During October, amid the hubbub surrounding the U.S. government’s financial rescue plan, the government put into effect an element of economic rescue designed to help homeowners struggling with their mortgages. The intent of the “Hope for Homeowners” plan is to help homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes, while also working to stabilize [...]

The Federal Housing Administration has grown so large that by the end of the year it will guarantee mortgages for three in 10 U.S. borrowers, many of whom have bad credit or loans that required no verification of income.
Congress wants FHA to do more. The Hope for Homeowners program, unveiled Oct. 1, authorizes the agency, [...]

The Federal Housing Administration, a U.S. agency that is rapidly shouldering more of the risk on home loans, raised the premiums it charges for insuring that mortgages will be repaid.
In a posting on its Web site Tuesday, the FHA said the upfront premiums charged to most borrowers will be 1.75% of the loan amount, effective [...]

Freddie Mac executives are sounding out private-equity firms and other investors about the possibility of buying new common or preferred shares in the mortgage company.
But that effort is running up against what may be an insurmountable hurdle: Many investors fear any money they invest now in Freddie or its main rival, Fannie Mae, will be [...]

The best part of the housing bill signed by President Bush on July 30 was the section that establishes new regulations for mortgage loan originators. The regulations require all mortgage originators to be screened, educated, tested and licensed. The law also created a national registry of loan originators. And it won’t cost the taxpayers a [...]