Brandon and I are at the NAR Convention and listened to FHA Commissioner Dave Stevens today. He is clearly engaged, understands the issues the industry faces and is on our side. Some highlights:
- Beginning Monday, FHA will no longer require a second appraisal in declining markets! If you followed us on twitter (@remaxallegiance) you would have known this as soon as Stevens uttered the new policy in the session. By the way, Dave Stevens now personally follows Allegiance on Twitter.
- The stimulus is working. For example, if it were not for the Fed buying mortgage backed securities, interest rates would be at about 7.5%. Stevens stated that worrying about deficits in a recession is the same as worrying about water conservation when your house is on fire.
- Streamline refinances will no longer be available as of 1/1/10 as streamline refinances perform three times as poorly as fully documented and processed loans.
- In 2006-7, FHA accounted for 2% of loans. For the first half of this year, it accounted for 25%.
- 80% of first time home buyers choose an FHA loan.
- Nearly half of all African American and Latino buyers chose an FHA loan in 2008.
- FHA capital is eroding, as expected, but is still at $31B, $3B more than last year.
- FHA is completely self sustaining. There has not been, nor will there be, an FHA bailout.
- FHA has revised its condo policies, effective December 7. Look for details soon.
This is great news. Thanks for sharing.