A&B ABstract: Mortgage assumptions – where a buyer assumes the existing mortgage loan of a seller – have fluctuated in popularity since the 1980s. However, inflation and the high interest rate environment, coupled with an observable shift to a buyer’s market, are raising the prospect that assumable mortgages – especially those with historically low interest […]
HUD
FHA Issues Final Rule on Acceptance of Private Flood Insurance Policies
A&B ABstract: On November 21, 2022, the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) announced a final rule to provide for the acceptance of private flood insurance in connection with FHA-insured loans. FHA to Permit Private Flood Insurance Policies Effective December 21, 2022, the FHA has adopted a long-awaited final rule (the “FHA Rule”) permitting the acceptance of […]
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Extension of COVID-19 Foreclosure Moratorium
A&B Abstract: Today, the Biden Administration announced an extension of the foreclosure moratorium for federally-backed mortgage loans (the “Presidential Announcement”). To implement the Presidential Announcement, the federal agencies (i.e., HUD/FHA, USDA, and VA) and GSEs (i.e., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) have announced (or are anticipated to announce) extensions of the foreclosure moratorium until July […]
CFPB Rescinds Compliance Bulletin on Marketing Services Arrangements and Issues FAQs on RESPA Section 8
A&B ABstract: On October 7, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB” or “Bureau”) rescinded Compliance Bulletin 2015-05, RESPA Compliance and Marketing Services Agreements (“Bulletin 2015-05”). In addition, the Bureau published Frequently Asked Questions (“RESPA FAQs”) on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”) Section 8 topics in an effort to “provide clearer rules of […]
Attorneys General Urge FHFA and HUD to Take Additional Measures to Protect Borrowers Affected by COVID-19
A&B Abstract: On April 23, 2020, the attorneys general of 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (the “Attorneys General”) sent two letters, one to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) and the other to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD” and collectively with FHFA, the “Agencies”), respectively, noting that […]