Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes.

5/8/2008--House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment. American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Title I: FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention - FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Homeownership Retention -
(Sec. 112) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to create the Refinance Program Oversight Board, which shall establish and oversee a program for insuring homeownership retention mortgages. Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage on the residence. Sets forth mortgagor eligibility criteria, including mortgagor certification that:
(1) the residence is the only residence in which the mortgagor has any present ownership interest;
(2) the mortgagor has not intentionally defaulted on the existing mortgage, nor knowingly, willfully, and with actual knowledge furnished material information known to be false for the purpose of obtaining the existing mortgage. Requires waiver or forgiveness of all:
(1) prepayment penalties; and
(2) fees and penalties related to default or delinquency on existing mortgages. Sets forth terms for required:
(1) reduction of indebtedness under an existing senior mortgage;
(2) extinguishment of debt by refinancing; and
(3) treatment of multiple mortgage liens. Requires debt service payments due under a mortgage insured under this Act to be substantially reduced from the debt service payments due under the existing mortgage or mortgages. Requires the mortgage to provide that the HUD Secretary retain a lien on the residence which shall:
(1) be subordinate to the mortgage insured under this Act, but senior to all other existing mortgages on it; and
(2) secure the repayment. Instructs the Oversight Board to prohibit borrowers from granting a new second lien on the mortgaged property during the first five years the mortgage is insured under this Act. Requires the mortgagee to document and verify mortgagor income. Requires a mortgage insured under this Act to:
(1) bear interest at a single fixed rate for the entire mortgage term; and
(2) involve a principal obligation that does not exceed the limitation that would be allowable for a mortgage insured pursuant to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Requires the Oversight Board to establish specified underwriting standards for mortgages insured under this Act, including a limitation on origination fees. Sets forth criteria for appraisal independence. Subjects violations of such criteria to civil monetary penalties. Prohibits the aggregate original principal obligation of all mortgages insured under this Act from exceeding $300 billion. Directs:
(1) the Oversight Board and the HUD Secretary to monitor independent quality reviews of designated underwriters; and
(2) the Inspector General of HUD to conduct an annual compliance audit of the mortgage insurance program under this Act. Requires the HUD Secretary to ensure that securities based on and backed by a pool or trust composed of mortgages insured under this Act are available to be guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) for timely payment of principal and interest. Makes the insurance of each mortgage under this Act the obligation of the Special Risk Insurance Fund established by this Act. Sets forth a sunset date of two years after enactment of this Act for commitments to insure under it. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2009, including specified funds earmarked for:
(1) counseling for veterans recently returning from active duty in the Armed Forces; and
(2) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NRC). Repeals the limitation on the aggregate number of home equity conversion mortgages for elderly homeowners insured under this Act.
(Sec. 113) Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to study and report to specified congressional committees on the need for an auction or bulk refinancing mechanism to facilitate refinancing of existing residential mortgages that are at risk for foreclosure into mortgages insured under the NHA.
(Sec. 114) Establishes a temporary increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(Sec. 115) Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study and report to Congress on:
(1) fair value accounting standards applicable to financial institutions with respect to residential mortgages at risk of foreclosure and mortgage-backed securities involving such mortgages;
(2) the effects of such accounting standards upon such institutions' balance sheets and capacity to provide refinancing to residential mortgagors at risk of foreclosure, including residential mortgagors during periods of market value declines and increased foreclosures; and
(3) the advisability and feasibility of modifications of such standards during periods of market fluctuation in order to maintain the institution's ability to continue to carry mortgages on residential property at risk of foreclosure and assure the availability of credit to refinance such mortgages.
(Sec. 116) Instructs the Comptroller General of the United States to study and report to Congress on the effects of tightening credit markets upon prospective first-time homebuyers in selected communities that have been most detrimentally affected by subprime mortgage foreclosure crises and predatory mortgage lending. Subtitle B: Office of Housing Counseling - Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act -
(Sec. 132) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish the Office of Housing Counseling.
