Articles in Category: Fair Housing Act

April 6, 2012

FHA Kicks Off Fair Housing Month With Discrimination Settlements

The FHA and HUD begin Fair Housing Month by announcing settlements with lenders accused of violating the Fair Housing Act. Magna Bank and Home Loan Center have both settled with the FHA in cases where the lenders are accused of discriminating against women on maternity leave who had applied for home loans. According to a press release from the FHA/HUD, “The settlement agreement signed by Magna Bank requires the bank to pay one woman $14,085 for allegedly requiring her to return to work before her loan application could be approved. In another settlement agreement, Home Loan Center, Inc., agreed to pay a Las Vegas woman $15,000 for denying her application to refinance her mortgage because she was on maternity leave.” The Fair Housing Act, which went into effect 44 years | more...

February 1, 2012

FHA Announces New Fair Housing Rules

By Joe Wallace

Nearly 30 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently when trying to buy or rent a home. That figure was published in a 2007 report by Michigan’s Fair Housing Centers. FHA and HUD have announced new regulations designed to end that sort of discrimination and much more. According to HUDNo.12-014, new regulations have been implemented to “ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity” according to the press release.

December 23, 2011

Reader Question: FHA Loan Down Payment Rules By State

By Joe Wallace

A recent reader left a message in our comments section asking, “If u live in Minnesota what the requirements for down payments on FHA loan?” Some FHA loan applicants may have the mistaken impression that FHA rules for down payments vary from state to state, so we thought it important to dispel that notion once and for all. FHA loan rules state there is a minimum down payment of 3.5%. According to the FHA official site (on the Let FHA Loans Help You page), “Your down payment can be as low as 3.5% of the purchase price, and most of your closing costs and fees can be included in the loan. Available on 1-4 unit properties.” However, FHA loan applicants should know there may be additional factors that affect the | more...

November 25, 2011

HUD Rules Proposed To Refine Fair Housing Laws

By Joe Wallace

Those applying for FHA home loans for the first time soon learn about the wide range of federal laws enacted to insure fair treatment in the lending and housing markets. But according to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, those laws need to be modified to be more inclusive. In Donovan’s official HUD blog, he writes, “…I

November 11, 2011

FHA Loans and Fair Housing Rules: Settlement Reached in Maternity Discrimination Case

By Joe Wallace

FHA loans, like VA and conventional home loan programs, are subject to the Fair Housing Act, RESPA and other federal laws which work together to prevent discrimination in the housing market. One of the rules established by these laws concerns discrimination against home loan applicants based on their family status. That includes discrimination against FHA loan applicants based on pregnancy, single parenthood, the number of children in a given family, and other factors. Such discrimination is prohibited by federal law. The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a press release on November 3, 2011, stating that it “has reached an agreement with Luxury Mortgage Corporation (LMC), a mortgage lender based in Stamford, Connecticut, settling accusations that the lender discriminated against a woman by denying her mortgage loan because she | more...

October 11, 2011

HUD Charges New York Real Estate Company With Fair Housing Act Violations

By Joe Wallace

On occasion you’ll find reports here about the latest actions brought by HUD against those in the housing industry suspected of violating the Fair Housing Act, RESPA, and other federal anti-discrimination laws. We write about these things for two reasons–one is to raise awareness of the issues, but the other is to remind FHA loan applicants and borrowers that there is recourse when anti-discrimination laws are violated. One of the reasons the FHA and HUD are able to bring legal actions against those who break these laws is because the victims file a complaint–the victim is often the first line of defense against those who discriminate. Without reporting the problem, the FHA and HUD have a much tougher time preventing housing discrimination. Many of the headlines we report have to | more...

September 29, 2011

FHA Loans Charges Wisconsin Landlord With Violation of Fair Housing Act

By Joe Wallace

The FHA official site reports charges against a La Crosse, Wisconsin landlord for violating the Fair Housing act, “for refusing to rent an apartment to an African American couple because of their race.” FHA press release 11-228 says, “HUD brings the charge on behalf of the couple, alleging that Geneva Terrace, Inc. and Victoria Gerrard, the owner of Geneva Terrace Apartments, and property manager Nicolai Quinn refused to show an apartment to the complainants. Additionally, they falsely represented to the couple and other black applicants that no units were available, while informing white applicants of available units and encouraging them to apply. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race.” What does this have to do with FHA home loans? Refusing to rent to a qualified tenant based | more...

September 13, 2011

FHA Loans and Discrimination

By Joe Wallace

A recent press release issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development underscores the FHA and HUD’s commitment to the Fair Housing act. The release details actions taken by HUD against a Wisconsin landlord for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. While a press release about a discrimination issue connected with rental property might not seem to have much to do with FHA home loans at first glance, it does underscore the need for FHA borrowers to report such discrimination wherever they encounter it in the loan or house hunting process. According to HUD press release 11-207, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging a La Crosse County, Wisconsin landlord with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to rent a house to a | more...

June 10, 2011

FHA Advice On Home Loans and Lenders

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans are designed to be pro-consumer. While they don’t penalize a lender in any way, FHA loan rules do restrict the types and amount of fees, charges and other costs associated with borrowing. The mission of the FHA is to be fair to all parties, borrower and lender alike. The borrower doesn’t pay inflated fees, and the lender gets a loan guarantee from the government. The FHA offers referrals for housing counselors and advice to house hunters exploring their options under the FHA loan program. The FHA official site has plenty of sound advice for people trying to navigate the complexities of buying a home, getting the best price, and other aspects of becoming a home owner. A lot of it seems fairly obvious to experienced borrowers, but | more...

June 2, 2011

FHA Loans: How Do I File A Complaint About Closing or Settlement Issues?

By Joe Wallace

FHA loans have a variety of rules and regulations about closing and settlement of FHA insured mortgages. Borrowers are protected under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act against fraud and shady business practices including kickbacks, artificially inflated fees and costs, and other problems. Thanks to state and federal laws, it’s more difficult than ever to take advantage of an FHA loan applicant or inflate the costs associated with an FHA home loan.