NEUGEBAUER STATEMENT ON LETTER TO FHFA DIRECTOR DEMARCO REGARDING PROPOSED LOAN MODIFICATION
WASHINGTON, DC – December 14, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), House Financial Services Oversight Subcommittee Chairman, released the following statement today regarding his December 13, 2010 letter to FHFA Director DeMarco:
“Recent media reports indicate that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in talks with the Obama Administration regarding loan modifications in order to get underwater borrowers into lower rate FHA mortgages. These negotiations and discussions should be transparent, fair and accountable. To that end, my letter requests a full report detailing possible taxpayer losses and justification as to why Fannie and Freddie’s participation in the loan modification program would be in the best interest of the U.S. taxpayer.”
The full text of the letter follows and is attached in PDF form:
December 13, 2010
Edward DeMarco
Acting Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency
1700 G Street, NW – 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20552
Dear Mr. DeMarco:
We write to express serious concern regarding recent reports that the Obama Administration is pressuring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin writing down mortgage principal in order to qualify underwater borrowers for lower-rate Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages. Fannie and Freddie’s participation in the FHA’s loan modification program would increase taxpayer losses – already approaching $150 billion – and run counter to the statutory obligation of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to minimize taxpayer exposure from the GSEs’ conservatorships.
The FHA refinance program is designed to reach borrowers who might otherwise walk away from their responsibilities because they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. In order to obtain a principal write-down, the borrower must be current on their mortgage, have a negative equity position and qualify for the new loan under standard FHA underwriting requirements. Since the program targets performing loans, it raises the question why it would be in the best interest of the U.S. taxpayer for Fannie and Freddie to write down principal on these types of loans.
Before a decision is made by Fannie and Freddie to participate in any loan modification program that involves principal write-downs, we request a full report detailing the costs associated with participating in such a program. The report should project taxpayer losses, including costs related to principal write downs as well as administrative expenses. Finally, the report should explain why Fannie and Freddie’s participation in the loan modification program would be in the best interest of the U.S. taxpayer, and how it is consistent with FHFA’s statutory mandate to minimize taxpayer losses.
It is the responsibility of Congress and FHFA to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most prudent manner. It appears that writing down loan principal for homeowners who are current on their mortgages simply because they may walk away from their homes does not fulfill our obligation to protect U.S. taxpayers.
