Updated October 6, 2021
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) New and Extended COVID-19 Relief options for Borrowers
On September 27, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced new and extended COVID-19 relief options for borrowers recently or newly struggling to make their mortgage payments because of the pandemic and for senior homeowners with Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) who need assistance to remain in their homes.
For additional information please click here.
Updated August 3rd, 2021
In Mortgagee Letter 2021-19, advises that all FHA Title II Single Family forward and Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (reverse) mortgage programs except
for FHA-insured mortgages secured by vacant or abandoned properties qualify for its foreclosure-related eviction moratorium program. More information here
FHFA extends COVID-19 REO Eviction Moratorium through September 30, 2021. More information here
Updated June 28th, 2021
VA has extended relief for borrowers until July 31st, 2021. More information available here
CFPB issues rules as federal foreclosure protections expire. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized amendments to the federal mortgage servicing regulations to reinforce the ongoing economic recovery. More information available here
HUD extends eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. More information available here
FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) are extending the moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned (REO) evictions until July 31, 2021. More information available here
The Director of the CDC has signed an extension to the eviction moratorium. More information available here
Updated June 7th
The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued an updated summary of home retention resources and loan repayment relief for borrowers affected by COVID-19.
More information available here
FHFA Extends COVID-19 Multifamily Forbearance through September 30, 2021
More information available here
Updated April 15th
The U.S. Treasury Dept. has released information for their Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) including
“PURPOSE OF THE HAF
According to the ARP, the HAF was established to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to eligible entities for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020, through qualified expenses related to mortgages and housing.”
More information is available on the Treasury’s Webpage.
Updated April 8th, 2021
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is extending an order aimed at preventing evictions through June as many Americans are behind on their rent. To read more, please click here
Update April 7th, 2021
Housing advocates (National Consumer Law Center, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, National Community Stabilization Trust, and the National Housing Law Project) respond by praising CFPB’s focus on helping homeowners at risk but urge a different approach.
For more information, please click here
Update April 6th, 2021
CFPB proposes mortgage servicing changes to prevent a wave of foreclosures from COVID-19 as millions of homeowners are expected to exit forebearance in the next few months.
Update February 25th, 2021
FHFA:FHFA Extends Foreclosure and REO Eviction Moratoriums
On 2/22/2021 HUD presented a webinar reviewing FHA’s COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Policy including: all available COVID-19 loss mitigation options and the updates to FHA’s COVID-19 loss mitigation policy announced in ML 2021-05, Extensions of Single Family Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium Start Date of COVID-19 Initial Forbearance and HECM Extension Period; Expansion of COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Options.
To view the PowerPoint Presentation please click on following link.
Course Materials.
To view the on-demand webinar, please register here.
Update February 16th, 2021
FHFA:FHFA Extends Foreclosure and REO Eviction Moratoriums
VA https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/documents/circulars/26_21_05.pdf
HUD (Extensions of Single Family Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium, Start Date of COVID-19 Initial Forbearance, and HECM Extension Period; Expansion of COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Options)
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2021-05hsgml.pdf
Update January 29th 2021
Additional moratorium extension.
VA: https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/documents/circulars/26_21_02.pdf
Update January 21st 2021
Additional moratorium extensions
HUD: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_21_011
Update January 19th 2021
Following the previous announcements (see below) the FHFA (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) has extended their moratorium on foreclosures and evictions.
Update December 28th
Following the previous announcements (see below) the VA has extended their moratorium on foreclosures and evictions with Circular 26-20-40 https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/documents/circulars/26_20_40.pdf
Update December 21st
Foreclosure and Eviction Moratoriums
FHFA:FHFA Extends Foreclosure and REO Eviction Moratoriums
Update October 20th
the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced it is extending the date for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages to request an initial forbearance from their mortgage servicer to forbear their mortgage payments for up to six months.
Update September 23rd
A legal challenge has been filed against the recent CDC eviction moratorium(see below).
