The Administration’s goal is to stabilize the housing market and 

provide security for homeowners. To meet these objectives in the 

context of a very challenging market, the Administration developed 

a broad approach implementing state and local housing agency 

initiatives, tax credits for homebuyers, neighborhood stabilization 

and community development programs, mortgage modifi cations 

and refi nancing, housing counseling, continued Federal Housing 

Administration (FHA) engagement, support for Fannie Mae and 

Freddie Mac and increased consumer protections. In addition, Federal 

Reserve and Treasury MBS purchase programs have helped to keep 

mortgage interest rates at record lows over the past year. More detail 

on the Administration’s efforts can be found in the Appendix.

December 2010 Scorecard on Administration’s 

Comprehensive Housing Initiative 

The President’s housing market recovery efforts began immediately after 

taking offi ce in February 2009. Data in the scorecard also show that 

the recovery in the housing market continues to remain fragile. While the 

recovery will take place over time, the Administration remains committed 

to its efforts to prevent avoidable foreclosures and stabilize the housing 

market. The December 2010 housing scorecard includes the following 

key indicators of market health and results of the Administration’s 

comprehensive response, as outlined above:

• Foreclosure starts and completions dropped significantly 

in November. As lenders review internal procedures related 

to foreclosure processing, many foreclosure actions have been 

delayed leading to a 21 percent drop in foreclosure activity in 

November. While this is the biggest month over month decrease 

since 2005, the decline is likely to be temporary as lenders 

eventually revise and resubmit foreclosure paperwork in the 

coming months. 

• As expected with the expiration of the Homebuyer Tax 

Credit, new and existing home sales have remained 

below levels seen in the first half of 2010. However, this 

month’s report also shows that home prices and home equity 

declined moderately, as prices remain unsettled at this fragile 

stage of the recovery.

• More than 3.9 million loss mitigation actions were 

started between April 2009 and the end of October 

2010 —more than double the number of foreclosure 

completions during that time. These actions included over 

1.4 million Home Affordable Modifi cation Program (HAMP) 

trial modifi cation starts, more than 600,000 Federal Housing 

Administration (FHA) loss mitigation and early delinquency 

interventions, and nearly 1.8 million proprietary modifi cations 

under HOPE Now. While some homeowners may have received 

help from more than one program, the number of agreements 

offered were more than double the number of foreclosure 

completions for the same period (1.7 million). To view the 

November HAMP Servicer Performance Report, visit: 

http://www.fi nancialstability.gov/docs/Nov%202010%20

MHA%20Report.pdf.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research

 e Obama Administration’s E orts 

To Stabilize  e Housing Market 

and Help American Homeowners

December 2010

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development | U.S. Department of the Treasury


House Prices Unsettled During is Fragile Stage of Recovery




		
	


	
	
	
 	­
		




  







Existing And New Home Sales 



	








 

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Existing Homes One Mark

Number Of Units Held Offe Ma




	






	

	




	 
	




­
	











       

Expectations On House Prices Have S


			

	

	
	


		
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U.S Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentU.S. Department of the Treasury

 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners 


8.3 Million Homeowners Have Renanced 




			



		




 ­



	­





Foreclosure Starts And Comple

As Lenders Review Internal Pr










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	­

























	













	








Mortgage Rates Remain Near Record Lows 

And Aordability Index Remains High 





		


	

	

	 		­

		



Mortgage Aid Has Been Extended Morean 3.9 Million Times,

Outpacing Foreclosures 

	

				


	 	 	 



­	­

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U.S Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentU.S. Department of the Treasury

 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners 




  

Homeowners Save From Reduced Mo



	


  




 ­


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	­ 


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Housing Counselors Serve Millions 

 






 





Home Equity Down From Prior Quarter 

But Remains Higher an First Quarter 2009 


 





	






FHA Supports Mortgage Lending During Crisis

	 

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U.S Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentU.S. Department of the Treasury

 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners 
 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research| December 2010

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Department of the Treasury

HOUSING MARKET FACT SHEET

Indicator  is Period Last Period Year Ago As of Dec 2008 Latest Release

Mortgage Rates (30-Yr FRM, percent) 4.83 4.61 4.94 5.10 16-Dec-10

Housing Affordability (index) 184.2 180.5 170.4 166.3 October-10

Home Prices (indices)

