In Mortgagee Letter 2015-27, dated November 13, 2015, HUD/FHA announced some subtle changes in its condominium project approval and recertification policies and procedures. Although it is stated that HUD expects to “increase the pool of condominium projects eligible for FHA approval” by implementing these changes, it’s difficult to comprehend how these changes will contribute to any major increase in loan…
I came across this brief article which caught my attention. You may have seen the headline: “Down Payment Costs Prevent Renters from Buying Homes: Zillow” (Down Payment). I’m a little perplexed (which frankly is not all that uncommon). According to Zillow, many renters say they cannot buy a home because of the large down payment required. The article gives examples…
The 3-year reporting requirement for comp sales had only been in effect for less than 2 months and was the topic of much discussion at the various industry webinars and conferences conducted by HUD/FHA staff prior to the September 14, 2015, implementation date. In my blog post from Nov. 6th, I discussed FHA’s recent decision to rescind its short-lived policy…
In a recent National Mortgage News survey, lenders indicated that in 2016 they are looking for ways to get back to business of generating more loans (Back to Business). With TRID now in full swing, lenders are now looking at ways to increase loan production, improve customer service and streamline operations. Lenders can use what they’ve learned in meeting the…
Appraisers, Underwriters, and Quality Control staff that are involved with the processing and/or review of Fannie Mae and HUD/FHA loan transactions need to be cognizant of the differences between Fannie Mae & FHA appraisal policies on various topics. Outlined below are five examples of these differences: Using a previous appraisal on a subsequent refinance transaction Fannie Mae will allow a…
Now that it has been a little over a month since the official TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) implementation date, many loan transactions are now closing which are subject to the new TRID rules and use of the TRID required forms (i.e. Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure). In this regard, both VA and FHA have provided some guidance to lenders as…