For additional information please click on the following links:
National Law Review: The CDC’s Eviction Moratorium and the Pending Lawsuit to Stop It
MarketWatch: Landlords sue CDC, Trump administration over ‘unconstitutional’ national eviction moratorium
Update September 2nd
CDC Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19
(Following summary from the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania)
On September 1, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order titled, Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19. Beginning September 4 through December 31, 2020 evictions are halted for nonpayment of rent. Tenants must sign and provide a declaration to their landlords that they meet they following conditions. Tenants must attest that they have used all best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent on housing; expect to earn less than $99,000 per individual ($198,000 for a joint tax return) in 2020 or received an economic stimulus check; are unable to pay rent due to substantial loss of household income or extraordinary out-of pocket medical expenses (more than 7.5% of adjusted gross income); are making best efforts to make timely partial payments; and if evicted, would likely become homeless or move into a crowded housing setting. Here is a generic sample declaration form.
The order only halts evictions for nonpayment of rent and does not waive rent due. Tenants are still responsible for rent due and any penalties or fees associated with late rent. This order does not provide for new funding to help pay rent and directs states and HUD grantees to use the CDBG-CV, ESG-CV, and the Coronavirus Relief Funds they were granted as part of the CARES Act in March 2020 to fund rental assistance programs. If the state passes eviction prevention measures that have the same or greater public-health protections, the state’s requirements will take precedence.
DSNews: The Housing Industry’s Mixed Reactions to New Eviction Moratorium
Update August 28th
The following organizations have extended their existing foreclosure and eviction moratoriums
Update August 11th
On July 31st, 2020 Governing issued a comprehensive report on the various statewide legislation addressing eviction protections, including a comprehensive interactive map.
To view the article, please click on the following link:
Governing “Legislative Watch: Addressing America’s Eviction Crisis”
Update August 3rd
A recent article from the Associated Press presents foreboding news regarding evictions including information from the Aspen Institute (20 Million Renters Are at Risk of Eviction; Policymakers Must Act Now to Mitigate Widespread Hardship) and the Evictions Lab.
For more information, click on the following link:
Wave of evictions expected as moratoriums end in many states
Update July 16th
The House Financial Service Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled, “Protecting Homeowners During the Pandemic: Oversight of Mortgage Servicers’ Implementation of the CARES Act.”
Witnesses include;
- Alys Cohen, Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
- Marcia Griffin, Founder and President, HomeFree-USA
- Donnell Williams, President, National Association of Real Estate Brokers
- Ed DeMarco, Ph.D, President, Housing Policy Council
For more information including the webcast, click here.
U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) announced major new legislation “to keep renters and homeowners in their homes during the historic COVID-19 pandemic in the wake of a new report showing that nearly a third of Americans missed their June housing payments.”
To access the Press Release regarding the Rent Emergencies Leave Impacts on Evicted Families (RELIEF) Act, please click here.
Update July 8th
On July 8th, HUD issued Mortgagee Letter 2020-22 Titled, FHA’s COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Options
To view the Mortgage Letter, please click here.
To view the Press Release, please click on following link;
FHA Expands Home Retention Measures for Homeowners Financially Impacted by Covid-19 Streamlined loss mitigation options will help more homeowners avoid foreclosure
Update June 17th
Foreclosure and Eviction Moratoriums
FHA/HUD: FHA Extends Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium for Single Family Homeowners for Additional Two Months
FHFA:FHFA Extends Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium
FHFA COVID-19 Resources Available in Six Languages on LEP Site
To help limited English proficiency (LEP) borrowers who are experiencing mortgage-related difficulties due to the coronavirus national emergency, today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) added new translations to the Mortgage Translations website.
“Publishing the scripts servicers use when discussing forbearance in six languages will allow borrowers with limited English proficiency to better understand the mortgage relief options available to them during the pandemic,” said Director Mark Calabria.
For additional information, please click here.
Update June 14th
Eviction Prevention Updates
- Urban Institute’s Housing Matters recent blog posting, presents research that “suggests that existing emergency rental assistance programs are not suited for this economic crisis and that state and local governments need longer-lasting, more flexible, and targeted eviction prevention programs to help renters stay housed.”
For additional information please click here. - Making national news, Ithaca NY, where 70% of the population are believed to be renters, is believed to be the first U.S. city to approve a resolution seeking to provide its Mayor the power to cancel rent because of the COVID-19-induced economic downturn.
For additional information please click on the following links:
Update June 8th
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors issued joint guidance to mortgage servicers to assist in complying with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provisions granting a right to forbearance to consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For additional information, please click here.
Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray recently provided a series of article contributions along with an interview with Housing Wire.
Part 1: How should we think about foreclosures?
Part 2: Does the mortgage industry view foreclosure as a last resort?
Part 3: Will servicers be able to flatten the curve in foreclosures?
Interview: Cordray: Servicers are in a very dramatic and dangerous situation
Update May 20th
FHFA Announces Refinance and Home Purchase Eligibility for Borrowers in Forbearance.
Please click here for announcement.
Update May 14th
FHFA Announces Payment Deferral as New Repayment Option for Homeowners in COVID-19 Forbearance Plans
Please click here for announcement.
FHFA and FHA/HUD Extend Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium
Please see following links for the respective press releases
Update May 12th
Joint Statement from the CFPB, FHFA, and HUD.
These three federal entities today announced the launching of a new mortgage and housing assistance website. This joint website;
- Consolidates the CARES Act mortgage relief and protections for renters,
- Provides resources for additional help,
- Provides information on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams,
- Provides lookup tools for homeowners to determine if their mortgage is federally backed, and for renters to find out if their rental unit is financed by FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac.
“In addition to the tools made available by HUD and FHFA, CFPB has partnered with FHFA on the Borrowers Protection Program that enables the agencies to share servicing information to protect borrowers during the coronavirus national emergency.”
To view the press release, please click here.
To access the new CFPB/FHFA/HUD website please click here.
In an Op-Ed in the Washington Post, Richard Cordray, the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides his recommendations to avert another foreclosure crisis in the covid-19 economic fallout.
To view the article, please click here.
Update April 30th
Forbearance Confusion
- FHFA (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac)
- To address widely publicized concerns (see below for Wall Street Journal article and letter from 34 state Attorneys General providing recommendations) regarding the possibility of a “lump-sum” catch-up payment, FHFA issued guidance titled “No Lump Sum Required at the End of Forbearance” says FHFA’s Calabria”
- New Concerns Sprouting
- In a recent article from the LA Times that discusses the concern over “lump-sum” payments a new concern is expressed.
Here are a series of quotes that speak volumes;
1) “But there’s been mass confusion over how borrowers will pay back what they owe. And the fear of a looming lump-sum payment has caused some of them to skip the mortgage forbearance process altogether, sending them down risky alternative pathways.”
2) “Even in normal times, the U.S. mortgage market is a complex place, where borrowers may not know who actually owns or backs their loan…. Now homeowners are being asked to navigate that system amid a global pandemic and fear of an economic depression.”
3) “Some consumer advocates say nonbank servicers that are not well-capitalized also have a strong financial incentive to discourage forbearance, because for a time they still must front missed payments to investors.”- Article references HUD Office of Inspector General report. The report is titled, “Some Mortgage Loan Servicers’ Websites Offer Information about CARES Act Loan Forbearance That Is Incomplete, Inconsistent, Dated, and Unclear”
- Servicing industry publication DSNews article titled “Today’s Loan Forbearance May Be Tomorrow’s Market Confusion” indicates it will get worse before it gets better.
- In a recent article from the LA Times that discusses the concern over “lump-sum” payments a new concern is expressed.
Update April 23rd
In today’s Wall Street Journal “Getting a Mortgage-Payment Break Isn’t the Boon Many Expected
Some are told they will have to make lump-sum payments after forbearance ends, others get confusing information” (see below for legislative action being taken in New York State). Please click here to view the article.
Also today, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 34 other attorneys general recommended action to help homeowners in letters sent to the FHFA and HUD.
The three recommendations are:
- FHFA and HUD should issue guidance revising their forbearance programs so that forborne payments are automatically placed at the end of the loan’s term;
- FHFA and HUD should expand eligibility for disaster relief loss mitigation programs; and
- FHFA and HUD should clarify that the moratorium on foreclosures and evictions applies to all aspects of the foreclosure or eviction process. That includes issuing pre-foreclosure and acceleration notices, posting or publishing any notices, filing or proceeding with motions beyond continuances, or taking any other foreclosure or eviction action during the moratorium.
To view the Press Release, please click here.
Update April 21st
VA
VA (Veterans Administration Insured Mortgages) has updated their guidance with Circular 26-20-12
FHFA
To support homeowners and mortgage lenders, FHFA announced the approval of the purchase of certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria.
FHFA Announces that Enterprises will Purchase Qualified Loans in Forbearance to Keep Lending Flowing
Concerns with Forbearance
One of concerns with the options facing homeowners is “what will be” when the emergency measures end. A group of legislators in New York are seeking to address this concern with newly introduced legislation. (Bill not yet available)
New York Newsday: Lawmakers: Homeowners need more time on missed payments
Op-ed by Legislation Sponsors: Struggling homeowners need relief
Update April 12th
- Innovative Resource for First Responders: During coronavirus pandemic, New Orleans first responders can stay at these rentals for free
- HUD FAQ Page
- CFPB:Agencies Issue Revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications by Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus
- Federal financial institution regulatory agencies, in consultation with state financial regulators, issued a revised interagency statement encouraging financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by COVID-19 and providing additional information regarding loan modifications.
- Urban Wire: The Price Tag for Keeping 29 Million Families in Their Homes: $162 Billion
- American Enterprise Institute: Challenges facing the single family housing market with focus on liquidity challenges facing Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac
- Mortgage market has more risk than previously acknowledged and that the federal government’s dominance in the “under-capitalized” U.S. housing finance systems means many of these stresses could fall on the Department of the Treasury, Ginnie Mae, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
- Delinquencies could soar in a steep recession, even with forbearance.
- There could be a drop in loan originations in both the present and long term.
- Law 360: Dems Mull Major Changes To Banking, Housing In Relief Bill
- Housing suggestions include $100 billion for low-income renters, $35 billion for low-income homeowners and $100 billion for affordable housing, using construction as economic stimulus, universal moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent, a universal moratorium on foreclosures and repossessions,and forbid repossession of automobiles, recreational vehicles and mobile homes.
- Addressing the homeless population:
- Seattle (Usage of modular homes) King County and Seattle expand COVID-19 emergency shelter and housing response
- Los Angeles (Usage of hotels) Once $400 a night, this Westside L.A. hotel is now for homeless people fleeing coronavirus
- New Orleans (Usage of hotels) City of New Orleans to house homeless in hotels for one month amid COVID-19 outbreak
- Housing Wire Series of Interviews with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria and response from the Mortgage Bankers Association
- Calabria: No servicer liquidity facility coming, but GSEs may pull servicing from struggling companies
- It may be harder to get a mortgage after coronavirus crisis ends, Calabria says (FHFA Director predicts mortgage lending landscape will change as country recovers)
- Calabria does not expect widespread delinquencies due to coronavirus (FHFA director calls out observers calling forbearance a “mortgage holiday”)
- Calabria: No nonbank is too big to fail
Update April 6th
Recent articles appear to be foreboding of what potentially could be the post COVID-19 housing market.
Bloomberg: Mortgage Firms Teeter Near Crisis That Regulators Saw Coming
Market Watch: America’s housing market is showing the first signs of trouble from the coronavirus pandemic
In addition to the below listing of banks offering forbearance assistance along with the respective web pages, please see following link from Business Insider
23 banks that may help with your mortgage payments during the COVID-19 outbreak
CNBC discusses the issue of forbearance in context of all other financial consideration along with a separate article detailing the various considerations regarding what is available for homeowners.
Which bills to pay during the coronavirus pandemic
Evictions moratorium in Florida and extension in Texas
Update 4/2
On April 1st, HUD issued Mortgagee Letter 2020-26 implementing provisions contained in the CARES Act signed by President Donald Trump on March 27.
