Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-5931
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]
Introduced: 2020-02-21
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Housing finance and home ownership

Housing supply and affordability
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-03
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-02-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to report on barriers to making Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage insurance available for mortgages under $70,000. Specifically, HUD must report on&nbsp;policies, practices, and products used by the FHA and actions that will be taken to remove such barriers. </p>

action_date: 2020-03-02
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to report on barriers to making Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage insurance available for mortgages under $70,000. Specifically, HUD must report on&nbsp;policies, practices, and products used by the FHA and actions that will be taken to remove such barriers. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5931 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 21, 2020 Mr. Clay (for himself and Mr. Stivers ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020 . 2. Review of FHA small-dollar mortgage practices (a) Congressional findings The Congress finds that— (1) affordable homeownership opportunities are being stymied due to the lack of financing available for home purchases under $70,000; (2) according to the Urban Institute, small-dollar mortgage loan applications in 2017 were denied by lenders at double the rate of denial for large mortgage loans, and these denial rates were not related to applicants’ creditworthiness; (3) according to data compiled by Attom Data solutions, small-dollar mortgage originations have decreased 38 percent since 2009, while there has been a 65-percent increase in origination of mortgages for more than $150,000; (4) although the FHA’s mission is to serve creditworthy borrowers who are underserved, according to the Urban Institute the FHA serves 24 percent of the overall market, but only 19 percent of the small-dollar mortgage market; and (5) the FHA should play a greater role in supporting affordable homeownership opportunities by reducing barriers to small-dollar lending, as is consistent with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission, including meeting the housing needs of borrowers the program is designed to serve and protecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. (b) Review The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a review of its FHA single-family mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products to identify any barriers or impediments to supporting, facilitating, and making available mortgage insurance for mortgages having an original principal obligation of $70,000 or less. Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing the findings of such review and the actions that the Secretary will take to remove such barriers and impediments to providing mortgage insurance for such mortgages without adversely affecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.

tv_txt: IIB 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5931 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 3, 2020 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs AN ACT To require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020 . 2. Review of FHA small-dollar mortgage practices (a) Congressional findings The Congress finds that— (1) affordable homeownership opportunities are being hindered due to the lack of financing available for home purchases under $70,000; (2) according to the Urban Institute, small-dollar mortgage loan applications in 2017 were denied by lenders at double the rate of denial for large mortgage loans, and this difference in denial rates cannot be fully explained by differences in the applicants’ credit profiles; (3) according to data compiled by Attom Data solutions, small-dollar mortgage originations have decreased 38 percent since 2009, while there has been a 65 percent increase in origination of mortgages for more than $150,000; (4) the FHA’s mission is to serve creditworthy borrowers who are underserved and, according to the Urban Institute, the FHA serves 24 percent of the overall market, but only 19 percent of the small-dollar mortgage market; and (5) the causes behind these variations are not fully understood, but merit study that could assist in furthering the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission, including meeting the housing needs of borrowers the program is designed to serve and reducing barriers to homeownership, while protecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. (b) Review The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a review of its FHA single-family mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products to identify any barriers or impediments to supporting, facilitating, and making available mortgage insurance for mortgages having an original principal obligation of $70,000 or less. Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing the findings of such review and the actions that the Secretary will take, without adversely affecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, to remove such barriers and impediments to providing mortgage insurance for such mortgages.

Passed the House of Representatives March 2, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5931 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act of 2020 . 2. Review of FHA small-dollar mortgage practices (a) Congressional findings The Congress finds that— (1) affordable homeownership opportunities are being hindered due to the lack of financing available for home purchases under $70,000; (2) according to the Urban Institute, small-dollar mortgage loan applications in 2017 were denied by lenders at double the rate of denial for large mortgage loans, and this difference in denial rates cannot be fully explained by differences in the applicants’ credit profiles; (3) according to data compiled by Attom Data solutions, small-dollar mortgage originations have decreased 38 percent since 2009, while there has been a 65 percent increase in origination of mortgages for more than $150,000; (4) the FHA’s mission is to serve creditworthy borrowers who are underserved and, according to the Urban Institute, the FHA serves 24 percent of the overall market, but only 19 percent of the small-dollar mortgage market; and (5) the causes behind these variations are not fully understood, but merit study that could assist in furthering the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission, including meeting the housing needs of borrowers the program is designed to serve and reducing barriers to homeownership, while protecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. (b) Review The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a review of its FHA single-family mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products to identify any barriers or impediments to supporting, facilitating, and making available mortgage insurance for mortgages having an original principal obligation of $70,000 or less. Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing the findings of such review and the actions that the Secretary will take, without adversely affecting the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, to remove such barriers and impediments to providing mortgage insurance for such mortgages.

Passed the House of Representatives March 2, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.