HUD No.10-016
Melanie Roussell
  (202) 708-0980  (202) 708-0980   (202) 708-0980
FOR RELEASE
Wednesday
January 20, 2010

FHA Announces Policy Changes to Address Risk and Strengthen Finances

New Measures Will Help FHA Better Manage Risk, While Maintaining Support for the Housing Market and Access for Underserved Communities
WASHINGTON – Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David Stevens today announced a set of policy changes to strengthen the FHA’s capital reserves, while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission to provide access to homeownership for underserved communities. The changes announced today are the latest in a series of changes Stevens has enacted in order to better position the FHA to manage its risk while continuing to support the nation’s housing market recovery.
The FHA will propose to take the following steps: increase the mortgage insurance premium (MIP); update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers; reduce seller concessions to three percent, from six percent; and implement a series of significant measures aimed at increasing lender enforcement. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan previewed the changes in December of last year, noting that the FHA would announce additional details before the end of January.
“Striking the right balance between managing the FHA’s risk, continuing to provide access to underserved communities, and supporting the nation’s economic recovery is critically important,” said Commissioner Stevens. “When combined with the risk management measures announced in September of last year, these changes are among the most significant steps to address risk in the agency’s history. Additionally, by continuing to provide affordable, responsible mortgage products, FHA will support the housing market’s recovery. Importantly, FHA will remain the largest source of home purchase financing for underserved communities.”
Announced FHA Policy Changes:
  1. Mortgage insurance premium (MIP) will be increased to build up capital reserves and bring back private lending
    • The first step will be to raise the up-front MIP by 50 bps to 2.25% and request legislative authority to increase the maximum annual MIP that the FHA can charge.
    • If this authority is granted, then the second step will be to shift some of the premium increase from the up-front MIP to the annual MIP.
    • This shift will allow for the capital reserves to increase with less impact to the consumer, because the annual MIP is paid over the life of the loan instead of at the time of closing
    • The initial up-front increase is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and will go into effect in the spring.

  2. Update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers.
    • New borrowers will now be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA's 3.5% down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10%.
    • This allows the FHA to better balance its risk and continue to provide access for those borrowers who have historically performed well.
    • This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February and, after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.

  3. Reduce allowable seller concessions from 6% to 3%
    • The current level exposes the FHA to excess risk by creating incentives to inflate appraised value. This change will bring FHA into conformity with industry standards on seller concessions.
    • This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.

  4. Increase enforcement on FHA lenders
    • Publicly report lender performance rankings to complement currently available Neighborhood Watch data - Will be available on the HUD website on February 1.
      • This is an operational change to make information more user-friendly and hold lenders more accountable; it does not require new regulatory action as Neighborhood Watch data is currently publicly available.
    • Enhance monitoring of lender performance and compliance with FHA guidelines and standards.
      • Implement Credit Watch termination through lender underwriting ID in addition to originating ID.
      • This change is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and is effective immediately.
    • Implement statutory authority through regulation of section 256 of the National Housing Act to enforce indemnification provisions for lenders using delegated insuring process
      • Specifications of this change will be posted in March, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in early summer.
    • HUD is pursuing legislative authority to increase enforcement on FHA lenders. Specific authority includes:
      • Amendment of section 256 of the National Housing Act to apply indemnification provisions to all Direct Endorsement lenders. This would require all approved mortgagees to assume liability for all of the loans that they originate and underwrite
      • Legislative authority permitting HUD maximum flexibility to establish separate "areas" for purposes of review and termination under the Credit Watch initiative. This would provide authority to withdraw originating and underwriting approval for a lender nationwide on the basis of the performance of its regional branches
In addition to the changes proposed today, the FHA is continuing to review its overall response to housing market conditions, and continuing to evaluate its mortgage insurance underwriting standards and its measures to help distressed and underwater borrowers through FHA/HAMP and other FHA initiatives going forward.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development ad enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov

January 2010 Luxury Foreclosure Trends Report

 

Foreclosure Vs. Short Sale Trends Report: December 2009

During Q2 2009 Short Sale settlements increased to 23,102, a 34.8% jump from the previous quarter. Banks and thrifts implemented nearly 3.4 times more home retention actions-than completed foreclosures. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/ykfadna or click on the box below.