In addition to special COVID-19 forbearance, FHA also implemented today the COVID-19 National Emergency Partial Claim, an option to be used by servicers when the COVID-19 forbearance period ends. This partial claim will help eligible homeowners who have been granted special COVID-19 National Emergency forbearance to reinstate their loans by authorizing servicers to advance funds on behalf of homeowners. The partial claim will defer the repayment of those advances through an interest-free subordinate mortgage that the borrower does not have to pay off until their first mortgage is paid off.
To view the Press Release, please click here
To view Mortgagee Letter 2020-26, please click here
Update 3/30
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been signed by President Trump on March 27
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Details have emerged on the $2 trillion dollar aid package passed this week by Senate as it pertains to housing.
As provided in a recent article in Forbes;
- Except for vacant or abandoned properties, lenders of mortgages backed by federal agencies (such as the USDA, FHA), Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae may not execute foreclosures—or foreclosure-related evictions—for 60 days starting March 18.
- Regardless of their delinquency status, owners of 1-4 unit residenciesmay request payment forbearance from their loan providers, given that they prove COVID-19-induced financial hardship.
- Forbearance may be granted for up to 180 days, a period that could be subsequently doubled.
- During this time, mortgage servicers are not to levy fees, penalties or interest that would not normally accrue if borrowers paid their monthly obligations.
- Owners of multifamily properties, who were current on their loan payments as of 2/1/2020, may seek forbearance by submitting oral or written requests to their lenders.
- Initial forbearance period is to span 30 days.
- Possibility of two additional 30-day extensions.
- Throughout the forbearance,landlords cannot evict tenants for nonpayment of rent or charge late fees and should suspend the issuance of new eviction notices and provide a month to residents already with such notifications to vacate their units.
To view the article in its entirety, please click here.
Payment Deferrals
Fannie Mae has updated their Lender Letter LL-2020-02 to require that a borrower be evaluated for payment deferral prior to other mortgage loan modifications.
To view the updated Lender Letter, please click here.
Freddie Mac has issued Bulletin 2020-6 announcing the Freddie Mac Payment Deferral, “a loss mitigation solution for borrowers who became delinquent due to a short-term hardship that has since been resolved”
To view the Bulletin, please click here.
Blight Related
Freddie Mac has issued Bulletin 2020-7. Included is the notification to (loan) “servicers that if they are unable to complete any required inspection or adhere to any property preservation requirement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, that they must document the reason..and Freddie Mac will consider them to be in compliance.”
To view the Bulletin, please click here.
Fannie Mae has similar language in Lender Letter LL-2020-02
(MuniReg observation) At this juncture, it is too early to know if there will be a dramatic decrease in maintenance of zombie foreclosures/abandoned properties. There are several factors on both sides of the equation. For additional information, please email [email protected])
Mortgage Forbearance
As mentioned by California Governor Newsom, several large banks have announced the opportunity for temporary suspensions of residential mortgage payments for people affected by the coronavirus in California.
Please see the following links for the respective banks that have made announcements on the national level.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced a cooperative agreement with the state’s banks to protect small businesses and families from eviction and foreclosure.
Amerifirst Mortgage (“If you’ve suffered a financial impact due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, you may be eligible for a forbearance plan.”) Updated 3/31
Bank of America (clients can request to defer payments, with payments added to the end of the loan.)
