Federal Housing Agency (FHA)

HUD published Housing Notice 2021-03 Forbearance Relief and Associated Tenant Protections for FHA-Insured, Section 202, HUD-held, and Risk Share Multifamily Loans, which details tenant protections during Multifamily forbearance.

FHA will host the following three webinars on its new Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide: January 21 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET: Learn about Chapter Two, Lender Qualifications and Practices paired with Chapter 15, Oversight of MAP Program Requirements; Chapter Three, a general summary of program requirements; Chapter Five, Architectural and Construction Analysis paired with Chapter […]

HUD published its final rule amending existing regulations for the Section 542(c) Housing Finance Agencies (HFA) Risk-Sharing Program. The final rule adopts without substantive changes the March 8, 2016, proposed rule. The rule is intended to better align the Risk-Sharing program regulations with current industry and HUD policies and practices and provide greater flexibility for […]

HUD published its updated 2020 Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide, which becomes effective January 21, 20201. In addition to some reorganization and streamlining throughout, the updated MAP Guide includes:
• The integration of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Multifamily Closing Guide, previously a separate document;
• A new chapter specific to energy efficiency and FHA’s Green Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) program; and
• Expanded appendices that provide access to tools and forms.

HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing is encouraging owners to inform residents of the eviction protections under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order and the required declaration form. The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) is working with partners to translate the declaration form. The form is currently available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Arabic. A Virginia landlord filed a lawsuit on September 8 and requested a temporary restraining order against the CDC recent order.

The Senate voted 57-40 to confirm Dana Wade to be the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) commissioner and assistant secretary at HUD. Wade is succeeding acting FHA Commissioner Len Wolfson, who took over when former Commissioner Brian Montgomery was confirmed as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD published a Federal Register notice adjusting the Annual Indexing of Basic Statutory Mortgage Limits for Multifamily Housing Programs. The percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) is 2.3 percent and the limits have an effective date of January 1, 2020.

On Tuesday the Senate voted 61-32 to confirm Brian Montgomery as HUD’s deputy secretary. In a hearing last week the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee advanced the nomination of Dana Wade to be the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at HUD.

The National Housing Conference (NHC) will host a webinar with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian Montgomery on continued steps HUD and FHA are taking to assist borrowers, renters, lenders and property owners throughout the pandemic on May 1 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) created a searchable database and map of multifamily properties covered under the federal moratoriums to help renters know if they are protected.

On April 14, the HUD office of Multifamily Housing Programs updated its Q&A for COVID-19, which contains information about forbearance, Section 223(f)’s, and move-in and vacancies.

HUD also published two mortgagee letters on Section 223(f) Underwriting Mitigants for Multifamily Housing Projects due to Economic Impact of COVID-19 Emergency and Implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Forbearance.

Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Brian Montgomery issued a video message regarding COVID-19. Commissioner Montgomery said that while his goal “to keep this segment of the economy moving and to ensure that American’s have access to safe, decent and affordable housing” stakeholders should expect processing delays as FHA employees transition to work from home.