FHA Secure

On Aug. 31, President Bush announced Federal Housing Administration (FHA) changes called "FHASecure" to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The National Association of REALTORS praised the move.

NAR has been advocating for many of these FHA changes since early 2007. In letters, testimony, speeches and meetings, we have encouraged both Congress and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to make meaningful changes to the FHA that would stem rising foreclosures. The proposed changes will allow more people to refinance with FHA insurance, like those that have fallen behind in their mortgage because of so-called “exploding ARMs. Many families who have been making their mortgage payments at the starter rate but were unable to keep them up after the loan reset have been unable to refinance through the FHA, but with this increased flexibility, FHA can now help many more families in jeopardy of losing their home.

The risk-based insurance premium structure will further expand FHA's reach to additional underserved borrowers. The move to risk-based premiums ensures that FHA remains on solid financial footing as a self-financed agency for the long-term.

The mortgagee letter extends eligibility to borrowers who became delinquent under their current mortgage following the reset of the interest rate.

FHASecure, like all FHA products, will be underwritten to ensure the borrowers have the ability to repay the loan, will require escrow for taxes and insurance, and will continue to offer unprecedented foreclosure prevention assistance. The FHA has never permitted and will not include pre-payment penalties or teaser rates that are common in exotic mortgages and have caused much of the current market troubles.

To qualify for FHASecure, eligible homeowners must meet the following five criteria:

1. A history of on-time mortgage payments before the borrower's teaser rates expired and loans reset;
2. Interest rates must have or will reset between June 2005 and December 2009;
3. Three percent cash or equity in the home;
4. A sustained history of employment; and
5. Sufficient income to make the mortgage payment.

FHASecure will also bring much-needed liquidity to the mortgage market. FHA anticipates more lenders will offer FHA-insured loans, pool them, and securitize them with the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), which has the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. This guarantee makes Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities the safest on the market and helps to channel greater capital into the housing market, benefiting U.S. homeowners.

For more information about FHASecure and other FHA products, please call 1-800-CALL-FHA or visit www.fha.gov or www.hud.gov. For a list of your local homeownership center or a HUD-approved housing counseling center, go to www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm.