Despite executive order, more HECM Changes coming this fall
One would think our industry may catch it’s collective breath from the rapid nonstop pace of new rules and regulations for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. Such hopes were bolstered with the February announcement of President Trump’s Executive Order curbing federal regulations. However, it appears that HUD’s final rules will in fact be implemented this fall. What do such changes hold in store for the reverse mortgage industry?
Perhaps it is fitting that HUD’s final HECM rule will arrive just days before the fall season officially begins on September 19th. The rollout will come in three phases: self-implementation, changes to the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook, and future mortgagee letters. During the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association meeting last week in New York City, the association’s president and CEO Peter Bell expressed their comfort on the direction of the coming rules changes.
Some additional changes are welcomed by industry participants. These include ….
Does one of the first decisions made by the Trump administration foreshadow the future of the reverse mortgage program? The administration’s decision to rescind a recent FHA mortgage insurance premium reduction was swift- within one hour after President Donald Trump took the oath of office. How will a business-minded administration approach the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program?
Dysfunction: abnormal or impaired functioning of a person, organ, or in our case Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. Is our market truly dysfunctional? If so, what corrections can we make to better expand our reach to eligible homeowners?
In October 2010, the HECM Saver was introduced giving borrowers considerably lower upfront FHA insurance premiums in exchange for lower lending ratios or principal limits. Three short years later the Saver was eliminated from the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program. Ironically, it was this now-eliminated program that spurred considerable interest in the HECM within financial planning circles. Today, some retirement experts are calling again for a low-cost reverse mortgage.
Creativity unlocks potential markets and opens up possibilities. It also makes you a target of critics. In recent years the long overlooked principal limit growth factor (or as many refer to it as the line of credit growth rate) has garnered a second look by financial professionals and our industry as a potential means of managing risk in a retirement portfolio.
Sacred cows. Those tenets or beliefs that have been long held above reproach and which are seen as immune from criticism. For the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, one benefit has been largely left unscathed, that is until now. 
