According to researchers at the Urban Institute, refi programs at FHA and VA are detrimental to both borrowers and investors.

FHA extends foreclosure moratorium tied to LA wildfires; HUD rescinds Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule; CSBS seeks Ginnie servicing reforms; RHS delays servicing changes; Rate offers complimentary, temporary insurance for first responders; bill in Senate would speed mortgage processing at Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Senate voted 55-44 to confirm Scott Turner as housing secretary, paving the way for the Trump administration to install new leadership at FHA and Ginnie Mae.

The Trump administration is expected to put an early focus on reducing regulation and improving efficiency at federal housing agencies.

The pause was ultimately rescinded following court injunctions. In the meantime, participants in government-insured mortgage programs faced uncertainty.

VA is considering a rule that would require lenders to use a new application program interface to report loan information and remit funding fees to the agency. It also plans to rewrite rules regarding when VA would assert a defense for a partial or total loss of a guarantee.

The changes were set to take effect Feb. 5. Instead, HUD instituted a 90-day delay to review the final rule developed by the Biden administration.

The new policies were established days before the end of the Biden administration and won’t take effect until February 2026. The policies won praise from industry trade groups.

Among the changes, FHA has reduced the required rental income history to 12 months from two years.

VA origination fees will stay at elevated levels through mid-2034 rather than coming down near the end of 2031. The extension was prompted by a bill that passed Congress with broad bipartisan support.