HUD: New Guidance Issued to Protect Borrowers from Appraisal Bias
Federal Housing Administration’s new Reconsideration of Value policy requires lenders to provide a pathway for borrowers to request reviews of home appraisal valuations. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), announced a major new step in the Department’s work to protect borrowers from racial or ethnic…
FHFA: Enterprise Reconsideration of Value Policies Announced
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) published new Reconsideration of Value (ROV) policies after months of collaboration with FHFA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration. A Reconsideration of Value is a request to an appraiser to re-assess the…
CFPB: New Published Research Finds Higher Price Complexity Leads Consumers to Pay More
As part of junk fee initiative, study suggests that consumers pay more when prices are separated into multiple fees Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new report that suggests consumers tend to pay more for products that have more complex pricing structures. The report is based on experiments with multiple rounds of…
FHFA: New Division of Public Interest Examination Announced
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the creation of a new Division of Public Interest Examination (DPIE), which will be responsible for supervisory oversight of the Agency’s regulated entities in the areas of affordable housing, community development, diversity and inclusion, consumer protection, and fair lending. FHFA serves as regulator and conservator of Fannie Mae…
CFPB: Guidance Issued to Combat Junk Fees by Mortgage Servicers
Homeowners forced to pay for “services” that were prohibited or unauthorized The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today published an edition of Supervisory Highlights describing the agency’s actions to combat junk fees charged by mortgage servicers, as well as other illegal practices. CFPB examinations found servicers charging illegal junk fees, such as prohibited property inspection fees; sending…
HUD: Multifamily Insurance Deductibles Updated to Address Rising Costs of Wind and Storm Coverage
Revisions will reduce costs for owners while continuing to ensure that properties have adequate insurance coverage – a key element of HUD’s work to address insurance costs and ensure communities recover from disaster Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), updated its policies for wind and named storm insurance…
FHFA: Housing Mission Report for 2023 Released
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its annual Housing Mission Report, describing the activities taken by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) in 2023 to promote access to financing for affordable, sustainable, and equitable housing and targeted economic development. “FHFA maintains a keen focus on…
HUD: Final Rule Issued to Increase Lender Participation and Boost Homeownership in Tribal Communities
Enhanced home loan program helps to further the homeownership dream for Native American families. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a final rule that will increase lender participation in the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee (Section 184) program, strengthen regulations to meet the program’s growing demands, and ensure that…
FHFA: New Product Notice Published for Freddie Mac Second Mortgage Proposal
Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent to the Federal Register a notice of a proposed new product from Freddie Mac to begin purchasing certain single-family closed-end second mortgages. “The proposed activity is intended to provide homeowners with a cost-effective alternative for accessing the equity in their homes,” said FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson….
CDFI Fund: $18 Million Awarded to Support Consumer Access to Financial Institutions Through the CDFI Small Dollar Loan Program Awards
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded $18 million in grants to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) through the combined fiscal year (FY) 2023 and (FY) 2024 round of the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program). “These important awards enable more Certified CDFIs to offer alternatives…