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FHFA extends policy allowing GSEs to buy mortgages in forbearance
On October 21, FHFA announced an extension of a temporary policy related to the Covid-19 pandemic that allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) to purchase qualified single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria. The policy is now extended for loans originated through November 30. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in an effort to provide liquidity to ensure continued lending during the Covid-19 pandemic, FHFA is allowing the GSEs to buy certain mortgages that enter forbearance within the first month after loan closing, prior to delivery to the GSEs.
The extensions are implemented in updates to Fannie Mae Lender Letter LL-2020-06, and Freddie Mac Guide Bulletin 2020-41.
Agencies extend foreclosure moratorium and other Covid-19 flexibilities
On August 27, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend their moratorium on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned (REO) evictions until at least December 31 (which was set to expire on August 31, previously covered here). The foreclosure moratorium applies to homeowners with an Enterprise-backed, single-family mortgage and the REO eviction moratorium applies to properties that were acquired by the GSEs through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions.
FHA also further extended its foreclosure and eviction moratorium through December 31 (also set to expire on August 31 and previously covered here). The moratorium applies to homeowners with FHA-insured Title II Single Family forward and Home Equity Conversion (reverse) mortgages, excluding legally vacant or abandoned properties (previously discussed here and here). Additional details can be found in Mortgagee Letter 2020-27.
Additionally, on August 26, FHFA announced an extension of a temporary policy that allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) to purchase qualified single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The policy is now extended for loans originated through September 30. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in an effort to provide liquidity to ensure continued lending during the Covid-19 pandemic, FHFA is allowing the GSEs to buy certain mortgages that enter forbearance within the first month after loan closing, prior to delivery to the GSEs.
FHFA also extended several loan origination flexibilities put in place to assist borrowers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, FHFA has further extended until September 30, the following provisions: “(i) alternative appraisals on purchase and rate term refinance loans; (ii) alternative methods for documenting income and verifying employment before loan closing; and (iii) expanding the use of power of attorney to assist with loan closings.”
Senators question FHFA on adverse market refinance fee
On August 19, a group of Democratic Senators wrote to FHFA Director Mark Calabria expressing concern over the newly announced adverse market refinance fee of 50 basis points, or 0.5 percent, on certain refinance mortgages (covered by InfoBytes here). The letter acknowledges that throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) “have adopted policies to ease purchase and most refinance transactions,” to assist homeowners. However, the new refinance fee “that will be implemented just three weeks after it was announced” was a “surprise to see,” according to the letter. The senators stress that the new fee “will shift more of a financial burden to consumers,” which would contradict the GSEs’ purpose of providing stability in the secondary mortgage market.
The letter follows an August 14 letter from the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Mike Crapo (R-ID), which expresses similar concern for consumers but also notes that the short window before the effective date can complicate the refinance process for current buyers and negatively impact community lenders who already have closed loans that cannot be delivered before September 1.
Both letters request Calabria provide more information on the policy change, including details regarding the market conditions that would be addressed by the fee and how the fee amount was determined.
Fannie Mae issues Covid-19-related selling updates
On August 12, Fannie Mae updated its Covid-19 frequently asked questions regarding the underwriting and loan eligibility for sellers. Fannie Mae’s FAQs (previously discussed here) were updated to address questions on selling loans in forbearance. The FAQs cite to Lender Letter 2020-06 (covered by InfoBytes here), stating that Fannie Mae will purchase loans that go into forbearance after loan closing before sale that became eligible for sale beginning May 1 and have note dates on or before August 31 and are delivered by October 31. Additionally, the FAQs state there are no plans to further extend the August 31 date.
Fannie and Freddie announce new refinance fee
On August 12, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a new adverse market refinance fee of 50 basis points, or 0.5 percent, on certain refinance mortgages. According to Freddie Mac’s Guide Bulletin 2020-32, the refinance fee applies to cash-out and no cash-out refinance mortgages “except for Construction Conversion Mortgages that qualify for single-closing Interim Construction Financing and Permanent Financing.” The Bulletin notes that the fee is a result of economic and market uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fannie Mae’s Lender Letter LL-2020-12 notes that the new fee applies to limited cash-out refinances and cash-out refinances but provides a limited exception for certain single-closing construction-to-permanent loans.
