Articles in Category: HUD Regulations

October 1, 2019

HUD Brings Fair Housing Act Charges Against New York Landlord

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced charges of violation of the Fair Housing Act against a landlord in Hamburg, New York. The landlord, named in the HUD complaint as Thomas Frawley, is charged with “refusing to rent to and making discriminatory statements about families with children” according to a press release at the FHA/HUD official site. Fair Housing Act laws make it illegal to discriminate against those seeking housing (rental or purchase) because of family status including having children below the age of 18 years old. There are certain exceptions for age-restricted housing; the HUD official site reminds, “Housing may exclude children only if it meets the Fair Housing Act’s exemption” for certain types of housing meant only for older tenants. The charges in this case | more...

September 20, 2019

What You Should Know About Mortgage Loan Interest Rates And The Fed Rate Cut

By Bruce Reichstein

The week of September 16, 2019, the Fed cut interest rates for the second time in the year; the 25 basis-point rate cut alters the Fed rate but is not a direct cut or change to mortgage loan interest rates. Interest rate decline in 2019 have pushed more home owners toward refinance loans and many wondered if the latest Fed cut would affect mortgage loan rates in a refinance-friendly directions. Fed rate cuts do not get applied directly to mortgage loan interest rates, but investor behavior following the announcement of a rate adjustment, during the adjustment itself, and the aftermath may have a definite influence on mortgage rates. So if you find yourself wondering whether the Fed rate cut will change home loan interest rates, watch the investors and their | more...

September 17, 2019

HUD Brings Charges Against Housing Design And Construction Companies

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced charges against companies in New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. We report about Fair Housing cases in this space to remind house hunters of their Fair Housing Act rights, but it’s not as common to report on a case that spans multiple companies and states the way this case does. HUD’s charge involves accusations of housing discrimination associated with the design and construction “of a 40-unit North 8 Condominium development in Brooklyn, New York, in accordance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act”. Those named in the HUD Fair Housing Act charges include Toll Brothers, Inc.; Toll Land XIII Limited Partner; Lendlease (US) Construction LMB, Inc; Greenberg Farrow Architecture, Inc.; and 51 | more...

HUD Releases Housing Reform Recommendations

September 6, 2019

HUD Announces Housing Reform Recommendations

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued recommendations to the President for housing reform, including attention on down payment assistance programs and cash-out refinancing. According to a press release issued on the HUD official site, this is NOT the same housing finance reform plan, which was developed by the U.S. Treasury Department. There are major differences between the two in some respects including the HUD language discussing the need to focus on “the core mission” of the FHA where home loans are concerned. It’s the view of the Treasury Department (as stated in the plan) that any changes to the core of what has traditionally been considered an FHA loan program could be detrimental. The Treasury Department plan states, “…any proposal to fundamentally change the housing finance system | more...

September 3, 2019

HUD Announces Fair Housing Charges Against Colorado Landlords

By Bruce Reichstein

Housing discrimination can affect any stage of the house hunting process. And even when that discrimination occurs with a rental property, it can seriously affect the ability to locate and purchase a home. House hunters who need to rent during their journey to home ownership have it difficult enough with all the paperwork and preparation in the home buying process. They don’t need violations of federal law making the process harder, and sometimes the victims of such discrimination are the only ones who have the power to stop future vioations. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced Fair Housing Act charges for owners and manager of a complex in Gunnison, Colorado. David B. Welch, John H.Welch, and Ruth E. Welch are all named as Respondents in | more...

August 29, 2019

FHA Home Loans For Manufactured Homes

By Joe Wallace

Many borrowers want to know if there are FHA home loans for manufactured homes, modular homes, or mobile homes. The short answer is yes, there are, but the FHA home loan program does feature some rules you should know before deciding on the right manufactured home for you. FHA Loan Rules For Manufactured Homes: Permanent Foundation Required FHA mortgage loan rules for manufactured housing (located in HUD 4000.1) include a requirement that the property is or will become attached to a permanent foundation that meets federal and state requirements. FHA home loans cannot be made for any mobile home that cannot or will not be attached to a permanent foundation and FHA mortgages cannot be approved for recreational vehicles or houseboats. Manufactured Home Age Requirements Mobile homes and manufactured homes | more...

HUD Announces Expanded Disaster Relief Options

August 15, 2019

FHA Announces New Condo Loan Rules

By Bruce Reichstein

The Federal Housing Administration has announced changes to its’ condo approval policies that could make it easier for house hunters to find and purchase condo units with an FHA mortgage. The changes are intended to increase lender flexibility and to adapt to changing conditions in the housing market. The FHA and HUD issued a press release on the new rules which states that the new rules …“will allow certain individual condominium units to be eligible for FHA mortgage insurance even if the condominium project is not FHA approved.” Under the old rules, a condo project had to be on the FHA approved list or added to it. As of October 15, 2019, the new FHA policies will, according to the FHA official site, include the following changes to FHA condo | more...

August 1, 2019

FHA Home Loan Rules And Fair Housing Laws

By Bruce Reichstein

We report on Fair Housing cases from time to time, a reminder to those looking for housing that there are federal laws that protect against discrimination in housing. But what are the FHA home loan rules in this area? Did you know that the FHA loan program has specific instructions to the lender regarding Fair Housing laws? Those instructions are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA Single-Family Home Loan Handbook. Page 120 of that handbook instructs the lender, “The Mortgagee is required to comply with all federal, state and local laws, rules, and requirements applicable to the mortgage transaction, including all applicable disclosure requirements and the requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including those related to: Truth in Lending Act (TILA); and Real Estate Settlement Procedure Act (RESPA).” | more...

July 30, 2019

HUD Approves California Housing Discrimination Settlement

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a California housing discrimination case involving complaints of “redlining” against CIT Group, Inc., and CIT Bank, N.A., doing business as OneWest Bank. Investopedia.com defines redlining as “an unethical practice” that can include denying mortgages, mortgage insurance, or other financial services based on location (the justification being that such locations are “bad neighborhoods”) rather than “an individual’s qualifications and creditworthiness.” This practice was made illegal by the Fair Housing Act. Specifically, the Fair Housing Act makes it a violation of federal law for discriminating on the basis of race or national origin to include the practice of denying credit to residents of predominantly minority neighborhoods. “Homeownership is the foundation of the American dream,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant | more...

Home Loan Credit Advice From Credit Bureaus

July 26, 2019

Qualifying For An FHA Home Loan With Disability Benefits

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loan rules permit the use of disability benefits to financially qualify for the loan. All income used in the lender’s debt ratio calculations must be verifiable, which means it must be a stable source of income and is likely to continue. Some borrowers worry that their disability income won’t be counted for the purposes of loan approval, but if that income meets FHA standards, there shouldn’t be any problem. Those standards are found in HUD 4000.1 and start with a basic definition: “Disability Benefits are benefits received from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), other public agencies, or a private disability insurance provider. “ These benefits must continue for at least three years into the mortgage to be counted as verifiable income. The lender | more...