REO Vs. Short Sale

Luxury Market Update

Date 11/16/09

 

Market Area: Montgomery County, MD 20854

 

Time Frame: 5/16/09 – 11/16/09

 

General Market Conditions:

Current Market Condition: Slow

Employment Conditions: Declining

Market Price for This Zip Code Has: Decreased By 4.51% in the past 60-days

There is an over supply of active listings.

Number of active listings: 225

Number of units that are Short Sale Listed in MRIS: 4

Number of units that are REO or Corporate owned Listed in MRIS: 2

 

Market Activity

Range of values is $379,000 to $9,900,000

Normal marketing time is: 96 Days.

 

Resale Comments: My independent MRIS research shows that there are currently 225 homes on the market in the 20854 zip code. Most of these homes are overpriced or are in less than ideal condition that do not attract buyers and just sit on the market. The average day’s on the market for these active properties is 180. There currently are 76 properties under-contract. These buyers have found and are expecting and getting a great value-a good home at a good price and with all the competition for their attention, they have a lot of choices. These buyers are really picky. There were 65 properties that sold in the last 60-days. The average day’s on the market was 98. Buyers have a sense of what’s fair market value and what’s not and they just won’t show up if sellers are not in the ballpark. There is currently 5 months of inventory on the market in 20854 zip code. It’s very important that sellers price their home correctly and competitively. Buyers are looking for value pricing and if sellers don’t meet these expectations, they’ll be overpriced and overlooked.

 

Prepared By:

Aaron Rice, CDPE, CLHMS, CRS, GRI, SHS

www.LuxuryDistressedPropertyExpert.com

443-244-0051

 

 

Luxury Market Update

Luxury Foreclosure Trends Report: Baltimore City, MD 21224

 

Date 10/15/09

 

Market Area: Baltimore City, MD 21224

 

Time Frame: 4/15/09 - 10/15/09

 

General Market Conditions:

Current Market Condition: Slow.

Employment Conditions:Declining.

Market Price for This Zip Code Has: Decreased By 4.56% in the past 60-days.

Estimated Percentages of Owner vs. Tenants in Neighborhood: 50% Owner Occupant 50% Tenants.

There is an over supply of active listings.

Approximate number of units for sale is: 593.

Number of units that are Pre-foreclosure stage: 10 (not listed in MRIS).

Number of units that are Short Sale Stage: 64 (listed in MRIS).

Number of units that are REO or Corporate owned: 30

 

Market Activity

Range of values is $25,000 to $650,000.

Normal marketing time is: 118 Days (last 6 months).

 

Resale Comments:

My independent MRIS research shows that there are currently 593 homes on the market in the 21224 zip code. Most of these homes are overpriced or are in less than ideal condition that do not attract buyers and just sit on the market. The average day's on the market for these active properties is 160. There are currently 162 homes under-contract. These buyers have found and are expecting and getting a great value-a good home at a good price and with all the competition for their attention, they have a lot of choices. These buyers are really picky. There were 126 homes that sold in the last 60-days. The average day's on the market was 98. Buyers have a sense of what's fair market value and what's not and they just won't show up if sellers are not in the ballpark. There is currently 8.06 months supply of inventory on the market in the 21224 zip code. It's very important that sellers price their home correctly and competitively. Buyers are looking for value pricing and if sellers don't meet these expectations, they'll be overpriced and overlooked.

 

Prepared By:Aaron Rice, CDPE, CLHMS, CRS, GRI, SHS

www.LuxuryDistressedPropertyExpert.com

www.MyForeclosureAlternative.com

443-244-0051

Luxury Market Update

Luxury Foreclosure Trends Report: Howard County, MD 21794

Date 10/11/09

 

Market Area: Howard County, MD 21794

 

Time Frame: 4/11/09 - 10/11/09

 

General Market Conditions:

Current Market Condition: Slow.

Employment Conditions:Declining.

Market Price for This Zip Code Has: Decreased By 3.73% in the past 6 months.

