Furthermore, HUD’s rule covers Title II manufactured housing, Title I manufactured housing and property improvement loans, Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program mortgages and Section 184A Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program mortgages.. The rule designates loans insured under these programs as Safe Harbor Qualified Mortgages regardless of upfront points/fees and APR to APOR ratio so as not to interfere with current lending practices until appropriate parameters can be determined.
HUD also adopts CFPB’s list of transactions that are exempt from the ability-to-repay requirements, which includes Reverse Mortgages; Bridge loans with a term of 12 months or less; Construction-to-permanent loans for 12 months or less for the construction phase; Extension of credit by a Housing Finance Agency; Extension of credit by Community Development Financial Institutions; Extension of credit made pursuant to a program authorized by sections 101 and 109 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008; Downpayment Assistance through Secondary Financing Provider made pursuant HUD’s regulations; Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) provided that the creditor has entered into a commitment with a participating jurisdiction and is undertaking a project under the HOME program; A 501(c)(3) organization that secured no more than 200 dwellings in the prior calendar year to consumers with income that did not exceed the low- and moderate-income household limit as established pursuant to section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(20)) and the creditor determines, in accordance with written procedures, that the consumer has a reasonable ability to repay the extension of credit.
HUD’s mortgage insurance and loan guarantee programs play a central role in the housing market and act as a stabilizing force during times of economic distress, facilitating mortgage financing during periods of severe constriction in conventional markets. The final rule aims to ensure the continuity of access to mortgage financing to creditworthy, yet underserved borrowers while further strengthening protections for FHA borrowers and taxpayers, alike.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov.
