2013: A Turbulent Year

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A Look Back at a Bumpy 2013

reverse mortgage news

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.

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For more reverse mortgage news, technology & training visit www.ReverseFocus.com

Against The Wind

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2014 Presents Challenge & Opportunity for HECM Industry

reverse mortgage newsThe 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…

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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

Reverse Mortgage News

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…

Get more reverse mortgage news, tools & technology at www.ReverseFocus.com.

Market Downside = Opportunity

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Opportunities are Created in a Down Market

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Reverse Mortgage Lending Blog 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…

Smart Planning with HECM60

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Set Yourself Apart as a Reverse Mortgage Planner

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Set Yourself Apart as a Reverse Mortgage Planner

#1 Distribution limits. Your reverse mortgage borrowers with high existing mortgage balances will only be impacted by the lower Principal Limit Factors NOT the Distribution Limit. That’s right. HUD allows for those with mandatory obligations of a mortgage payoff that when combined with closing costs and required set asides to use  up to 100% of the gross principal limit. Here’s an example. Harry Homeowner qualifies for a Gross Principal Limit of $200,000 but has a mortgage payoff of $160,000, a repair set aside of $13,000 and closing costs of $5,000. That’s total mandatory obligations of $158,000 or 89% of the Principal Limit. That’s right, we broke through the 60% first year cap. #2 Cash at closing? Yes, it makes sense for those with access to funds to avoid not only the upfront 2.5% FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium but also younger borrowers who want to reduce the lifetime cost of the loan.

Good Intentions vs Original Intent

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Though Unwelcome Change was Crucial

Watch Last Week’s Video Here  |  Submit Feedback to HUD on Financial Assessment Here
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Reverse Industry Change

The Importance Of Intent In The Reverse Mortgage Industry

The saying goes “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. The same could be said of the federally-insured reverse mortgage program’s recent predicament and HUD’s swift action to avoid disaster…the closure of the program. Much of the recent reverse mortgage news has focused on the announced overhaul of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program, but few look at or understand it’s original intent. The words original intent are fitting when examine the origins of our program versus its evolution over the last 24 years. The Housing & Community Development Act which laid the groundwork for the reverse mortgage program says the purpose is “to meet the special needs of elderly homeowners by reducing the effect of the economic hardship caused by the increasing costs of meeting health, housing, and subsistence needs at a time of reduced income, through the insurance of home equity conversion mortgages to permit the conversion of a portion of accumulated home equity into liquid assets.”