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The Obama Administration’s Efforts To Stabilize The Housing Market and Help American Homeowners March 2014 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development Research U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development | U.S. Department of theand Treasury The Administration’s goal remains to stabilize the housing market and provide security for homeowners. To meet these objectives in a challenging market, the Administration developed a broad approach implementing state and local housing agency initiatives, tax credits for homebuyers, neighborhood stabilization and community development programs, mortgage modifications and refinancing, housing counseling, continued Federal Housing Administration (FHA) engagement, support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and increased consumer protections. In addition, Federal Reserve and Treasury Mortgage-Backed Securities purchase programs have helped to keep mortgage interest rates at record lows for more than a year. More detail on the Administration’s efforts can be found in the Appendix. • Purchases of new homes were down. Purchases of new homes were down 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 440,000 in February. New home sales were down 1.1 percent from a year earlier-the second consecutive annual decline. (Source: HUD and Census Bureau). • Sales of previously owned homes dropped. February was the fourth consecutive month that sales of previously owned (existing) homes were below year-ago levels. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that existing homes—including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and cooperatives—sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 4.60 million in February, down 0.4 percent from January and 7.1 percent from a year earlier, reaching their lowest level since July 2012. The weakness reflects low inventory, strict bank lending standards, less favorable housing affordability, and unusually harsh weather in much of the country. • The Administration’s foreclosure mitigation programs continue to provide relief for millions of homeowners. The Administration’s foreclosure mitigation programs continue to provide relief for millions of homeowners as the recovery from the housing crisis continues. Nearly 2.0 million homeowner assistance actions have taken place through the Making Home Affordable Program, including more than 1.3 million permanent modifications through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), while the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has offered more than 2.2 million loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions through February. The Administration’s programs continue to encourage improved standards and processes in the industry, with HOPE Now lenders offering families and individuals more than 4.0 million proprietary modifications through January (data are reported with a 2-month lag). In all, more than 8.2 million mortgage modification and other forms of mortgage assistance arrangements were completed between April 2009 and the end of February 2014. You can read Treasury’s MHA report here. March 2014 Scorecard on Administration’s Comprehensive Housing Initiative The President’s housing market recovery efforts began immediately after taking office in 2009. The March 2014 housing scorecard includes key indicators of market health and results of the Administration’s comprehensive response, as outlined above: • House prices remain stable. As of January 2014, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) purchase-only house price index rose 7.4 percent from last year and ticked up 0.5 percent (seasonally adjusted) from December. The FHFA seasonally adjusted purchase-only index for the U.S. shows that home values are on par with prices in mid-2005. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for January posted returns of 13.2 percent over the past 12 months but was down 0.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted) from December. Prices, however, are typically weaker at this time of the year. The Case-Shiller index shows that home values are back to their mid-2004 levels. (The Case-Shiller and FHFA price indices are released with a 2-month lag.) • Foreclosure starts are at their lowest level since the end of 2005. Newly initiated foreclosures, at 51,842 U.S. properties, were down 9 percent from January and 27 percent from one year ago--reaching their lowest level since December 2005. A total of 30,307 U.S. properties were repossessed by lenders (Real Estate Owned, or REO) in February, virtually the same as January and down 33 percent from a year ago. (Source: Realty Trac) • Homeowners’ equity continues to rise. According to the Federal Reserve, homeowners’ equity is up over $400 billion ($412 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2013, reaching more than $10 trillion ($10.026 trillion), for the first time since 2007. Homeowners’ equity has risen sharply since the beginning of 2012, with equity up 60 percent, or more than $3.7 trillion, as of the fourth quarter of 2013. The change in equity since April 1, 2009 now stands at more than $3.9 trillion. The Administration’s recovery efforts continue to help millions of families deal with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. However, there is a need to continue with recovery efforts as home sales have slowed, too many homeowners remain underwater, and mortgage delinquency rates remain elevated. There is also considerable geographic variation in market conditions not captured in the national statistics, which suggests some markets are improving at different rates than others. The Administration remains committed to its efforts to prevent avoidable foreclosures and stabilize the housing market. March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 1 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury The Obama Administration’s Efforts To Stabilize The Housing Market and Help American Homeowners | March 2014 March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 2 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury The Obama Administration’s Efforts To Stabilize The Housing Market and Help American Homeowners | March 2014 Home Affordability Affordability Remains Remains Above Above Historic HistoricNorm, Norm, Home Mortgage Rate Rate Within Within One One Percentage Percentage Point Pointof ofHistoric HistoricLow Low Mortgage 26.8Million MillionHomeowners HomeownersHave HaveRefinanced Refinanced 26.8 SinceApril April1, 1,2009 2009 Since Percentage RRates ates AAnd nd IIndex ndex VValues alues Percentage 9 9 8 8 30-‐Yr FFixed ixed 30-‐Yr Mortgage RRate ate Mortgage 240 240 NAR HHome ome NAR Affordability IIndex ndex Affordability (right aaxis) xis) (right 220 220 200 200 7 7 180 180 160 160 6 6 5 5 4 4 Affordability IIndex ndex Affordability istoric NNorm orm HHistoric Quarterly RRefinance efinance M Mortgage ortgage OOrigina:ons rigina:ons ((Millions) Millions) Quarterly 5 5 4 4 3 3 140 140 2 2 120 120 1 1 100 100 0 0 80 80 3 3 Sources: M Mortgage ortgage BBankers ankers AAssocia:on ssocia:on aand nd HHUD. UD. Sources: See NNote ote 44 a and nd AAddi:onal ddi:onal NNotes, otes, SSources ources aand nd M Methodology. ethodology. See The hhistoric istoric nnorm orm oof f 1128 28 iis s tthe he m median edian vvalue alue oof f tthe he aaffordability ffordability iindex ndex ssince ince 11989. 989. The Sources: FFreddie reddie M Mac ac aand nd NNa:onal a:onal AAsssocia:on sssocia:on oof f RRealtors ealtors Sources: Mortgage Aid Aid Extended Extended Nearly Nearly 7.6 7.6 Million MillionTimes, Times, Mortgage Outpacing Foreclosures Foreclosures Outpacing Cumula:ve M Mortgages ortgages RReceiving eceiving AAid id aand nd M Mortgages ortgages FForeclosed oreclosed SSince ince AApril pril 11, , 22009 009 ((Millions) Millions) Cumula:ve 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 6 6 Mortgages m modified odified oor r rreceiving eceiving lloss oss i:ga:on ssince ince AApril pril 11, , 22009: 009: 77.6 .6 M Million illion mmi:ga:on Mortgages 4 4 3 3 MortgageAid AidHelps HelpsKeep KeepForeclosure ForeclosureFilings FilingsDown Down Mortgage Monthly FForeclosure oreclosure AAc:ons c:ons (Thousands) (Thousands) Monthly 240 240 Cumula:ve foreclosure foreclosure ccomple:ons omple:ons ssince ince AApril pril 22009: 009: 33.8 .8 mmillion illion Cumula:ve (Includes investor, investor, ssecond econd hhome, ome, aand nd jumbo jumbo pproper:es) roper:es) (Includes 200 200 Foreclosure Foreclosure Starts Starts 160 160 120 120 2 2 1 1 80 80 0 0 40 40 Foreclosure Foreclosure Comple:ons Comple:ons 0 0 FHA LLoss oss M Mi:ga:on i:ga:on HAMP M Modifica:ons odifica:ons FHA HAMP Hope NNow ow M Modifica:ons odifica:ons Foreclosure CComple:ons omple:ons Hope Foreclosure Data eexclude xclude ttrial rial m modifica:ons. odifica:ons. HHope ope NNow ow ddata ata tthrough hrough JJanuary anuary 22014, 014, aall ll oother ther ddata ata tthrough hrough FFebruary ebruary 22014. 