Mortgage Limits
You probably heard last night that the house of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (i.e. the Stimulus Bill).
The bill does include provisions to re-establish the 2008 mortgage limits for the remainder of 2009 for both FHA and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Accordingly, if and when the final Stimulus bill is passed, the 2008 limits will be in effect again. Barring an unexpected surprise, we expect this bill to pass by mid-February and the 2008 limits should be effective virtually immediately.
We do not think there is a significant risk in taking loan applications at the higher limits w/ the appropriate qualifiers. We would not recommend closing loans until the legislation passed.
On reverse mortgage limits, the legislation appears to raise the maximum limits to as high as $625,500.
Rural Housing Service Funding
The bill also includes funding for the Rural Housing Service. This funding will permit RHS to start guaranteeing loans again.
Tax Credit Improvement
The bill also includes a provision that eliminates the repayment feature of the tax credit. It still is for first-time homebuyers only. NAR is working to improve this requirement in the Senate including having it expanded to include all purchasers.
A copy of the mortgage limit and RHS provisions are provided below.
SEC. 12002. FHA LOAN LIMITS FOR 2009.
(a) Loan Limit Floor Based on 2008 Levels- For mortgages for which the mortgagee issues credit approval for the borrower during calendar year 2009, if the dollar amount limitation on the principal obligation of a mortgage determined under section 203(b)(2) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(2)) for any size residence for any area is less than such dollar amount limitation that was in effect for such size residence for such area for 2008 pursuant to section 202 of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-185; 122 Stat. 620), notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum dollar amount limitation on the principal obligation of a mortgage for such size residence for such area for purposes of such section 203(b)(2) shall be considered (except for purposes of section 255(g) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-20(g))) to be such dollar amount limitation in effect for such size residence for such area for 2008.
(b) Discretionary Authority for Sub-Areas- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines, for any geographic area that is smaller than an area for which dollar amount limitations on the principal obligation of a mortgage are determined under section 203(b)(2) of the National Housing Act, that a higher such maximum dollar amount limitation is warranted for any particular size or sizes of residences in such sub-area by higher median Home prices in such sub-area, the Secretary may, for mortgages for which the mortgagee issues credit approval for the borrower during calendar year 2009, increase the maximum dollar amount limitation for such size or sizes of residences for such sub-area that is otherwise in effect (including pursuant to subsection (a) of this section), but in no case to an amount that exceeds the amount specified in section 202(a)(2) of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.
SEC. 12003. GSE CONFORMING LOAN LIMITS FOR 2009.
(a) Loan Limit Floor Based on 2008 Levels- For mortgages originated during calendar year 2009, if the limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage that may purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation determined under section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)) or section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1754(a)(2)), respectively, for any size residence for any area is less than such maximum original principal obligation limitation that was in effect for such size residence for such area for 2008 pursuant to section 201 of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-185; 122 Stat. 619), notwithstanding any other provision of law, the limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage for such Association and Corporation for such size residence for such area shall be such maximum limitation in effect for such size residence for such area for 2008.
(b) Discretionary Authority for Sub-Areas- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency determines, for any geographic area that is smaller than an area for which limitations on the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage are determined for the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, that a higher such maximum original principal obligation limitation is warranted for any particular size or sizes of residences in such sub-area by higher median home prices in such sub-area, the Director may, for mortgages originated during 2009, increase the maximum original principal obligation limitation for such size or sizes of residences for such sub-area that is otherwise in effect (including pursuant to subsection (a) of this section) for such Association and Corporation, but in no case to an amount that exceeds the amount specified in the matter following the comma in section 201(a)(1)(B) of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.
SEC. 12004. FHA REVERSE MORTGAGE LOAN LIMITS FOR 2009.
For mortgages for which the mortgagee issues credit approval for the borrower during calendar year 2009, the second sentence of section 255(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 171520(g)) shall be considered to require that in no case may the benefits of insurance under such section 255 exceed 150 percent of the maximum dollar amount in effect under the sixth sentence of section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)).
Rural Housing Service
rural housing insurance fund program account
(including transfers of funds)
For an additional amount of gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $22,129,000,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, of which $4,018,000,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which $18,111,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans.
For an additional amount for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $500,000,000, of which $270,000,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which $230,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans.
In addition to other available funds, the Secretary of Agriculture may use not more than 3 percent of the funds made available under this account for administrative costs to carry out loans and loan guarantees funded under this account, of which $1,750,000 will be committed to agency projects associated with maintaining the compliance, safety, and soundness of the portfolio of loans guaranteed through the section 502 guaranteed loan program: Provided, These funds shall be transferred and merged with the appropriation for `Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses': Provided further, That the authority provided in this paragraph shall apply to appropriations under this heading in lieu of the provisions of section 1106 of this Act.
Funds appropriated by this Act to the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program account for section 502 direct loans and unsubsidized guaranteed loans may be transferred between these programs: Provided, That the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be notified at least 15 days in advance of any transfer.
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