The new fee is effective for applicable refinance mortgages with settlement dates on or after September 1.
FHFA extends policy allowing GSEs to buy mortgages in forbearance
On July 31, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced an extension of a temporary policy that allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) to purchase “certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria” due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The temporary policy is extended for loans originated through August 31 from the original deadline of May 31. As previously covered by InfoBytes, standard policies dictate that the GSEs do not purchase loans that are in forbearance; however, due to the economic effects of Covid-19, and in an effort to provide liquidity to ensure continued lending, FHFA allowed the GSEs to buy certain mortgages that enter forbearance within the first month after loan closing, prior to delivery to the GSEs. The extension of the policy is reflected in Fannie Mae’s updated Lender Letter 2020-06 and Freddie Mac’s Guide Bulletin 2020-30.
FHFA postpones duty to serve adjustments
Recently, FHFA announced a postponement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve (DTS) Underserved Markets Plan submissions for 2021-2023, due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, FHFA is allowing unlimited modifications for the 2020 plan year, and is requiring the Enterprises to submit both 2020 modification requests and proposed 2021 activities and objectives by September 15. The 2021 activities and objectives will be structured as a one-year extension to the previous 2018-2020 plans. FHFA also released (i) a summary table indicating Evaluation Guidance provisions that apply in 2021; (ii) revised Evaluation Guidance 2020-4a, which includes special exceptions that will apply in 2020 and 2021; and (iii) special procedures the Enterprises will follow to submit their 2020 modifications and 2021 plans.
FHFA notes it will seek feedback on the proposed 2021 activities and select proposed 2020 modifications during a consolidated public comment period beginning in September.
Fannie and Freddie announce new disaster payment deferral
On July 15, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac introduced a new home-retention workout option, the “disaster payment deferral,” for borrowers experiencing financial hardship. According to Fannie Mae’s Lender Letter LL-2020-11 and Freddie Mac’s Guide Bulletin 2020-28, the disaster payment deferral would bring the borrower current on their mortgage by deferring the delinquency amount (which includes up to 12 months of past-due principal and interest payments; out-of-pocket escrow advances paid to third parties; and servicing advances paid to third parties in the ordinary course of business) as a non-interest bearing balance, due and payable at liquidation, refinance, or maturity. To qualify for the program, an eligible disaster event is defined as (i) a financial hardship that impacts the borrower's ability to pay their contractual monthly payment; and (ii) either: the property securing the mortgage loan experienced an insured loss, the property securing the mortgage loan is located in an eligible FEMA-Declared Disaster Area, or the borrower's place of employment is located in an eligible FEMA-Declared Disaster Area. Among other requirements detailed by the Lender Letter and Bulletin, servicers must confirm that the borrower has resolved the financial hardship and have the ability to continue paying the contractual monthly payments. Servicers must begin evaluating borrowers for the disaster payment deferral beginning July 1.
FHA proposes revisions to single family servicing policies
On July 14, FHA published proposed revisions to the Servicing and Loss Mitigation section (Section III) of the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (SF Handbook) on the agency’s drafting table. The proposed revisions include: (i) changes to the standard servicing loss mitigation home retention waterfall; (ii) elimination of certain borrower documentation requirements for Trial Payment Plans to be consistent with industry practices; and (iii) modification of certain operational policies to provide more consistency between FHA policies and those used by Government Sponsored Enterprises and the private market. The proposed revisions do not address the immediate servicing and loss mitigation challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Comments on the proposed revisions must be received by September 12.
Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation issues advisories on customer identification for depository and non-depository institutions
On July 15, the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation issued industry advisories to depository and non-depository institutions on identification requirements for customers. In light of an executive order extending the expiration date for certain licenses, permits, and registrations, depository and non-depository institutions may continue to accept driver’s licenses and/or identification cards that expired or are eligible for renewal after March 12, 2020.