Estimated Percentages of Owner vs. Tenants in Neighborhood: 100% Owner Occupant 0% Tenants.

There is an over supply of active listings.

Approximate number of units for sale is: 21.

Number of units that are Pre-foreclosure stage: 2 (not listed in MRIS).

Number of units that are Short Sale Stage: 3 (listed in MRIS).

Number of units that are REO or Corporate owned: 1

 

Market Activity

Range of values is $400,000 to $965,000.

Normal marketing time is: 192 Days (last 6 months).

 

Resale Comments:

My independent MRIS research shows that there are currently 21 homes on the market in the 21794 zip code. Most of these homes are overpriced or are in less than ideal condition that do not attract buyers and just sit on the market. The average day's on the market for these active properties is 147. There are currently 4 properties under-contract. These buyers have found and are expecting and getting a great value-a good home at a good price and with all the competition for their attention, they have a lot of choices. These buyers are really picky. There were 6 properties that sold in the last 60-days. The average day's on the market was 184. Buyers have a sense of what's fair market value and what's not and they just won't show up if sellers are not in the ballpark. There is currently 9.13 months supply of inventory on the market in the 21794 zip code. It's very important that sellers price their home correctly and competitively. Buyers are looking for value pricing and if sellers don't meet these expectations, they'll be overpriced and overlooked.

 

Prepared By:Aaron Rice, CDPE, CLHMS, CRS, GRI, SHS

www.LuxuryDistressedPropertyExpert.com

www.MyForeclosureAlternative.com

443-244-0051

 

Luxury Market Update

 
Get Answers & Information With Others In Our Community
 
90-Day Delinquent Prime Loans Increased 131.5% From June 2008.
90-Day Delinquent Option Arm Loans Increased 181.9% From June 2008.
7.5% Of All Government Guaranteed Loans (FHA & VA) Are 90-Days Late. Up 100.1% From June 2008.
59.1% Of All Government Guaranteed Loans Have Re-Defaulted & Are 60-Days or More Late 12Months After Loan Modification.
 
When A Loan Is Modified & Monthly Payments Are Decreased By 20% Or More, 34.1% Re-default After The 1st 12Months.
 
*Office Of Thrift Supervision 2nd Quarter 2009 Report

 
June 30, 2008 - 9,402 Short Sales Were Completed.
June 30, 2009 - Completed Short Sales Increased By 34.8% To 23,102.
Completed Deed-In-Lieu-Of-Foreclosure Up 19.3% From June 2008
Completed Foreclosures Are Down -9.6% Since June 2008.
 
*Office Of Thrift Supervision 2nd Quarter 2009 Report

 
4,549 Active Short Sales In Avg List Price $249,856
3,656 Pending Short Sales In Avg List Price $259,913
8 Short Sales Closed Jan 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2007
466 Short Sales Closed Jan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2008
2,533 Short Sales Closed Jan 1, 2009 – Present
38 Short Sale Listings Above $1Million
Highest List Price $3,995,000 – Talbot, MD
12 Short Sale Listings Sold @ $1Million+ (2009)
 
AS of 10/1/09 Source:

 
September - Foreclosure Activity
 

“Bank repossessions, or REOs, jumped 21 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter, corresponding to jumps in defaults and scheduled auctions in the previous two quarters,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “REO activity increased from the previous quarter in all but two states and the District of Columbia, indicating that lenders may be starting to work through some of the pent-up foreclosure inventory caused by legislative delays, loan modification efforts and high volumes of distressed properties.”


  
Foreclosure Filings On 343,638 Properties
One In Every 136 Homes
1.Nevada – 1 In Every 23 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing
2.Arizona – 1 In Every 53 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing
3.California – 1 In Every 53 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing
4.Florida – 1 In Every 56 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing
5.Idaho – 1 In Every 97 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing
12. Maryland – 1 in Every 157 Homes Received A Foreclosure Filing

 
Currently 1 In Every 10 Mortgages Is 30-Days Late
3.2 Million Foreclosures Are Expected This Year
By The End of 2010 One In Six Mortgages Will Be In Foreclosure.
 
Kiplingers Business Resource Center by Jerome Idaszak