Coalition: FHA Needs to Realign Procedures

The Federal Housing Administration may not be able to revive its single-family program unless the agency adopts private-sector policies and procedures in originating, insuring, and servicing mortgages, according to the Consumer Mortgage Coalition.So the trade group is working to add language to an FHA reform bill (H.R. 1852) that requires the FHA to swiftly align its processes and procedures with those of the conventional market. The CMC contends that the FHA's outdated underwriting processes and severe penalties for noncompliance force lenders to conduct their FHA business as separate operations. This is expensive and discourages lenders from participating in the FHA program, according to CMA executive director Anne Canfield. "It is really important for FHA to align their processes and procedures with the way the world works," she said. The House Financial Services Committee is scheduled to mark up H.R. 1852 on May 1.