 Case Shiller (NSA)

 FHFA (SA)

147.5

190.5

148.6

191.8

146.6

197.1

150.5

198.7

September-10

September-10

Home Sales (thousands, SA)

 New

 Existing

 First Time Buyers

23.6

369.2

184.6 (p)

25.7

377.5

189.5

33.0

498.3

249.7

31.4

395.0

174.8

October-10

October-10

October-10

Housing Supply

 Existing Homes for Sale (thousands, NSA)

 Existing Homes - Months’ Supply (months)

 New Homes for Sale (thousands, SA)

 New Homes for Sale - Months’ Supply (months, SA)

 Vacant Units Held Off Market (thousands)

3,864

10.5

202

8.6

3,557

4,000

10.6

203

7.9

3,725

3,565

7.2

242

7.3

3,396

3,700

9.4

353

11.2

3,511

October-10

October-10

October-10

October-10

3rd Q 10

Mortgage Originations (thousands)

 Refi nance Originations

 Purchase Originations

1,371

532

1,145

833

1,281

1,047

767

986

3rd Q 10

3rd Q 10

FHA Originations (thousands)

 Refi nance Originations

 Purchase Originations

 Purchases by First Time Buyers

54.9

59.3

41.5

(p)

(p)

(p)

55.9

60.7

40.7

(r)

(r)

(r)

67.5

112.5

95.7

62.9

72.7

56.2

November-10

November-10

November-10

Mortgage Delinquency Rates (percent)

 Prime

 Subprime

 FHA

4.9

35.7

12.7

5.2

36.5

12.4

6.4

38.1

14.7

4.4

34.1

14.3

November-10

November-10

November-10

Seriously Delinquent Mortgages (thousands) 

 Prime

 Subprime

 FHA

 1,674 

 1,916 

 589 

 1,683 

 1,905 

 547 

 1,955 

 2,065 

 530 

 913 

 1,642 

 333 

November-10

November-10

November-10

Underwater Borrowers (thousands) 10,780 10,971 10,698 -- 3rd Q 10

Foreclosure Actions (thousands)

 Notice of Default (Foreclosure Starts)

 Notice of Foreclosure Sale 

 Foreclosure Completions

 Short Sales 

 79.0 

 116.0 

 67.4 

 17.6 (p)

 100.6 

 138.4 

 93.2 

 20.8 (r)

 114.2 

 115.8 

 76.7 

 22.5 

 121.5 

 103.0 

 78.9 

 13.9 

November-10

November-10

November-10

September-10

HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND STABILIZATION PERFORMANCE METRICS

Indicator  is Period Last Period Cumulative From Apr 1, 2009 Latest Release

Distressed Homeowners Assisted (thousands)

 HAMP Trial Modifi cations

 HAMP Permanent Modifi cations

 FHA Loss Mitigation Interventions 

 HOPE Now Modifi cations

31.3

30.0

52.5

100.9

26.1

23.8

31.9

119.6

1,426.8

549.6

652.5

1,896.0

November-10

November-10

November-10

October-10

Counseled Borrowers (thousands) 714 839 4,272 2nd Q 10

Borrower Annual Savings ($ millions) 

 HAMP Trial Modifi cations

 HAMP Permanent Modifi cations

 All Refi nances

--

--

--

--

--

--

1,103

2,925

15,228

3rd Q 10

3rd Q 10

3rd Q 10

Activities Completed Under NSP (housing units) 

 New Construction or Residential Rehab 

 Demolition or Clearance

 Direct Homeownership Assistance

 210 

 165 

 1,040 

(p)

(p)

(p)

3,033

1,041

1,147

9,459 [41,168]

3,152 [9,158]

4,808 [19,272]

(b) 

(b) 

(b)

3rd Q 10

3rd Q 10

3rd Q 10

Change in Aggregate Home Equity ($ billions) –584 139 452 3rd Q 10

SA = seasonally adjusted, NSA = not SA, p = preliminary, r = revised, b = brackets include units in process.
 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research| December 2010

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Department of the Treasury

SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY

A. Items in Tables

Description Frequency Sources Notes on Methodology

Distressed Homeowners Assisted 

 HAMP Trial Modifi cations

 HAMP Permanent Modifi cations

 FHA Loss Mitigation Interventions 

 HOPE Now Modifi cations

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Treasury

Treasury

HUD

Hope Now Alliance

As reported.

