ...

Lenders must consider debt disputes, collection accounts and judgments in analyzing a borrower’s credit worthiness because they are indicators of the borrower’s ability and willingness to meet his or her credit obligations, according to the FHA. In recently issued guidance, the FHA said lenders should analyze all collections and judgments, past and present, because they may indicate a borrower’s disregard for credit obligations. Such analysis helps decide whether a loan should be approved for FHA insurance, the agency said. The FHA amended its guidance on collections and disputed accounts in Mortgagee Letter 2013-24, and further clarified ...

Fannie Mae is lowering its maximum loan-to-value ratio to 95 percent come November, and there is speculation that the decision could force some of that business over to FHA. The policy change was confirmed by the GSE when it sent out an update to users of its automated processing program, Desktop Underwriter. It also means that mortgage insurers could lose business at a time when many have shown a new willingness to take on more credit risk amid improving delinquencies and earnings. Mark Goldhaber, a former executive at Genworth Financial, which owns an MI company, told ...

Cancelled Furlough Days. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has reduced the number of furlough days from seven to five days due to progress made in achieving the $69.6 million spending cuts mandated by sequestration. In this regard, previously scheduled furlough days of Aug. 16 and Aug. 30 are cancelled. As the end of FY 2013 approaches, HUD is making significant progress towards reaching its sequestration target, without needing additional furlough days, said Deputy Press Secretary George Gonzalez of HUD’s Office of Public Affairs. Government-wide automatic spending cuts became effective ...

Plans by officials of the city of Richmond, CA, to make a controversial use of eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages, rework their terms and stiff MBS investors for the resulting losses suffered two major blows in recent days as two federal regulatory agencies that play a critical role in the nation’s mortgage finance system intensified their opposition. This week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in response to a joint inquiry by three California Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee, said it cannot guarantee that any mortgage seized through eminent domain would be approved for an FHA-insured refinance – a central pillar in the eminent domain proposal developed by Mortgage Resolution Partners. “Pending legal developments and possible further execution of the plans in question, HUD does not know...

Increases to home prices and employment rates along with servicers’ loss mitigation activities have combined to reduce delinquency rates to “normal” levels across most of the country, according to industry analysts. However, foreclosures remain a concern, particularly in states with a judicial foreclosure process. The overall delinquency rate fell to 7.38 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from 8.64 percent the previous quarter, according to the Inside Mortgage Finance Large Servicer Delinquency Index based on 17 lenders that service a total of $5.42 trillion in home mortgages. Thirty-to-60-day delinquency rates actually ticked up...[Includes one data chart]

The question of whether the FHA should allow the refinancing of underwater mortgages seized through eminent domain has reemerged as a key issue following a recent decision by the city of Richmond, CA, to use its authority to take over distressed mortgages for restructuring. There is a new twist to the question, however. Could FHA’s refusal to refinance such mortgages be deemed discriminatory against cities and homeowners if eminent domain programs meet the requirements of the FHA Short Refinance program? Is that tantamount to redlining? A top executive of Mortgage Resolution Partners, which developed the eminent domain strategy to help underwater homeowners at risk of foreclosure, said ...

PNC Financial Services Group is under federal investigation regarding claims on expenses it incurred in connection with the foreclosure of loans insured or guaranteed by the FHA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PNC disclosed a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York seeking documents related to the foreclosures. PNC said the inquiry is in its early stage and that ...

The mortgage banking industry has commended the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on passing the FHA Solvency Act earlier this month but raised concerns about the bill’s indemnification provision. In a letter to Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-SD, and Ranking Minority Member Mike Crapo, R-ID, David Stevens, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said some deserving borrowers are being shut out of FHA because of strict credit overlays that lenders add to avoid indemnification risks. Stevens said when the Department of Housing and Urban Development is able to require ...