On September 2, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2026-12, introducing several updates that are effective immediately and may provide additional flexibility for mortgage sellers. One notable change adds a written verification of employment (VOE) as eligible documentation for an automated income assessment used to determine eligibility for representation and warranty relief related to income calculation accuracy. […]
Mortgage lenders are approaching an important appraisal reporting deadline. Beginning November 2, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will require UAD 3.6 for all new appraisal reports submitted through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). The Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) is a standardized industry dataset for appraisal property reporting. Although UAD 3.6 has been available […]
Mortgage lenders and servicers continue to respond to shifting borrower needs, emerging technologies, and changes in government and investor programs. These developments can create opportunities to expand product offerings and improve efficiency, but they can also introduce new documentation, disclosure, compliance, and operational considerations. Here are five trends influencing mortgage compliance in 2026 and the […]
The 21st Century ROAD (Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream) to Housing Act became law on July 11, 2026, establishing a broad new framework intended to increase housing supply, reduce development barriers, and expand access to affordable homeownership and rental housing. The bipartisan law brings together dozens of housing-related reforms affecting federal housing programs, residential […]
New approved lending areas create expanded opportunities for eligible Native American borrowers and participating lenders HUD Broadens Geographic Eligibility for Section 184 Lending HUD's Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) has expanded the approved lending areas for the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program, adding new counties where eligible American Indian and Alaska Native […]
After two years of constrained origination volume, lenders are actively looking for new paths to revenue and borrower access. One area gaining renewed attention: mortgage assumptions. In today’s rate environment, assumptions offer a compelling alternative, allowing borrowers to take over existing loans with below-market interest rates, creating opportunities in an otherwise challenging housing market. What is a mortgage […]
How Servicers Can Operationalize the New Requirements ONAP Establishes Permanent Loss Mitigation Framework HUD’s Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) has issued permanent loss mitigation requirements for loans guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee and Section 184A Native Hawaiian Housing Loan programs. Published in Lender Letter 2026-03, the framework replaces prior COVID-era […]
By Jonas Hoerler, Chief Regulatory Counsel, RegCheck & Diane Jenkins, Partner, Sandler Law Group So far calendar year 2025 has brought with it some of the most significant changes to residential mortgage compliance the industry has seen in many years. Much of the federal activity eliminated policies the agencies considered “outdated,” reducing unnecessary compliance costs […]
