Tag Archives: Federal Housing Administration

Recent research by Washington, D.C.-based think tank American Action Forum (AAF) showed that as of the end of May, the share of FHA endorsements for both minority borrowers and first-time homebuyers was unchanged from a year earlier–33 percent for minority borrowers and 83 percent for first-time buyers.

During his first year as the nation's top housing official, Castro has made several policy changes with the intent of increasing opportunity for more Americans to obtain affordable, sustainable housing. Several of those changes are outlined in an announcement from HUD on Monday titled "Year of Progress: Delivering on the Promise of Opportunity."

The first-time buyer share in April, May, and June was launched to new highs, supported by improvements in the labor market, riskier mortgage lending, and continuing low mortgage rates. The American Enterprise Institute International Center on Housing Risk recently released a report, finding that first-time buyers account for 58.8 percent of primary owner-occupied home purchase mortgages with a government guarantee, up from 57.2 percent the prior June, according to the Agency First-Time Buyer Mortgage Share Index.

Last year, in terms of dollar volume, non-banks accounted for over 40 percent of total originations, compared to 12 percent in 2010, the report says. Of the 40 largest servicers, 16 were non-banks, making up 20.5 percent of the market and 28 percent of outstanding top-40 servicing balances, compared to 8 percent in 2010.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) responded in the Federal Register on Wednesday to comments on the alternative path to claim payment (the Mortgagee Optional Election Assignment) for certain Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), which centers on the delaying of foreclosure on a non-borrowing spouse following a borrowing spouse's death.

Edward Golding, a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has been named by the White House as new leader of the Federal Housing Administration, according to HUD. Sources at HUD told DS News on Thursday that Biniam Gebre will be stepping down from his role as acting commissioner of FHA and that Golding will be taking over the duties of that office. HUD confirmed that Golding's new title will be principal deputy assistant secretary and that he will assume that post on April 7.

The Newseum in Washington, D.C., provided the backdrop for the Sixth Annual Five Star Government Forum (FSGF) on Wednesday, as government officials and mortgage industry professionals came together to discuss the future of America's housing industry.

MetLife Home Loans, a mortgage finance company headquartered in Irving, Texas, has agreed to pay $123.5 million to settle claims of lending violations on government-backed mortgage loans committed by one of its subsidiaries under the False Claims Act, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Acting Commissioner Biniam Gebre reaffirmed his organization's commitment to America's middle class as well as the role of the Administration and defended the FHA's recent lowering of the mortgage insurance premiums in statement released Thursday. Gebre's statement provides a preview of his upcoming appearance at the Five Star Government Forum on March 18 in Washington, D.C., where he will sit down for a one-on-one interview with Five Star Institute President and CEO Ed Delgado to discuss FHA's recent housing policy changes and the future of the organization.

The second in a series of hearings to examine the financial health of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will take place next week in Washington, D.C., according to an announcement on Friday from the chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).