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• Congress to Eliminate Down Payment Assistance Programs - (07/23/2008)
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• FHASecure Launch: 07/14/2008 (07/08/2008)
• FHA Extends Financing for Immediate Purchase of Foreclosed Homes (06/13/2008)
• New FHA Guidelines: FHA Secure (05/29/2008)
• Subprime Alternative: FHA Reform Deal Close (03/10/2008)
• FHA Loan Limits Increased to $729,750 (03/04/2008)

Congress to Eliminate Down Payment Assistance Programs

H.R. 3221 Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008-Elimination of Down Payment Assistance Programs Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3221, a wide sweeping piece of legislation that addresses a variety of housing related issues. The bill is headed for the President's desk where his prompt signature is expected.

On pages 479 - 481 of the bill, the elimination of down payment assistance is cited (SEC. 2113) with an end date of October 1, 2008. The specific language states that the law "shall apply only to mortgages for which the mortgagee has issued credit approval for the borrower on or after October 1, 2008." The full language of SEC. 2113 is included below with a link to the bill at the bottom of this section.

SEC. 2113. CASH INVESTMENT REQUIREMENT AND PROHIBITION OF SELLER-FUNDED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

Paragraph (9) of section 203(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(9)) is amended to read as follows:

(9) CASH INVESTMENT REQUIREMENT-

(A) IN GENERAL - mortgage insured under this section shall be executed by a mortgagor who shall have paid, in cash or its equivalent, on account of the property an amount equal to not less than 3.5 percent of the appraised value of the property or such larger amount as the Secretary may determine.

(B) FAMILY MEMBERS - For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider as cash or its equivalent any amounts borrowed from a family member (as such term is defined in section 201), subject only to the requirements that, in any case in which the repayment of such borrowed amounts is secured by a lien against the property, that --
(i) such lien shall be subordinate to the mortgage; and
(ii) the sum of the principal obligation of the mortgage and the obligation secured by such lien may not exceed 100 percent of the appraised value of the property plus any initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees in connection with the mortgage.

(C) PROHIBITED SOURCES.-In no case shall the funds required by subparagraph (A) consist, in whole or in part, of funds provided by any of the following parties before, during, or after closing of the property sale:
(i) The seller or any other person or entity that financially benefits from the transaction.
(ii) Any third party or entity that is reimbursed, directly or indirectly, by any of the parties described in clause (i). This subparagraph shall apply only to mortgages for which the mortgagee has issued credit approval for the borrower on or after October 1, 2008.''

 

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