The VA said Wednesday it is “strongly” encouraging mortgage servicers to extend their pause of foreclosures for VA-guaranteed home loans through the end of this year.
The new policy includes the implementation of a waterfall of loan modifications designed to reduce borrowers' monthly mortgage payment by at least 20%.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that veterans are neither disadvantaged nor overcharged in the homebuying process,” said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes.
Those opposed include the American Bankers Association, the Housing Policy Council, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the Structured Finance Association and U.S. Mortgage Insurers.
“The dynamics with the [CFPB] will now start to resemble those of most federal agencies: there will be legal challenges to specific regulations and enforcement actions … but those will be focused, targeted challenges, not existential ones,” according to Adam Levitin, a Georgetown University law school professor.
Brent Giese, executive director for fixed income at Daiwa Capital Markets, said the new margin requirements will put additional financial stress on mortgage lenders.