A new paper by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University recommended increasing the amount of downpayment assistance to Black and Hispanic first-time homebuyers using FHA loans.

Although the share of Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance decreased to 1.28% in February from 1.37% the prior month, there are still concerns about FHA/VA loan performance.

The Center for Responsible Lending and the American Enterprise Institute want FHA and VA to implement measures to discourage harmful cash-out refinancings.

The Mortgage Bankers Association recommended the Department of Housing and Urban Development publish its proposed Section 184 guidelines in a policy handbook similar to FHA’s rather than in a Code of Federal Regulation.

Federal housing agencies will continue to collaborate on loss-mitigation options following their teamwork when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FHA is taking comments through April 17 on a request for information on the barriers consumers and lenders face in accessing the FHA 203(k) rehabilitation mortgage program.

FHA will expand its loss-mitigation options to borrowers at risk of default even if COVID-19 wasn’t the cause of their economic challenges.

The Urban Institute has called on federal housing agencies to accommodate automated valuation models as their starting points, with human appraisers checking the accuracy of the data as a back-up.

One of the keys for lenders facing financial difficulties is to communicate early and often with Ginnie Mae, according to the agency’s chief risk officer.

Trade groups recommended VA establish a permanent partial claim program that allows servicers to combine a partial claim with a loan modification for borrowers that need to reduce their monthly payments.