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BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT FHASECURE EXPANSION USING FAIR, FLEXIBLE PREMIUM PRICING
FHA prepares to assist more struggling homeowners while protecting taxpayers from risk
The Bush Administration issued final guidance that will permit its flagship mortgage insurance program to assist more homeowners who are struggling to keep up with their high-cost subprime adjustable rate mortgages. To ensure taxpayers do not assume the cost of this expansion, HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will implement a fair and flexible premium pricing structure beginning July 14, 2008.
Modifications to FHASecure will help homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgages and missed up to three monthly mortgage payments over the past 12 months. As an alternative to foreclosure, eligible borrowers can refinance with FHA and lenders can voluntarily write down the outstanding subprime mortgage principal balances. Implementation of FHA's new premium pricing plan on July 14 will coincide with the start date to expand FHASecure. Read more
President Bush Announces New HUD Secretary Nominee
Today President Bush nominated Steven Preston to be the new Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Preston is the head of the Small Business Administration. Read more.
FHA Expands Homeownership Assistance
Expanded housing assistance will be provided for at-risk borrowers who are in danger of losing their homes, under a new plan from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA will be able to insure more mortgages for more people, including those for borrowers who were late on a few payments and/or received a voluntary mortgage principal write-down from their lenders. Reducing a rising tide of foreclosures is its goal. More…
NEW LOAN LIMITS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS – ECONOMY
New FHA Mortgage Limits
Read the Proposed RESPA Rule
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Effective March 6, 2008, HUD will offer temporary FHA loan limits that will range from $271,050 to $729,750 (Limits). Overall, the change in loan limits will help provide economic stability to America's communities and give nearly 240,000 additional homeowners and homebuyers a safer, more affordable mortgage alternative. The maximum amount of $729,750 will only be applicable to extremely high-cost metropolitan areas. Previously, FHA's loan limits in these very high-cost areas were capped at $362,790.
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The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 permits FHA to insure loans on amounts up to 125 percent of the area median house price, when that amount is between the national minimum ($271,050) and maximum ($729,750). The new minimum and maximum loan limits are based on 65 percent and 175 percent of the conforming loan limits for Government-Sponsored Enterprises in 2008, which is $417,000. The FHA used a combination of existing government data sets and available commercial information to determine the median sales price for each area. The change in loan limits are applicable to all FHA-insured mortgage loans endorsed with HUD’s publication of the increased loan limits today, and it lasts until December 31, 2008.
By increasing loan limits nationwide, FHA will provide much needed liquidity and stability to housing markets across the country. Already, as conventional sources of mortgage credit have been contracting, FHA has been filling the void. From September to December 2007, FHA facilitated more than $38 billion of much-needed mortgage activity in the housing market, more than $15 billion of which was through FHASecure, FHA's refinancing product. By focusing on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, FHA helps homeowners avoid and escape the risks associated with exotic subprime mortgage products, which have resulted in rising default and foreclosure rates.
"This is not an easy crisis to address, and there is no silver-bullet, but I know that we can help hundreds of thousands of people keep their homes, and we can calm the waters," said HUD Secretary Jackson.
In January 2009, FHA's maximum loan limit will return to $362,790, unless the U.S. Congress approves bipartisan legislation to permanently increase loan limits as part of the FHA Modernization bill, which is still awaiting final approval on Capitol Hill.Read the loan limits mortgagee letter.
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