Resources

FHFA recently issued updated area median income (AMI) limits, which are used to determine whether borrowers meet the income eligibility requirements for Freddie Mac Home Possible and Refi Possible mortgages, as well as exemption from the Super Conforming Mortgage Credit Fee in Price. Get the full details, as you may be able to offer affordable mortgages to even more borrowers.

While rural homeowners appreciate proximity to trees, mountains, water and an abundance of natural light, they also have concerns about outdated, lacking or non-functioning features inside their homes that could impact their physical health and stress levels. This article lists tangible ways to identify and address health-related home concerns so rural residents can live more comfortably and age in place.

CHOICEReno eXPress is a new mortgage product that offers an additional financing option for borrowers who are looking to make smaller-scale home renovations. With CHOICEReno eXPress, lenders can offer a wide range of borrowers the ability to finance home repairs and help them attain and maintain affordable and sustainable homeownership.

The typical U.S. family could save quite a bit of cash by using reliable information to help them make smart home improvement decisions. This article illustrates how to conduct home energy assessments that provide energy-saving home improvement recommendations that can help homeowners lower their utility bills, increase home value and enhance marketability. Learn More.

Manufactured houses, also referred to as “prefab,” “modular” or “factory-built,” are a popular choice in Japan – thanks to their attractive design, advanced technology and trendy branding. This article looks at how some U.S. manufactured housing companies are evolving and improving manufactured home features in hopes of making this housing option all-the-rage in the States too. Read More.

Homeowners rely on water for everything from drinking to cleaning to landscape irrigation. This article provides tips on how to decrease water usage, save money and preserve this vital resource by making changes to appliances, plumbing fixtures, hot water heaters and more – and how lenders can offer mortgage options that help finance these efficiency updates. Learn More.

There are some significant benefits associated with refinancing, yet a disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic Americans don’t pursue the option. Discover what industry stakeholders can do to help broaden the funnel of homeowners looking to refinance, thereby increasing homeowner equity for minorities. Read More.

The shortage of new construction homes coupled with high demand for existing supply has driven up the prices of affordable properties, making homeownership difficult for borrowers below the Area Median Income (AMI). This article explores how getting vacant and distressed properties back on the market can help address this challenge. Learn More.

Nearly four million affordable housing units are needed to close the housing gap. Such a number begs the question: How can housing professionals collaborate across the ecosystem to help establish solid, sustainable pathways to affordable homeownership? This article looks at leveraging shared equity programs to address the housing gap. Read More.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could be one answer to affordability and housing supply challenges. Known colloquially as “granny flats,” “in-law apartments,” “carriage houses,” and “secondary suites,” an ADU is a smaller, independent residential structure on the same lot as a single-family home. Discover the benefits that ADUs are poised to provide to homeowners, renters and communities. Read More.