If you look at the federally insured reverse mortgage one could say we have come full circle coming closer to the program’s original intent. What intent?
Continue readingIs this Our Next Growth Market?
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Our next opportunity for growth may be right under our noses
It’s no surprise that in the wake of the housing crash, increased regulation, lower lending ratios and the HECM product redesign that many are seeking ways to expand their market and increase their loan production. Many have been successful in part in making inroads to financial professionals and others with builders, developers or real estate professionals. Some look to new advertising campaigns and public relations campaigns to help increase industry volume. Yet there is one sleeping giant that could easily be overlooked. FHA…
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Too Much Too Soon?
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Reexamining Product Design and Use of Proceeds
The recent overhaul of the HECM program was a watershed event for both the reverse mortgage industry and senior homeowners. The elimination of the Standard Fixed Rate, consolidation to one product, two-tiered upfront FHA premiums and first year distribution restrictions all were born from FHA’s attempt to reign in the HECM program back to its original intent while reducing the risk of defaults and payouts from the MMI fund. The idea was to prevent borowers from using all of their proceeds in the first or early years of the loan which could leave them with little or no financial options once they’ve exhausted all their funds. Also, lower upfront withdrawals and deferred or tenure payments or a line of credit reduce the likelihood that the loan balance would exceed the home’s value in the early years of the loan or when the loan ultimately terminated. Most program changes were spurred by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s report to Congress…
2013: A Turbulent Year
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A Look Back at a Bumpy 2013
For reverse mortgage professionals 2013 will go down as a bumpy ride. And what a ride it has been. In the last ten years I cannot recall a year with more substantial and industry-changing developments. 2013 was rang in with HUD’s announcement they would be ceasing the problematic Standard Fixed Rate Product. While it helped many borrowers who needed maximum proceeds to payoff existing mortgage balances it also added to FHA’s risk of future insurance payouts from its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) fund. One look at the amortization chart of a fixed rate loan with the full upfront distribution and it didn’t take a mathematician to figure out substantial risk was baked into the fixed rate loan. Unfortunately generous payouts in loan compensation unduly influenced some originators where a more flexible adjustable rate loan may have been more fitting.
While politicians may be adept at spending money they are also politically astute knowing a faltering FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program required some painful changes lest they incur the wrath of watchful policymakers and voters. HUD asked for and received the authority needed to make program changes witht the passage of the Reverse Mortgage Stabilization Act which led to product consolidation. After eliminating the standard fixed rate in April HUD moved to eliminate the standard adjustable and both saver loan programs altogether in favor of one two-tiered product.
Download video transcript here
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Are HECM Changes Paying Off?
HUD states the turnaround of the HECM portion of the fund is attributable to three primary factors: the economy, mandatory cash appropriation from the treasury and a transfer from the forward loan portfolio.
Continue readingWhat Have We Learned from 2013?
Beyond the top reverse mortgage stories for this year there are some greater lessons to be gleaned from what is sure to be noted as a watershed year for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program. Here are a few take aways for us to consider…
Continue readingAgainst The Wind
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2014 Presents Challenge & Opportunity for HECM Industry
The classic Bob Seger song laments, “Against the wind. I’m older now but still running against the wind.” Both retirees and our industry are pressing against the resistance of retirement funding and a more restrictive product for us to offer. The good news is that the reverse mortgage industry and the HECM product have proven their staying power having endured one of the worst housing crashes in history, an economic crash and numerous product changes. Also increasing home values have buoyed production with an increase of 15% through November.
The next headwind will be felt once HUD enacts the financial assessment in it’s effort to reduce risks of borrower defaults and subsequent claims against FHA’s insurance fund. But are some of these recent developments a blessing in disguise? Columnist Phil Hall in the National Mortgage Professional Magazine says yes. Hall says, “A new oversight regimen may finally help to erase the lingering doubts surrounding the product.” If we look at the true obstacle for market growth it’s not the 15% reduction in principal limits, the elimination of the Standard Fixed rate or increased insurance premiums. It’s our industry’s reputational woes. Hall cites one originators experience…
Tightening HECM Guidelines Opens Door for Private RMs
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Increasing Restrictions & Possible Lower Lending Limits May Spur the Return of More Proprietary Loans
Having absorbed the recent elimination of federally-insured reverse mortage products, principal limit reductions and increased underwriting requirement many ask “when will we see proprietary reverse mortgages again?”. Good question. Presently our national lending limit remains at $625,500 through the end of this year thanks to HUD’s mortgagee letter in December 2012. Will HUD continue to extend this lending limit? Perhaps but unlikely. In the wake of a record 1.7 billion dollar bailout from the treasury and unrelenting scrutiny from lawmakers due to projected losses in FHA’s insurance fund, many may feel little sympathy for seniors with higher valued homes. In a risk-adverse and financially insecure political climate few will advocate for retirees they consider well-off. Additionally many industry leaders expect a return to a $417,000 national lending limit in 2014. Politics and budgets aside it comes down to the pivotal role of money. Mike McCully with New View Advisors said…
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Bailout & Recovery: FHA moves forward
If you ever wonder why FHA made changes to the HECM program here’s something to consider…
Continue readingMarket Downside = Opportunity
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Opportunities are Created in a Down Market
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It’s been a double hit for many. First the elimination of the popular federally-insured Standard fixed rate product in April and this month…the elimination of all existing products for one with first year restrictions on distributions. It’s a new age in reverse mortgage lending. One where competition is down and opportunity is up for those who adjust to the new product environment. The immediate impact of product eliminations is being felt as endorsements were down 16% after the April 1st elimination of the Standard Fixed Rate. What will our numbers look like three months from now for loans closed post October 1?
Those impacted the most in the wake of the Standard Fixed Rate elimination are those whose business model was heavily vested in fixed rate loans. Those with more a more diverse source of loans faired better…