As reported.

All FHA loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions.

All proprietary modifi cations completed.

Counseled Borrowers (thousands) Quarterly HUD Housing counseling activity reported by all HUD-approved housing counselors.

Borrower Annual Savings 

 HAMP Trial Modifi cations

 

 HAMP Permanent Modifi cations

 

 All Refi nances

Quarterly

Quarterly

Quarterly

HUD, Treasury, and Freddie Mac

HUD and Treasury

HUD, and MBA

HUD estimate of annualized savings based on Treasury reported active HAMP trial modifi cations 

and Freddie Mac monthly savings estimates. 

HUD estimate of annualized savings based on Treasury reported active HAMP permanent 

modifi cations and median monthly savings estimates. 

Refi nance originations (see below) multiplied by HUD estimate of annualized savings per refi nance.

Completed Activities Under NSP (housing units)

 New Construction or Residential Rehab

 

 Demolition or Clearance

 

 Direct Homeownership Assistance

Quarterly

Quarterly

Quarterly

HUD

HUD

HUD

Housing units constructed/rehabilitated using Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 

Bracketed numbers include units in process, to be completed by 3/2013.

Housing units demolished/cleared using Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Bracketed 

numbers as above.

Completed downpayment assistance or non-amortizing second mortgages by grantee to 

make purchase of NSP unit affordable. Bracketed numbers as above.

Change in Aggregate Home Equity Quarterly Federal Reserve Board Difference in aggregate household owners’ equity in real estate as reported in the Federal 

Reserve Board’s Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States for stated time period.

Mortgage Rates (30-Yr FRM) Weekly Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, as reported for 30-Year fi xed rate mortgages (FRM).

Housing Affordability Monthly National Association of Realtors ® NAR’s composite housing affordability index as reported. A value of 100 means that a 

family with the median income has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a 

median-priced home. An index above 100 signifi es that family earning the median income 

has more than enough income to qualify.

Home Prices 

 Case-Shiller (NSA)

 FHFA (SA)

Monthly

Monthly

Standard and Poor’s

Federal Housing Finance Agency

Case-Shiller 20-metro composite index, January 2000 = 100. Standard and Poor’s 

recommends use of not seasonally adjusted index when making monthly comparisons.

FHFA monthly (purchase-only) index for US, January 1991 = 100. 

Home Sales (SA)

 New 

 

 

 Existing 

 

 

 First Time Buyers

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

HUD and Census Bureau

National Association of Realtors ®

NAR, Census Bureau, and HUD

Seasonally adjusted annual rates divided by 12. A newly constructed house is considered 

sold when either a sales contract has been signed or a deposit accepted, even if this occurs 

before construction has actually started. 

Seasonally adjusted annual rates divided by 12. Existing-home sales, which include singlefamily, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings. This differs 

from the U.S. Census Bureau’s series on new single-family home sales, which are based on 

contracts or the acceptance of a deposit.

Sum of seasonally adjusted new and existing home sales (above) multiplied by National 

Association of Realtors ® annual estimate of fi rst time buyer share of existing home sales.

Housing Supply

 Existing Homes for Sale (NSA)

 Existing Homes - Months’ Supply

 New Homes for Sale (SA)

 New Homes for Sale - Months’ Supply (SA)

 Vacant Units Held Off Market 

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Quarterly

National Association of Realtors ®

National Association of Realtors ®

HUD and Census Bureau

HUD and Census Bureau

Census Bureau

As reported.

As reported.

As reported.

As reported.

As reported.

Mortgage Originations 

 Refi nance Originations

 

 Purchase Originations

Quarterly

Quarterly

Mortgage Bankers Association 

and HUD

Mortgage Bankers Association 

and HUD

HUD estimate of refi nance originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of refi ance 

originations. 

HUD estimate of home purchase originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of home 

purchase originations. 

FHA Originations 

 Refi nance Originations

 Purchase Originations

 Purchases by First Time Buyers

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

HUD 

HUD

HUD

FHA originations reported as of date of loan closing. Estimate for current month scaled upward 

due to normal reporting lag and shown as preliminary.

