NCSHA Blogs
FHA Suspends Scheduled Premium Reductions
In one of the first policy actions taken by President Trump’s new Administration after he was sworn in, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday published a Mortgagee Letter (ML-2017-07) that cancels a scheduled reduction in the annual mortgage insurance premium FHA charges for most single-family mortgages it insures. The reduction, which HUD announced January 9, was set to take effect on January 27 and would have reduced most premiums by .25 percent (see previous blog post for more information).
HUD Issues Interim Fair Housing Guidance Pending Issuance of Final Fair Housing Assessment Tools
On January 19, HUD published interim guidance on how states should comply with the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule until HUD finalizes the state Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) Tool. HUD also provided an update on its efforts to finalize the state Assessment Tool and the other assessment tools it is developing for other HUD program participants.
House and Senate Tax Writing Committees Welcome New Members for 115th Congress
Representatives David Schweikert (R-AZ), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) all will serve on the House Ways and Means Committee. New members of the Senate Finance Committee include Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
Senate Banking Committee Holds Nomination Hearing for HUD Secretary-Designate Ben Carson
Earlier today, HUD Secretary-Designate Dr. Ben Carson appeared before the Senate Banking Committee for his nomination hearing. He released this statement, commenting on the strong connection between housing and health, stressing the importance of deregulation, praising homeownership, and supporting continued efforts to tackle homelessness.
FHA Lowers Annual Insurance Premiums for Most Mortgages
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced this morning that it will be reducing the annual mortgage insurance premium it charges for the vast majority of single-family loans it insures by .25 percent. The reduced premiums, which are outlined in a Mortgagee Letter, will take effect for loans closed as of January 27.
Hensarling Announces New Financial Services Subcommittee Chairs
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) announced today the Committee’s structure and leadership for the 115th Congress. The Committee oversees many key federal housing agencies, including HUD, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), as well as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs).
FHFA Releases 2017 Scorecard for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Common Securitization Platform
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released yesterday the 2017 Scorecard for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Common Securitization Solutions (CSS). The scorecard outlines the steps FHFA expects each of the firms to undertake next year to fulfill FHFA’s Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorship, which was finalized in 2014.
FHFA Releases Final Duty to Serve Rule for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) yesterday released its final “Duty to Serve” rule requiring the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to support lending for housing for low-income families in three underserved segments of the housing finance market: manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation, and rural areas. The rule fulfills a statutory mandate placed on the GSEs by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.
Congress Passes FY 2017 Stopgap Funding Bill
In the late hours of December 9, the Senate approved a House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR), HR 2028, to keep the federal government funded through April 28, 2017 and sent it to President Obama’s desk for signature just hours before the previous FY 2017 CR expired.