BBVA (“If you were impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to work with you to minimize your financial hardship.”) Updated 3/31
Caliber Home Loans (“Caliber is offering a forbearance plan to those impacted by COVID-19.”) Updated 4/1
Citizens Bank (“Payment assistance for up to 90 days with no credit bureau impact (Auto, Credit Card, Mortgage, Student Loans, Home Equity Loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit)” Updated 4/1
Fifth Third (“Special policies are in place to help address COVID-19-related hardship related to auto loans, credit card balances and loans secured by real estate.”) Updated 4/1
Huntington (“Huntington is offering up to 90 days of payment deferral on all consumer loans for those experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.”) Updated 4/1
Key Bank (KeyBank will offer a payment deferral for up to 90 days upon request.) Updated 3/30
Mr Cooper (“Mr. Cooper is able to offer customers facing a financial hardship as a result of the pandemic a forbearance plan”) Updated 3/31
Navy Federal (“Loan extensions, deferred payments and a Pandemic Relief Loan”) Updated 4/1
Ocwen/PHH (“Payment forbearance with repayment options.) Updated 4/1
Planet Home Lending (“You may qualify for a 90-day forbearance plan, which means you will not have to pay your mortgage during this time frame. Please note this a temporary suspension of your payments.) Updated 3/31
PNC (“We will defer the payments for 90 days, with the possibility of further extensions as the new federal requirements become clear.”) Updated 4/1
Rushmore Loan Management (” We will be suppressing all negative credit reporting for the months of March, April, and May 2020. If your loan is current, we will continue to report your positive credit status. Additionally, late fees in April and May will not be assessed for any of our customers.) Updated 4/1
Select Portfolio Servicing (“tell us more about your situation and learn what options are available to assist you.”) Updated 4/1
Third Federal (“You may be eligible for a loan concession if you cannot make your Third Federal loan payment.”) Updated 4/1
Umpqua Bank (“If you have experienced loss of income due to COVID-19, you are eligible for forbearance.”) Updated 3/31
USBank (“we are offering a payment forbearance up to 90 days with no late fees”)
Wells Fargo Not forbearance – suspended residential property foreclosure sales, evictions and involuntary auto repossessions.
FHFA
FHFA has created a dedicated webpage of all FHFA/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Coronavirus Assistance Information.
Recent addition includes offering to multifamily property owners mortgage forbearance with the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters unable to pay rent due to the impact of coronavirus.
To access the website, please click here.
CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a webpage dedicated to helping consumers take steps to protect their finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically;
- Protect yourself financially.
- Consumer complaints.
- Protecting your credit during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Dealing with debt.
- Tips for financial caregivers – We have resources for financial caregivers helping people who cannot manage their money or property themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.
To view the webpage, please click on following link:
Protecting your finances during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Media Articles
- Brookings Institute:
- “To protect renters from losing their homes, a growing number of cities and states have put a temporary halt on evictions, meaning that landlords cannot evict tenants who fall behind on their rent. While this may buy renters more time, a moratorium on evictions could cause ripple effects that further hurt local economies.”
Halting evictions during the coronavirus crisis isn’t as good as it sounds
- “To protect renters from losing their homes, a growing number of cities and states have put a temporary halt on evictions, meaning that landlords cannot evict tenants who fall behind on their rent. While this may buy renters more time, a moratorium on evictions could cause ripple effects that further hurt local economies.”
- American City & County:
- A recent article focuses on local governments efforts to assist their constituents, with utility payments, city debt, evictions and foreclosures.
Local governments institute moratoriums to help citizens who can’t pay bills
- A recent article focuses on local governments efforts to assist their constituents, with utility payments, city debt, evictions and foreclosures.
- Curbed
- Wall Street Journal & CNN (related articles)
Rent Deferral Programs
Several statewide apartment/landlord organizations are advocating for rent deferral programs for renters trying to cope with the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Update 3/18
Please see below (the original post) for updates to state/local eviction moratoriums including a matrix of close to 40 independent local jurisdictions with a restriction/moratorium in place along with he VA announcement.
Additionally, HUD, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, have all issued a moratorium on Foreclosures and Evictions.
Please see following links;
FHFA Press Release (The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks)
https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/FHFA-Suspends-Foreclosures-and-Evictions-for-Enterprise-Backed-Mortgages.aspx
HUD Mortgagee Letter
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/20-04hsgml.pdf
Update 3/17
Please see below articles discussing the potential spike in mortgage delinquencies.
Additionally, besides for local moratoriums on evictions one Michigan County is placing a moratorium on tax foreclosures.
CNBC:
Chief mortgage regulator working on plan for potential spike in delinquencies from coronavirus
“Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac already have loan forbearance programs in place, often implemented during natural disasters, but the current situation is neither local nor momentary.
“We’re on the front end of this. We don’t know,” said Mark Calabria, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) which currently oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under government conservatorship. “If this goes more past the summer, certainly it’s going to call for a different set of responses.”
