502

Changes to RHS section 502 Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

by Ryan Sloan on May 31, 2011

A final rule goes into effect August, 1 that makes two changes to the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Section 502 Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP). The first is an elimination of, “the lender’s published Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rate for first mortgage loans with no discount points as an option for a maximum interest rate on loans.” The second change will allow, “the Secretary to seek indemnification from the originating lender if a loss is paid under certain circumstances.” You might be wondering what those circumstances are…

(i) The originating Lender utilized unsupported data or omitted material information when submitting the request for a conditional commitment to RHS;Show citation box

(ii) The originating Lender failed to properly verify and analyze the applicant’s income and employment history in accordance with Agency guidelines;Show citation box

(iii) The originating Lender failed to address property deficiencies identified in the appraisal or inspection report that affect the health and safety of the occupants or the structural integrity of the property;Show citation box

(iv) The originating Lender used an appraiser that was not properly licensed or certified, as appropriate, to make residential real estate appraisals in accordance with § 1980.334(a) of this subpart; or,

2) To indemnify RHS for the loss, regardless of how long ago the loan closed, if RHS determines that there was fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the origination of the loan of which the originating Lender had actual knowledge at the time it became such Lender or which the originating Lender participated in or condoned. Misrepresentation includes negligent misrepresentation.

For further information contact:

Joaquin Tremols, Acting Director, Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Division, USDA Rural Development, Room 2241, STOP 0784, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (202) 720-1465, E-mail: joaquin.tremols@wdc.usda.gov.

Tagged as: 502, RHS, Section 502

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The dirty almost-two-dozen: the lenders behind the USDA’s 502 troubles

Article Image courtesy of Flickr user James Cridland

by Ryan Sloan on Mar 14, 2011

A January 13th article in the New York Times, entitled Auditors See Rising Defaults in Rural Loans, focused on the USDA’s mishandling of $133 million in budget authority for Rural Development’s Section 502 Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, granted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The mishandling came to light through a December audit by the Office of the Inspector General.

The audit examined a sample of 100 loans, finding 28 loans where, “lenders had not fully complied with Federal regulations or Recovery Act directives in determining borrower eligibility.” The Audit found the USDA granted loans to applicants with annual income that exceeded program limits, to borrowers that did not meet repayment ability guidelines, those who had abiility to secure credit without a government loan guarantee, borrowers who already owned adequate homes, and borrowers who used government loan guarantees to purchase homes with swimming pools.

While the report does not contain a complete explanation of the causes behind the program failures, it points to “instances where agency policies and guidance were unclear, inadequate, or insufficient.” and alludes to future insights and recommendations to be contained in a future, final audit. The audit concluded the following:

 

In our judgment, the borrowers that did not meet repayment ability guidelines also have a higher risk of becoming delinquent and defaulting on their loans. Based on the sample results, we estimate that 27,206 loans (over 33 percent of the portfolio) may be ineligible with a projected total value of $4.0 billion.

So several months after our FOIA request, we have finally received a list of the 22 lenders behind the 28 loans mentioned in the audit:

document2011-03-11-095015 (dragged)

Article Image courtesy of Flickr user James Cridland

Tagged as: 502, usda

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