4 Ways to Slow HECM FHA Insurance Claims

by Shannon Hicks
| No Comments
| October 11, 2020

<h2 class="p1">Without audience targeting are Google Ads Dead? Think again…</h2> Early this month Google announced new restrictions for targeting specific audiences. The restrictions apply to content related to housing, employment, credit, and those who are disproportionately affected by societal biases. The news of these restrictions created quite a stir among industry brokers and lenders who heavily rely upon targeted Google ad campaigns. All which may have you asking if these changes will kill future reverse mortgage advertising on the world’s most popular search engine. In just a moment we’ll hear from our online SEO expert Josh Johnson to find out. <a onclick="read_toggle(280916116, 'Read More', 'Read Less'); return false;" class="read-link" id="readlink280916116" style="readlink" href="#">Read More</a> <div class="read_div" id="read280916116" style="display: none;"> Google’s restrictions are not necessarily novel nor unexpected. It was just over two years ago Facebook faced scrutiny from federal regulators for allowing those offering credit or housing finance to restrict ad audiences by race or religion among other questionable metrics that would violate HUD’s fair housing rules. An investigation by ProPublica broke this news in October 2016. It was nearly two years later in August 2018 that HUD filed a formal complaint against the social media giant for discriminatory advertising practices. Seven months after HUD’s complaint Facebook announced sweeping changes. Both Facebook and later Google, took a blunt approach much to the chagrin of lenders and service providers. What ad filters are going away? In its official release Google revealed, “credit products or services can no longer be targeted to audiences based on gender, age, parental status, marital status, or ZIP code.” Is this the end of Google ads for reverse mortgages? To answer that question I reached out to Josh Johnson who heads up Reverse Focus’ Online Dominance SEO program and Google marketing. Here’s his explanation. Here’s what makes Google unique from other platforms and why reverse mortgage Google ads will continue to reach the intended audience. To summarize, older homeowners are intentionally seeking out reverse mortgage information on Google which means, yes-your ads will be seen by your target audience, even though you can no longer target specific age groups. <img decoding="async" class="wp-image-21372 alignnone" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-300x169.jpeg" alt="" width="691" height="389" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px" /><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-21373" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="681" height="383" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /> <img decoding="async" class="alignright size-large wp-image-21374" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img decoding="async" class="alignright size-large wp-image-21375" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </div>

Four ways to shore up the HECM BEFORE removing it from FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund

For nearly four years there have been repeated calls to remove the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program. The HECM was placed into FHA’s insurance fund which backs both traditional and reverse loans in 2009. As HECMs originated at record-high values prior to the housing crash terminated or were placed into assignment many began to ask if the program should no longer be commingled with the larger fund. Last year the Trump Administration’s housing finance reform plan echoed this concern. 4 years earlier an Urban Institute study called to remove the HECM citing the program’s volatility in calculating the program’s valuation each year. The report states “If we assume that half the HECM business is at a fixed rate and that each 1 percent rise or fall in rates causes a 12 percent fall or rise in the value of the loan, that would explain most of the drop in the value of the fund last year and much of the rise in the value of the HECM book of business this year”. With interest rates falling significantly in late 2019 and in 2020 we should expect an improved economic valuation of the HECM.

However, if Congress ultimately approves the move the following issues should first be addressed.

Improved accounting

Some have argued that Congress has not fully funded the technology needs of an agency that supervises billions of dollars in domestic loans backed by the federal government. FHA’s 2017 Annual Management Report noted the challenge stating, “The loan origination systems of FHA’s Single Family business have an average age of more than 18 years, with the Computerized Homes Underwriting Management System (CHUMS) exceeding 40 years. Similarly, the systems supporting the servicing, default, claims and REO areas have an average age of 14 years.” However the report added, “FHA management considers the existing systems capable of sustaining operation of the FHA insurance programs for the foreseeable future. “ Updated and current technology should be able to identify specific loans and generate aggregate reports on claims paid for property’s in assignment, those which were terminated, foreclosure expenses, and property management costs for REO properties.

Improved servicing

The prompt sale or payoff of a property with a terminated or foreclosed HECM loan will help ensure against avoidable losses and asset depreciation.

When FHA Commissioner Dana Wade called for the removal of the HECM from FHA’s fund NRMLA President Steve Irwin perhaps best expressed the unfinished business that warrants attention in his written remarks to Reverse Mortgage Daily, “I think that before there can be a thorough analysis of such a move, the Department should continue to work to improve the servicing performance of HECMs that have been assigned to HUD. Once the issues on the back end of the HECM lifecycle can be resolved, and the front-end changes that have been implemented over the past several years have been fully considered in the modeling of the program, we should see the fund restored to a positive net worth.”

Although not specifically addressed, one of the concerns by many industry stakeholders are unoccupied HECM properties falling into disrepair, and unauthorized parties occupying the property after the last borrower has died or moved away- both which impact the value of the property and increase the loan balance leading to a likely payout from the fund. Increased staffing and supervision of HUD-appointed servicers for HECMs in assignment would help improve performance and reduce occupancy fraud and property devaluation.

Regional Principal Limit Factors

Just as all real estate markets are local, home appreciation rates vary significantly by state, county and local neighborhoods. Outside of interest rates, the starting home value and principal limit factor or lending ratios has a large part in determining the likelihood of FHA paying out an insurance claim. FHA is not unaware of the regional variations in home values which has led them to call to abandon the present national lending limit in favor of county-by-county maximum claim amounts. However, those with moderately priced homes in poorer counties stand to be disproportionately impacted. Those of you who originated HECM prior to the national lending limit can recall lending caps hundreds of thousands of dollars below the Maximum Claim Amount benefiting homeowners in larger metros. Instead of county lending limits averaging all home sales, PLFs would be assigned to areas based on historical appreciation. Those areas with a record of little or no appreciation would have lower PLFs to reduce the risk of the loan payoff exceeding the home’s value at loan termination.

Leave liabilities

Lastly, any move of the HECM to another fund should leave any existing liabilities from prior loans behind. Otherwise, the program would face the herculean task of digging out from projected valuations which have not yet been fully realized in paid claims.

Change is endemic to the federally-insured reverse mortgage. Today the opportunity to address decades-old dilemmas is before us. What path will be taken remains to be seen.

Additional resources cited:

RMD column: Should FHA Exclude Reverse Mortgages from the MMI Fund?

HECMWorld column: The Tip of the Iceberg: HECM Occupancy Abuses

Editor in Chief: HECMWorld.com

As a prominent commentator and Editor in Chief at HECMWorld.com, Shannon Hicks has played a pivotal role in reshaping the conversation around reverse mortgages. His unique perspectives and deep understanding of the industry have not only educated countless readers but has also contributed to introducing practical strategies utilizing housing wealth with a reverse mortgage.

Shannon’s journey into the world of reverse mortgages began in 2002 as an originator and his prior work in the financial services industry. Shannon has been covering reverse mortgage news stories since 2008 when he launched the podcast HECMWorld Weekly. Later, in 2010 he began producing the weekly video series The Industry Leader Update and Friday’s Food for Thought.

Readers wishing to submit stories or interview requests can reach our team at: info@hecmworld.com.