Feb
Housing Assistance 2012: Another Herculean Task for the FHA
Posted To: Voice of Housing
Beginning the 37th month of his presidency, the Obama Administration today announced a laundry list of new programs to help struggling homeowners, crack down on abusive lending practices, make mortgage documents easier to read, convert REO to rental, and other assorted initiatives. Some require Congressional approval; others are a work in progress, and a couple can begin quickly. At the heart of the announcement is a broad new refinance program with the venerable FHA stepping in (once again) to help save the mortgage market by offering current but underwater non-FHA borrowers another lifeline. Concurrently, the Administration appears to be on the verge of a broad-based “ REO-to-Rental ” initiative by announcing a pilot project to be led by FHFA, HUD, and Treasury. I think the Administration…(read more)