014. Data Sources: HHUD, UD, DDept. ept. oof f TTreasury, reasury, HHope ope NNow ow AAlliance, lliance, aand nd RRealty ealty TTrac. rac. Sources: See NNote ote 55 aand nd AAddi:onal ddi:onal NNotes, otes, SSources ources aand nd M Methodology. ethodology. See Foreclosure sstarts tarts aare re ddefault efault nno:ces o:ces oor r sscheduled cheduled foreclosure foreclosure aauc:ons, uc:ons, ddepending epending oon n the the sstate. tate. SSee ee NNote ote 66, , SSources ources aand nd Foreclosure Methodology. Methodology. Source: RRealty ealty TTrac rac Source: March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 3 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury The Obama Administration’s Efforts To Stabilize The Housing Market and Help American Homeowners | March 2014 Home Equity Has Another Sharp Gain in Fourth Quarter 2013 Homeowners Save From Reduced Mortgage Payments Owners’ Equity In Household Real Estate At End Of Period ($ Trillions) Annualized Savings From Payment Reduc@ons ($ Billions) 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 All Refinances Source: Federal Reserve Board. Housing Counselors Serve Millions of Families FHA Supports Mortgage Lending During Crisis Cumula@ve Households Counseled Since April 1, 2009 (Millions) FHA As Share Of Quarterly Mortgage Origina@ons By Type (Percent) 45 Households c ounseled since April 1, 2009: 9.9 million 11 40 10 35 9 30 8 25 7 20 6 15 5 10 4 5 3 0 2 1 Purchase Sources: MBA and HUD. See Note 8, Sources and Methodology. HAMP Modifica@ons and Trials Aggregate annual reduc@on in mortgage payments on refinances since April 1, 2009 plus ac@ve trial and permanent HAMP modifica@ons. Sources: MBA, Treasury, Freddie Mac, and HUD. See Note 7 and Addi@onal Notes, Sources and Methodology. Refinance Combined 0 Source: HUD. March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 4 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. DepartmentEff of Housing and UrbanTh Development | Office and of Policy and Research | March 2014 The Obama Administration’s orts To Stabilize e Housing Market HelpDevelopment American Homeowners Indicator HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND STABILIZATION PERFORMANCE METRICS This Period Last Period Cumulative From April 1, 2009 Latest Release Distressed Homeowners Assisted (thousands) HAMP Trial Modifications HAMP Permanent Modifications FHA Loss Mitigation Interventions HOPE Now Modifications HARP Refinances Counseled Borrowers (thousands) 10.2 (s) 12.5 (s) 33.2 28.5 30.0 12.0 15.7 45.9 29.9 30.0 (r) 2,174 1,340 2,232 4,022 3,088 February-14 February-14 February-14 January-14 January-14 3rd Q 13 464.9 389.5 9,944 Borrower Annual Savings ($ millions) HAMP Active Trial Modifications HAMP Active Permanent Modifications All Refinances ---- ---- 284 6,051 57,924 Activities Completed Under NSP (housing units) New Construction or Residential Rehab Demolition or Clearance Direct Homeownership Assistance ---- ---- 32,439 [62,270] 27,863 [23,995] 10,873 [17,106] 411.9 418.9 Change in Aggregate Home Equity ($ billions) Indicator Mortgage Rates (30-Yr FRM, percent) Last Period 4.40 Year Ago 4.32 4th Q 13 4th Q 13 4th Q 13 (b,s) (b,s) (b,s) 4th Q 13 4th Q 13 4th Q 13 3,941.0 (r) HOUSING MARKET FACT SHEET This Period (r) 3.57 4th Q 13 As of Dec 2008 Latest Release 5.10 27-Mar-14 Housing Affordability (index) 174.2 168.4 (r) 213.6 162.9 January-14 Home Prices (indices) Case Shiller (NSA) FHFA (SA) CoreLogic - Excluding Distressed Sales (NSA) 165.5 209.1 169.6 165.6 208.1 168.1 (r) 146.2 194.8 153.2 150.5 196.6 160.0 January-14 January-14 February-14 Home Sales (thousands, SA) New Existing First Time Buyers Distressed Sales (percent, NSA) 36.7 383.3 159.6 18 37.9 358.0 160.7 18 37.1 412.5 170.8 26 31.4 334.2 149.9 32 February-14 February-14 February-14 January-13 Housing Supply Existing Homes for Sale (thousands, NSA) Existing Homes - Months’ Supply (months) New Homes for Sale (thousands, SA) New Homes for Sale - Months’ Supply (months, SA) Vacant Units Held Off Market (thousands) 2,000 5.2 189 5.2 3,757 1,880 4.9 188 5.0 3,675 1,900 4.6 152 4.1 3,746 3,130 9.4 353 11.2 3,542 February-14 February-14 February-14 February-14 4th Q 13 Mortgage Originations (thousands) Refinance Originations Purchase Originations 784.4 640.4 1,017.6 891.6 (r) (r) 1,997.9 682.7 767.1 986.3 4th Q 13 4th Q 13 13.9 34.4 26.2 (r) (r) (r) 57.6 43.2 33.8 62.9 72.7 56.2 February-14 February-14 February-14 (p) (p) (r) (r) (r) (r) (r) (r) FHA Originations (thousands) Refinance Originations Purchase Originations Purchases by First Time Buyers 18.1 31.2 24.7 Mortgage Delinquency Rates (percent) Prime Subprime FHA 3.0 30.6 10.9 3.1 32.0 11.6 3.8 29.4 12.0 4.4 34.3 14.3 February-14 February-14 February-14 Seriously Delinquent Mortgages (thousands) Prime Subprime FHA 679 1,112 603 730 1,135 613 1,080 1,477 724 915 1,632 333 February-14 February-14 February-14 Underwater Borrowers (thousands) 6,520 6,505 10,480 -- (p) (p) (p) (r) 4th Q 13 Foreclosure Actions (thousands) 57.3 71.5 148.6 February-14 Foreclosure Starts 51.8 30.2 45.0 78.9 February-14 Foreclosure Completions 30.3 18.2 (r) 25.4 14.0 January-14 Short Sales 12.2 (p) 37.0 (r) 47.1 74.8 January-14 REO Sales 31.5 (p) SA = seasonally adjusted, NSA = not SA, p = preliminary, r = revised, b = brackets include units in process, s = see note Sources and Methodology