(Sec. 133) Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to:
(1) prescribe homeownership and rental counseling procedures and requirements;
(2) direct the Secretary to make grants to qualified organizations for homeownership or rental counseling assistance; and
(3) require such organizations to use only HUD-certified counselors.
(Sec. 136) Directs the HUD Secretary to study and report to Congress on the root causes of home loan defaults and foreclosures, including the role of escrow accounts in helping prime and nonprime borrowers avoid defaults and foreclosures.
(Sec. 138) Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to require a revamping of a public information booklet regarding federally related mortgage loans, with specified contents. Subtitle C: Combating Mortgage Fraud -
(Sec. 151) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 for federal prosecution of mortgage fraud. Title II: FHA Reform and Manufactured Housing Loan Insurance Modernization - Subtitle A: FHA Reform - Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2008 -
(Sec. 203) Amends the NHA to:
(1) increase the maximum principal loan obligation on residential homes eligible for mortgage insurance;
(2) extend the mortgage term from 30 years to 40 years;
(3) modify downpayment standards;
(4) set a maximum premium payment for a mortgage for which any amounts are gifted by a qualified homeownership assistance entity at 3% of the original insured principal obligation;
(5) direct the HUD Secretary to establish underwriting standards for mortgage insurance for higher-risk borrowers; and
(6) authorize the Secretary to establish flexible risk-based mortgage insurance premium structure involving a single premium payment.
(Sec. 208) Sets forth:
(1) discretionary three-year and mandatory five-year payment incentives for higher-risk borrowers; and
(2) protections for higher-risk borrowers, including additional mandatory disclosures and counseling and a notice of the availability of foreclosure prevention counseling.
(Sec. 210) Requires the HUD Secretary to establish related underwriting standards and facilitate payment or prepayment (refinancing) of existing mortgages for borrowers:
(1) with either adverse terms or rates in such mortgages; or
(2) without access to mortgages at reasonable rates and terms because of adverse market conditions. Authorizes the HUD Secretary to insure mortgages to borrowers in default or at imminent risk of being in default, if such loans meet HUD-established underwriting standards.
(Sec. 211) Requires the HUD Secretary to collect information on default and foreclosure rates for HUD mortgage insurance, including actions taken for loss mitigation.
(Sec. 212) Increases the maximum mortgage amount limitation for a residence licensed and certificated to operate a child care facility.
(Sec. 213) Requires all funds received and disbursements with respect to rehabilitation loans to be credited or charged, as appropriate, to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF) (currently, to the General Insurance Fund).
(Sec. 215) Requires a multifamily condominium project to have an insured blanket mortgage in order for a one-family unit in the project to qualify for mortgage insurance. Increase from 35 to 40 years the term of such a mortgage. Provides for mortgage insurance for manufactured housing.
(Sec. 216) Limits the authority of the HUD Secretary to use the MMIF for mortgage loan guarantees for a particular fiscal year to the aggregate original principal loan amount specified in appropriations Acts for that fiscal year. Requires the Secretary to:
(1) provide for an annual independent actuarial study of the MMIF; and
(2) make quarterly reports to Congress..
(Sec. 217) Makes insurance of mortgages in Hawaiian home lands and Indian reservations obligations of the MMIF (currently, of the General Insurance Fund).
