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

The rule, effective March 4, makes some existing manufactured homes eligible for Rural Housing Service financing.

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.

Endorsement activity involving traditional HECMs declined slightly and production of HECMs for home purchase increased during the third quarter. Mutual of Omaha remained the top HECM lender. (Includes three data tables.)

Among a large group of FHA/VA lenders, the broker channel accounted for 24.8% of government-insured originations in the third quarter. UWM and PennyMac sharply increased their broker volume in the quarter. (Includes data table.)

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

More than a third of this year’s VA rate-and-term refinances were originated with loan-to-value ratios above 100%, according to ICE.

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

The proposal is meant to address liquidity challenges servicers face from tax and insurance advances in an elevated interest rate environment.

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