Tag Archives: HUD

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has decided to delay the planned adjustments to its insurance premium structure by one month, after the industry expressed concerns about being ready in time. The premium fee changes will become effective October 4, 2010. Lawmakers gave the federal mortgage insurer enough leeway to increase the annual fee it charges borrowers three-fold, up to 1.55 percent. But the annual premium is not going to go that high. It will increase from 0.55 percent to between 0.85 percent and 0.90 percent of the loan amount.

Undoubtedly, the model of home financing is in for a change. And the structural bastions of the nation's mortgage system - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - are at the very center of the debate. Ideas range from completely eliminating the two GSEs to turning them into official government agencies. Next week, Treasury will host a conference in Washington, D.C. on the subject, to gather input and suggestions from industry stakeholders. On Thursday, the administration released its guest list for the event.

The Obama administration said Wednesday that it will provide additional support to help unemployed homeowners through two targeted initiatives. The Treasury will make another $2 billion available to housing finance agencies in 17 states and the District of Columbia to implement local programs for unemployed homeowners. HUD is also launching a $1 billion program to provide up to 24 months of assistance to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure because of lost income.

HUD recently announced the availability of $79 million in grants for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. This represents an increase of $21 million, or 27 percent, over last year's funding. According to HUD, these grants will be awarded competitively to approximately 550 HUD-approved counseling agencies and state housing finance agencies across the nation to help families stave off foreclosure, avoid mortgage scams, and improve their credit scores.

U.S. Reps. John Lewis, David Scott, and Hank Johnson have joined forces with HUD, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the HOPE NOW Alliance, and NeighborWorks America for an upcoming event aimed at helping financially troubled homeowners in the Atlanta area. The event, dubbed the ""Help for Homeowners"" project, is scheduled for July 30 and July 31. Nearly 20 of the area's top lenders will be available at the event to meet one-on-one with area residents who are struggling to pay their mortgages. The event, dubbed the Help for Homeowners project, is scheduled for July 30 and July 31.

Faced with growing criticism of its Making Home Affordable foreclosure prevention program, the Obama administration is turning to the tried and true method of advertising to raise public awareness of the program and encourage homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments to seek assistance from the federal government. The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Treasury and HUD, announced plans Wednesday to launch a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign about the Making Home Affordable program.

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it plans to deliver a proposal for housing finance reform to Congress by January 2011. Government officials will hold a conference on August 17 at the Treasury building in Washington D.C. to solicit input from industry stakeholders on the future of the housing finance system, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. The White House says the ""heads private shareholders win, tails taxpayers lose"" structure at the GSEs makes no sense for the nation...and change is coming.