Mortgage Delinquency Rates (NSA)

 Prime

 Subprime

 FHA

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

LPS-McDash Analytics

LPS-McDash Analytics

HUD

Total mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by mortgages actively serviced.

Total mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by mortgages actively serviced.

Total FHA mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by FHA’s insurance in force.

Seriously Delinquent Mortgages 

 Prime

 Subprime

 FHA

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

LPS-McDash, MBA, and HUD

LPS-McDash, MBA, and HUD

HUD

Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure, scaled up to market.

Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure, scaled up to market.

Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure.

Underwater Borrowers Quarterly First American CoreLogic As reported.

Foreclosure Actions

 Notice of Default (Foreclosure Starts)

 

 Notice of Foreclosure Sale 

 Foreclosure Completions

 Short sales

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Monthly

Realty Trac

Realty Trac

Realty Trac

Core Logic

Reported counts of notice of default plus lis pendens. Some foreclosure starts may be omitted in 

states where the fi ling of a notice of default is optional.

Notice of sale (auctions).

Real Estate Owned (REO).

Count of Short Sales for the month as reported (current month subject to revision).
 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research| December 2010

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Department of the Treasury

SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY

B. Notes on Charts.

1. Monthly house price trends shown as changes in respective house price indices applied to a common base price set equal to the median price of an existing 

home sold in January 2003 as reported by the National Association of Realtors. Indices shown: S&P/Case Shiller 20-metro composite index (NSA), January 

2000 = 100, and FHFA monthly (purchase-only) index for US (SA), January 1991 = 100. 

2. S&P/Case-Shiller 20 metro composite index (NSA) as reported monthly. Futures index fi gures report forward expectations of the level of the S&P/Case Shiller 

index as of the date indicated, estimated from prices of futures contracts reported by Radar Logic. 

3. Reported seasonally adjusted annual rates for new and existing home sales divided by 12. 

4. HUD estimate of refi nance originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of refi nance originations. 

5. Cumulative HAMP modifi cations started, FHA loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, plus proprietary modifi cations completed as reported by 

Hope Now Alliance. Some homeowners may be counted in more than one category. Foreclosure completions are properties entering Real Estate Owned 

(REO) as reported by Realty Trac. 

6. Foreclosure starts include notice of default and lis pendens, completions are properties entering REO. Both as reported by Realty Trac. See “Foreclosure 

Actions” above. 

7. See “Borrower Annual Savings” above.

8. FHA market shares as FHA purchase and refi nance originations divided by HUD estimates of purchase and refi nance mortgage originations as noted in 

“Mortgage Originations” above.
 e Obama Administration’s E orts To Stabilize  e Housing Market and Help American Homeowners U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research| December 2010

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Department of the Treasury

The Administration has taken a broad set of actions to stabilize the housing market and help American 

homeowners. A year ago, stress in the fi nancial system had severely reduced the supply of mortgage credit, 

limiting the ability of Americans to buy homes or refi nance mortgages. Millions of responsible families who 

had made their monthly payments and had fulfi lled their obligations saw their property values fall. They also 

found themselves unable to refi nance at lower mortgage rates.

In February 2009, less than one month after taking offi ce, President Obama announced the Homeowner 

Affordability and Stability Plan. As part of this plan and through other housing initiatives, the Administration 

has taken the following actions to strengthen the housing market:

• Supported Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure continued access to affordable mortgage credit;

• The Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury purchased more than $1.4 trillion in agency mortgage 

backed securities through independent MBS purchase programs, helping to keep mortgage rates at 

historic lows;

• Launched a modifi cation initiative to help homeowners reduce mortgage payments to affordable levels 

and to prevent avoidable foreclosures;

• Launched a $23.5 billion Housing Finance Agencies Initiative to increase sustainable homeownership 

and rental resources;

• Supported the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, which has helped 2.5 million American families 

purchase homes;

• Provided more than $5 billion in support for affordable rental housing through low income housing tax 

credit programs and $6.92 billion in support for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to restore 

neighborhoods hardest hit by the concentrated foreclosures;

• Created the $4.1 billion HFA Hardest Hit Fund for innovative foreclosure prevention programs in the 

nation’s hardest hit housing markets.

• Supported home purchase and refi nance activity through the FHA to provide access to affordable 

mortgage capital and help homeowners prevent foreclosures.

###

Appendix