FHA INFO #17-39: Guidance for FHA-Approved Mortgagees and Servicers Regarding Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas
Investor Update
September 11, 2017
Guidance for FHA-Approved Mortgagees and Servicers Regarding Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas
Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is issuing a reminder to mortgagees about its guidance for originating and/or servicing forward and reverse mortgages in areas covered by a Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Area (PDMDA). The following guidance applies to all areas covered by a PDMDA, including current PDMDA designations in Texas resulting from Hurricane Harvey, and any PDMDA designations resulting from Hurricane Irma:
- FHA-insured mortgages secured by properties in a PDMDA are subject to a 90-Day foreclosure moratorium following the disaster.
- In PDMDAs only, HUD provides mortgagees an automatic 90-Day extension from the date of the foreclosure moratorium expiration date to commence or recommence foreclosure action or evaluate the borrower under HUD’s Loss Mitigation Program.
Mortgagees should review complete servicing guidance in the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (SF Handbook), Sections III.A.2 and III.A.3.c relating to the servicing of mortgages in PDMDAs.
In preparation for assisting homeowners with longer-term recovery efforts, mortgagees should also review:
- FHA’s 203(h) Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims requirements in Section II.A.8.b of the SF Handbook. The 203(h) program allows FHA to insure mortgages for victims of a major disaster who have lost their homes and are in the process of rebuilding or buying another home.
- FHA’s 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program requirements in Section II.A.8.a of the SF Handbook. The 203(k) program provides mortgage financing or refinancing which includes the cost of home repairs – both structural and non-structural – into the loan amount.
Mortgagees can find more information about the policies referenced above and other FHA PDMDA policies on the FHA Resource Center’s Online Knowledge Base.
Quick Links
- Review HUD’s August 28, 2017, press release at https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2017/HUDNo_17-068
- Access the SF Handbook in online or portable document format from HUD’s Client Information Policy Systems Handbooks web page at:
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh
Resources
Contact the FHA Resource Center:
- Visit our online knowledge base to obtain answers to frequently asked questions 24/7 at:
www.hud.gov/answers. - E-mail the FHA Resource Center at: answers@hud.gov. Emails and phone messages will be responded to during
normal hours of operation, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Eastern), Monday through Friday on all non-Federal holidays. - Call 1-800-CALLFHA (1-800-225-5342). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may reach this number by
calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
Source: HUD
Additional Resources:
Safeguard Properties (Hurricane Maria All Client Alert summary page)
Safeguard Properties (Hurricane Irma All Client Alert summary page)
Safeguard Properties (Hurricane Harvey All Client Alert summary page)