None of the state or local downpayment assistance programs have enough scale or funding to make a meaningful impact in addressing the challenge of accumulating a 3.5% downpayment on FHA loans, according to analysts at the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center.
Sam Valverde, acting president of Ginnie Mae, noted that Ginnie and the Department of Veterans Affairs have policies in place to prevent refis that don’t benefit borrowers and they will continue to watch for “abnormal” refi activity.
One addresses foreclosures in states with a nonjudicial foreclosure process and the other would modify requirements for direct endorsement underwriters.
“If we had a major economic downturn, I don’t know what kind of havoc we would have right now, because there’s no stability,” said Ted Tozer, a former president of Ginnie Mae.
Ginnie issuers securitized $15.61 billion of refis through the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program in the third quarter, a 68.5% increase from the prior period.
FHA issued an extensive FAQ document late last week, addressing questions about guidance with an Oct. 31 implementation date for reconsiderations of value.
FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon spoke Tuesday at an online housing counseling conference hosted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Housing Counseling.