National Mortgage News:
FHA braces for virus, warns of potential bottlenecks as demand grows
“Servicing complications are likely to surface in the longer-term as the industry adjusts to an influx of distressed mortgages after a long period in which volumes were low.
For now, the GSEs and FHA are advising lenders to exercise forbearance options, state and local authorities on a case-by-case basis have been imposing moratoria on evictions and foreclosures, and housing advocates are pushing for a national policy.”
Bloomberg
Trump Considers Letting Homeowners Delay Mortgage Payments
The Trump administration is considering a plan to allow homeowners whose income was cut by the coronavirus to delay mortgage payments.
“This is so big,” Fratantoni said. “We’re thinking of the potential of several months of payments for a lot of homeowners.”
ORIGINAL POST BELOW
Information to Provide to Constituents
Mortgage Relief
The primary “Investors/Insurers” have issued guidance to loan servicers (banks) on possible forbearance for homeowners who are experiencing financial hardships as a result of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Additionally the OCC has issued guidance addressing mortgages and banking/
Please see the following links:
- HUD (FHA Insured Mortgage): https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Main/documents/LossMitigation-Guidance-Single-Family-Stakeholders-March2019.pdf
- VA (Veterans Administration Insured Mortgages): – https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/documents/circulars/26_20_7.pdf
- Fannie Mae: https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/servicing
“We are actively monitoring reports about the possible spread of the coronavirus (i.e., COVID-19) in the United States, and understand that you may have concerns about its potential impact on borrowers and your business. We want to remind servicers that you can offer forbearance in accordance with our existing policies to assist borrowers who are unable to make their monthly mortgage loan payment as a result of a temporary hardship (for example, if a borrower is quarantined and unable to work). The servicer should evaluate the borrower for a forbearance plan or other workout assistance in accordance with our existing requirements. View our Servicing Workout Hierarchy for details” - Freddie Mac: N/A
- FHFA (The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks) https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/Statement-from-FHFA-Director-Mark-Calabria-on-Coronavirus.aspx
- OCC: https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2020/bulletin-2020-15.html
General Guidance for Natural Disasters (provides general insight into policies and procedures regarding assisting homeowners with foreclosure avoidance
- HUD https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/nsc/qaho0121
- VA Updated 3/18 https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/documents/docs/va_policy_regarding_natural_disasters.pdf
- Fannie Mae https://www.fanniemae.com/portal/about-fm/disaster-help-for-homeowners.html
- Freddie Mac https://sf.freddiemac.com/general/disaster-relief
Avoiding Scams – Housing Counseling
Calling a loan servicer directly to discuss forebearnce options can generally be done without assistance (ensure you receive written confirmation of any agreement), however any discussions regarding loan modifications should be done with assistance.
HUD provides counseling assistance at no-cost.
Beware of scams offering to assist in reducing loan payments, avoiding foreclosure etc that charge a fee!!
For information on HUD Counseling Agencies including how to locate the nearest office, please see following link https://www.hud.gov/i_want_to/talk_to_a_housing_counselor
Additionally you can contact http://www.hopenow.com/about-us.php – HOPENOW also has additional information of value including this from the Dept/ of Labor http://www.hopenow.com/pdf/DUA_Pamphlet_0414.pdf
Tenant Protections Updated 3/18
This information is strictly for informational purposes. The moratoriums may differ in its components including its applications and length of the respective moratoriums etc.
Several states and/or State Courts have implemented various restrictions/moratoriums on evictions.
Arizona|
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida Updated April 6th
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio (Commercial)
Oregon
Oregon Commercial
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas Updated April 6th (Extension)
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
Wisconsin
Additionally we are currently tracking over 70 independent local jurisdictions with their own restrictions/moratoriums check out our full list here.
(New spreadsheet will be available shortly. Please email [email protected] for the most recent copy)
Related Media Articles:
3/15/20 American Banker “Calls mount for U.S. to halt foreclosures, evictions amid health crisis”
3/13/20 Forbes “Mortgage Relief Options Are Available To Homeowners Affected By Coronavirus Safety Measures”
Information for Local Governments
There is additional information that is relevant to local government from these entities (specifically HUD) including eligible usage of CDBG funds (click here)