page. March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 5 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. DepartmentEff of Housing and UrbanTh Development | Office and of Policy and Research | March 2014 The Obama Administration’s orts To Stabilize e Housing Market HelpDevelopment American Homeowners A. Items in Tables Description Distressed Homeowners Assisted HAMP Trial Modifications HAMP Permanent Modifications HARP Refinances FHA Loss Mitigation Interventions HOPE Now Modifications Counseled Borrowers (thousands) Borrower Annual Savings HAMP Active Trial Modifications SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY Frequency Sources Notes on Methodology Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Treasury Treasury Federal Housing Finance Agency HUD Hope Now Alliance As reported. Also see additional note in Section C below on HAMP Tier 2. As reported. Also see additional note in Section C below on HAMP Tier 2. As reported. All FHA loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions. All proprietary modifications completed. Quarterly HUD Housing counseling activity reported by all HUD-approved housing counselors. HUD estimate of annualized savings based on Treasury reported active HAMP trial modifications and Freddie Mac monthly savings estimates. Also see additional note in Section C below on HAMP Tier 2. HUD estimate of annualized savings based on Treasury reported active HAMP permanent modifications and median monthly savings estimates. Also see additional note in Section C below on HAMP Tier 2. Refinance originations (see below) multiplied by HUD estimate of annualized savings per refinance. Quarterly HUD, Treasury, and Freddie Mac HAMP Active Permanent Modifications Quarterly HUD and Treasury All Refinances Quarterly HUD, and MBA Quarterly HUD Quarterly HUD Quarterly HUD Quarterly Federal Reserve Board Completed Activities Under NSP (housing units) New Construction or Residential Rehab Demolition or Clearance Direct Homeownership Assistance Change in Aggregate Home Equity Housing units constructed/rehabilitated using Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Bracketed numbers include units in process. Housing units demolished/cleared using Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Bracketed numbers as above. Completed downpayment assistance or non-amortizing second mortgages by grantee to make purchase of NSP unit affordable. Bracketed numbers as above. Difference in aggregate household owners’ equity in real estate as reported in the Federal Reserve Board’s Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States for stated time period. Mortgage Rates (30-Yr FRM) Weekly Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, as reported for 30-Year fixed rate mortgages (FRM). Housing Affordability Monthly National Association of Realtors® NAR’s composite housing affordability index as reported. A value of 100 means that a family with the median income has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home. An index above 100 signifies that a family earning the median income has more than enough income to qualify. Home Prices Case-Shiller (NSA) Monthly Standard and Poor’s Monthly Monthly Federal Housing Finance Agency CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-metro composite index, January 2000 = 100. Standard and Poor’s recommends use of not seasonally adjusted index when making monthly comparisons. FHFA monthly (purchaseonly) index for US, January 1991 = 100. CoreLogic national combined index, distressed sales excluded, January 2000 = 100. (Only available as NSA). Monthly HUD and Census Bureau Existing Monthly National Association of Realtors® First Time Buyers Monthly NAR, Census Bureau, and HUD Distressed Sales (NSA) Monthly CoreLogic Housing Supply Existing Homes for Sale (NSA) Existing Homes - Months’ Supply New Homes for Sale (SA) New Homes for Sale - Months’ Supply (SA) Vacant Units Held Off Market Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Quarterly National Association of Realtors National Association of Realtors HUD and Census Bureau HUD and Census Bureau Census Bureau As reported. As reported. As reported. As reported. As reported in Census CPS/HPS Table 4. Estimates of Housing Inventory, line item “Year-round vacant, held off market for reasons other than occasional use or usually reside elsewhere.” Vacant units can be held off the market for a variety of reasons. Mortgage Originations Refinance Originations Quarterly Purchase Originations Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Association and HUD Mortgage Bankers Association and HUD HUD estimate of refinance originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of refinance originations. HUD estimate of home purchase originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of home purchase originations. FHFA (SA) CoreLogic - Excluding Distressed Sales (NSA) Home Sales (SA) New Seasonally adjusted annual rates divided by 12. A newly constructed house is considered sold when either a sales contract has been signed or a deposit accepted, even if this occurs before construction has actually started. Seasonally adjusted annual rates divided by 12. Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings. This differs from the U.S. Census Bureau’s series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Sum of seasonally adjusted new and existing home sales (above) multiplied by National Association of Realtors ® annual estimate of first time buyer share of existing home sales. Short sales and REO (Real Estate Owned) sales as a percent of total existing home sales (current month subject to revision). FHA Originations Refinance Originations Purchase Originations Purchases by First Time Buyers Mortgage Delinquency Rates (NSA) Prime Subprime FHA Monthly Monthly Monthly HUD HUD HUD FHA originations reported as of date of loan closing. Estimate for current month scaled upward due to normal reporting lag and shown as preliminary. Monthly Monthly Monthly LPS Applied Analytics LPS Applied Analytics HUD Total mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by mortgages actively serviced. Total mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by mortgages actively serviced. Total FHA mortgages past due (30+ days) but not in foreclosure, divided by FHA’s insurance in force. Seriously Delinquent Mortgages Prime Subprime FHA Monthly Monthly Monthly LPS Applied Analytics, MBA, and HUD Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure, scaled up to market. LPS Applied Analytics, MBA, and HUD Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure, scaled up to market. HUD Mortgages 90+ days delinquent or in foreclosure. Underwater Borrowers Quarterly CoreLogic As reported. Foreclosure Actions Foreclosure Starts Monthly Realty Trac Monthly Monthly Monthly Realty Trac CoreLogic CoreLogic Foreclosure starts are reported counts of notice of default or scheduled foreclosure auction, depending on which action starts the foreclosure process in a state. Real Estate Owned (REO). Count of Short Sales for the month as reported (current month subject to revision). Count of REO (Real Estate Owned) Sales for the month as reported (current month subject to revision). Foreclosure Completions Short sales REO Sales March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 6 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. DepartmentEff of Housing and UrbanTh Development | Office and of Policy and Research | March 2014 The Obama Administration’s orts To Stabilize e Housing Market HelpDevelopment American Homeowners SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY B. Notes on Charts. 1. Monthly house price trends shown as changes in respective house price indices applied to a common base price set equal to the median price of an existing home sold in January 2003 as reported by the National Association of Realtors. Indices shown: S&P/Case Shiller 20-metro composite index (NSA), January 2000 = 100, FHFA monthly (purchase-only) index for US (SA), January 1991 = 100, and CoreLogic-Distressed Sales Excluded (Monthly) for US (NSA), January 2000 =100. 2. S&P/Case-Shiller 10-metro composite index (NSA) as reported monthly. Implied Case-Shiller futures index figures report forward expectations for the level of the S&P/Case Shiller index as of the date indicated, estimated from prices of futures purchased on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reported by CME Group. The January 2009 market trend projection reports forward expectations estimated from prices of futures contracts reported by Radar Logic. Also see additional note in Section C below. 3. Reported seasonally adjusted annual rates for new and existing home sales divided by 12. 4. HUD estimate of refinance originations based on MBA estimate of dollar volume of refinance originations. 5. Cumulative HAMP permanent modifications started, FHA loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, plus proprietary modifications completed as reported by HOPE Now Alliance. Some homeowners may be counted in more than one category. Foreclosure completions are properties entering Real Estate Owned (REO) as reported by Realty Trac. Also see additional note in Section C below on HAMP Tier 2. 6. Beginning with the September 2012 release, filings of a notice of default or scheduled foreclosure auction, depending on which action starts the foreclosure process in a state, are reported for foreclosure starts. Foreclosure defaults previously had been reported as a proxy for foreclosure starts. Foreclosure completions are properties entering REO. Both as reported by Realty Trac. 7. See “Borrower Annual Savings” above. 