Senate Panel Sets Mark-Up of FHA Reform

The Senate Banking Committee is tentatively scheduled to mark up a Federal Housing Administration reform bill Sept. 19, sources say, but committee members are still trying to reach agreement on key provisions of the bill.The Senate bill is expected to raise the FHA loan limits to $417,000 in high-cost areas and limit the ability of the mortgage insurance agency to charge risk-based premiums based on credit scores. Just before the August recess, it appeared that the senators were near agreement to give the FHA the green light to set premiums based on loan-to-value ratios as well as loan or property type -- but not on credit scores. Separately, the FHA is expected to issue a proposed rule soon to establish an RBP system that the agency plans to implement if Congress does not pass an FHA bill by Jan. 1. In the other chamber of Congress, the House is expected to vote on passage of an FHA reform bill (H.R. 1852) the week of Sept. 16.