Residential Briefs

The Federal Housing Finance Agency will extend, from Dec. 19 to Jan. 21, 2020, the deadline for interested parties to provide input on potential changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security pooling practices.

October New Home Sales Dip, But Outlook Brighter

HUD and the Census Bureau yesterday reported sales of new single‐family houses in October fell slightly but performed strongly compared to a year ago.

October Housing Starts: Slow and Steady Wins the Month

October housing starts rose by nearly 4 percent, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday, a welcome signal that momentum appears to be rising among home buyers and home builders.

MBA Advocacy Update

Last Friday, MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, attended a White House meeting chaired by HUD Secretary Ben Carson and attended by other senior administration officials and key industry stakeholders to discuss housing affordability. And on Monday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it is seeking comment on pooling practices for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities market.

HUD, Justice Department Reach Agreement on False Claims Act Violations

AUSTIN, TEXAS–HUD and the Department of Justice today signed a memorandum of understanding outlining “prudent” guidance for False Claims Act violations, a move that analysts said could help eliminate uncertainty in FHA lending and provide incentives for private market lending in government lending programs.

MBA Advocacy Update

This past Tuesday, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing, The End of Affordable Housing? A Review of the Trump Administration’s Plans to Change Housing Finance in America, with testimony provided by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and FHFA Director Mark Calabria.

September New Home Sales Dip, But Pace Strengthens

HUD and the Census Bureau yesterday reported sales of new single‐family houses in September fell slightly from August but improved strongly from a year ago.

September Housing Starts Tumble, But Optimism Holds

Housing starts fell sharply in September, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday, but single-family starts increased slightly, reflecting continued optimism among home builders.

MBA Advocacy Update

This past Monday, President Trump announced that he intends to nominate Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian Montgomery to be the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Also, President Trump signed two Executive Orders on regulatory guidance issued by federal agencies. And the Treasury Department issued proposed rules to help ease the transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to other reference rates.