8. FHA market shares as FHA purchase and refinance originations divided by HUD estimates of purchase and refinance mortgage originations as noted in “Mortgage Originations” above. See additional note below on FHA market share. C. Additional Notes. Beginning with the February 2013 release, the House Price Expectations Chart was updated by replacing market expectations as they existed in January 2009 with expectations as of December 2011. Prices of futures purchased for the S&P/Case-Shiller 10-metro composite index, available on the web from CME Group, were used to estimate expectations for December 2011 and for the current month. Market trend as of January 2009 is estimated from percentage changes in house price futures based on a different house price index: RadarLogic RPX. This trend has been added back to the chart because it imparts important information on how house price expectations have changed over time. Beginning with the January 2013 release, mortgage aid under HAMP Tier 2 is included in the totals. Effective June 2012, HAMP Tier 2 expanded eligibility requirements to further reduce foreclosures and help stabilize neighborhoods. For non-GSE loans, eligibility was expanded to allow for more flexible debt-toincome criteria and to include properties currently occupied by a tenant, as well as vacant properties which a borrower intends to rent. FHA market share estimates are based on new methodology beginning with the October 2013 report; estimates were revised back through Q1 2013. See the FHA Market Share report on their website for an explanation of the new methodology: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/ housing/rmra/oe/rpts/fhamktsh/fhamktqtrly. March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 7 U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. DepartmentEff of Housing and UrbanTh Development | Office and of Policy and Research | March 2014 The Obama Administration’s orts To Stabilize e Housing Market HelpDevelopment American Homeowners Appendix The Administration has taken a broad set of actions to stabilize the housing market and help American homeowners. Three years ago, stress in the financial system had severely reduced the supply of mortgage credit, limiting the ability of Americans to buy homes or refinance mortgages. Millions of responsible families who had made their monthly payments and had fulfilled their obligations saw their property values fall. They also found themselves unable to refinance at lower mortgage rates. In February 2009, less than one month after taking office, President Obama announced the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. As part of this plan and through other housing initiatives, the Administration has taken the following actions to strengthen the housing market: • Supported Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure continued access to affordable mortgage credit; • The Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury purchased more than $1.4 trillion in agency mortgage backed securities through independent MBS purchase programs, helping to keep mortgage rates at historic lows; • Launched a modification initiative to help homeowners reduce mortgage payments to affordable levels and to prevent avoidable foreclosures; • Launched a $23.5 billion Housing Finance Agencies Initiative to increase sustainable homeownership and rental resources; • Supported the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, which helped more than 2.5 million American families purchase homes; • Provided more than $5 billion in support for affordable rental housing through low income housing tax credit programs and $6.92 billion in support for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to restore neighborhoods hardest hit by the concentrated foreclosures; • Created the $7.6 billion HFA Hardest Hit Fund for innovative foreclosure prevention programs in the nation’s hardest hit housing markets; • Launched the $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, as part of the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to help unemployed and underemployed homeowners pay a portion of their monthly mortgage. • Created an FHA Short Refinance Option that helps underwater borrowers refinance into a new, stable, FHA-insured mortgage that is more aligned with actual property values. • Supported home purchase and refinance activity through the FHA to provide access to affordable mortgage capital and help homeowners prevent foreclosures. • Implemented a series of changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in an effort to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgages during this time of historically low mortgage rates. ### March 2014 National Scorecard | Page 8
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