NCSHA Blogs
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.
Trump Picks Ben Carson to Head HUD
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced this morning that he has selected Dr. Ben Carson to be his Administration's Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Carson is former Republican candidate for President and served as the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland from 1984 until his retirement in 2013.
FHA Announces Increased Single-Family Loan Limits for 2017
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced yesterday the county loan limits for its single-family mortgage programs for 2017 and issued a Mortgagee Letter that increases the minimum loan limit for low-price areas and the maximum loan limit for high-cost areas.
Trulia Report Finds Housing Credit Development has no Significant Impact on Surrounding Home Values
The authors analyzed the locations of over 3,000 properties located in the 20 least affordable metro areas and found that there was no significant effect on nearby home values resulting from Housing Credit development.