(Sec. 219) Revises requirements for insurance of home equity conversion mortgages for elderly homeowners. Includes among such insurable mortgages a leasehold under a lease with a term ending no earlier than the minimum number of years, as specified by the Secretary, beyond the actuarial life expectancy of the mortgagor or comortgagor, whichever is the later date. Limits the benefits of such mortgage insurance to 132% of a specified dollar amount limitation for a one-family residence. Permits insurance of such a mortgage when the primary purpose of the home equity conversion mortgage is to enable an elderly mortgagor to purchase a one- to four-family dwelling in which the mortgagor will occupy or occupies one of the units. Allows insurance of subordinate mortgages or liens on cooperative dwelling units. Prohibits an applicant mortgagor from satisfying the third party adequate counseling requirement by receiving such counseling from a reverse mortgage lender, servicer or investor, or an entity engaged in the sale of annuities, investments, long-term care insurance, or any other type of financial or insurance product. Repeals:
(1) the waiver of upfront premiums for insured mortgages whose total amount will be used only to fund long-term care insurance; and
(2) funding for counseling and consumer education and outreach. Instructs the HUD Secretary to:
(1) prescribe regulations protecting elderly homeowners from the marketing of financial and insurance products not in their interest, including the marketing or sale of an annuity as a condition of obtaining any home equity conversion mortgage;
(2) establish limits upon origination fees; and
(3) study and report to Congress on mortgage insurance premiums that insure home equity conversion mortgages for elderly homeowners. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to authorize the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to deal in NHA-insured mortgages, notwithstanding certain limitations upon maximum original principal obligations.
(Sec. 220) Instructs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of financial audit and net worth requirements upon mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders, and specified related matters.
(Sec. 221) Revises the authority of the HUD Secretary to insure mortgages for disaster housing to increase the limit on the principal obligation by the amount of any initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees. Authorizes the HUD Secretary, after a presidential major disaster declaration, to enter, for up to 36 months, into agreements to insure a mortgage which involves a principal obligation of up to 100% of a specified dollar amount limitation for a single-family mortgage.
(Sec. 222) Establishes penalties for:
(1) failure by a mortgage servicer to make timely payments from escrow accounts; and
(2) submission of information to a consumer reporting agency regarding such failure that is adverse to the mortgagor's credit rating or interest. Prohibits the HUD Secretary from submitting such information to a consumer reporting agency.
(Sec. 223) Prescribes acceptable forms of identification for FHA mortgagors. Prohibits the Secretary from insuring a mortgage unless the mortgagor provides such identification.
(Sec. 224) Directs the HUD Secretary to implement a pilot program to make available to mortgagees an automated process for providing alternative credit rating information for actual and prospective mortgagors, under mortgages for one- to four-family residences to be insured, who have insufficient credit histories for determining their creditworthiness. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the number of additional mortgagors served using such automated process, and its impact upon the safety and soundness of the insurance funds under the NHA.
(Sec. 225) Expresses the sense of the Congress that:
(1) the HUD Secretary should use a portion of the funds received from premiums paid for FHA single family housing mortgage insurance that exceed the amounts paid out in claims to increase the funding for technology used in such FHA program;
(2) the goal of this investment should be to bring such technology up to or in excess of the level of technology used in the conventional mortgage lending market; and
(3) the HUD Secretary should report to Congress on progress made toward such goal and the resources needed for greater progress.
(Sec. 226) States that the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 governing FHA asset disposition does not apply to a multifamily real property transaction for which:
(1) the HUD Secretary has received, before enactment of such Act, written expressions of interest in purchasing the property from both a city government and its housing commission;
(2) after such receipt, the Secretary acquires title to the property at a foreclosure sale; and
(3) such city government and housing commission have resolved a previous disagreement regarding disposition of the property.
(Sec. 227) Directs the Secretary to consider industry standard appraisal practices when determining market value during FY2008 of a multifamily property or for any multifamily loan for noncompetitive sale to a state or local governmental entity (including repair costs:
(1) to bring the property to minimum state and local code standards; and
(2) of maintaining the affordability restrictions upon the multifamily real property or multifamily loan).
(Sec. 228) Prohibits mortgage insurance premium increases above the level in effect on October 1, 2006, unless in the absence of such an increase the appropriation of new budget authority would be required to cover the costs of such insurance.
(Sec. 229) Establishes civil money penalties for improperly influencing appraisals in connection with an insured mortgage.
(Sec. 230) Requires the HUD Secretary to provide refunds of unearned mortgage insurance premium charges paid with respect to certain insured mortgages. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Insurance Modernization - FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2008 -
(Sec. 253) Exempts a manufactured home or its lot from the limitation on insurance for a financial institution's loans, advances of credit, and purchases.
(Sec. 254) Makes any contract of insurance with respect to loans, advances of credit, or purchases in connection with a manufactured home or its lot conclusive evidence of the institution's eligibility for insurance.
(Sec. 255) Increases maximum loan limits for such insurance.
(Sec. 256) Prescribes requirements for insurance premiums.
(Sec. 258) Directs the Secretary to establish insurance underwriting criteria for loans and advances of credit for such homes or lots.
(Sec. 259) Requires a borrower to have a valid Social Security account number in order for any obligation to be insured.
(Sec. 260) Instructs the Comptroller General to assess and report to Congress on how the HUD Secretary utilizes the FHA manufactured housing loan insurance program to mitigate tornado risks to manufactured housing residents and communities. Title III: Reform of Government-Sponsored Entities for Housing Finance - Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Reform of Regulation of Enterprises and Federal Home Loan Banks - Chapter 1: Improvement of Safety and Soundness -
(Sec. 311) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to replace the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (Agency). Grants the Agency supervisory and regulatory authority over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the federal home loan banks (enterprises). Requires the Agency to have Deputy Directors:
(1) of the Division of Enterprise Regulation;
(2) of the Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation; and
(3) for Housing. Requires the Agency Director to establish the position of Ombudsman. Instructs the Director to establish prudential management and operations standards for the enterprises.
(Sec. 313) Establishes the Federal Housing Enterprise Board to advise the Director on overall strategies and policies.
(Sec. 315) Authorizes the Director to require the enterprises to:
(1) report fraudulent financial transactions; and
(2) disclose charitable contributions they have made.
(Sec. 316) Prescribes annual assessments to be collected from the enterprises. Requires the Comptroller General to audit annually and report to Congress on the financial transactions of the Agency.
(Sec. 318) Revises the prohibition against excessive executive compensation for officers of the enterprises. Authorizes the Director to require a regulated entity to withhold any payment, transfer, or disbursement of compensation to an executive officer, or to place such compensation in an escrow account, during the review of the compensation's reasonableness and comparability.
(Sec. 320) Requires each regulated entity to either establish an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, or designate an office responsible for diversity in management, employment, and business activities. Requires the Agency to take affirmative steps to seek diversity at all levels in its workforce consistent with the demographic diversity of the United States.
(Sec. 321) Repeals the requirement for congressional review of regulations proposed by the Director.
(Sec. 322) Declares that submission by any person to the Agency of any information for any purpose in the course of any supervisory or regulatory process shall not be construed as waiving, destroying, or otherwise affecting any privilege such person may claim with respect to such information under federal or state law as to any person or entity other than the Agency.
(Sec. 323) Revises requirements for risk-based capital levels for the enterprises, including federal home loan banks.
(Sec. 324) Prescribes minimum and critical capital levels for federal home loan banks and the enterprises. Empowers the Director to:
(1) increase temporarily the minimum capital level for a regulated entity;
(2) establish additional capital and reserve requirements for particular programs;
(3) review core capital maintained by such entities;
(4) review assets and liabilities of the entities and monitor their portfolios; and
(5) require disposition or acquisition of assets and liabilities by the enterprises.
(Sec. 326) Sets forth corporate governance and risk-management requirements for the enterprises, including a specified code of ethics.
(Sec. 327) Requires each of them to register at least one class of its stock with the SEC.
(Sec. 328) Amends the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to require one representative of the Agency to sit on the liaison committee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.
(Sec. 329) Requires the Director to study and report to Congress on the pricing, transparency, and reporting of the enterprises with respect to guarantee fees and analogous practices, transparency, and reporting requirements of other participants in the mortgage purchasing and securitization business (including advances pricing practices by the federal home loan banks). Chapter 2: Improvement of Mission Supervision -
(Sec. 332) Instructs the Director to require the enterprises to obtain the Director's approval before offering a product. Sets forth approval standards and procedures, including expedited review.
(Sec. 333) Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to increase the limitations governing the maximum original obligation of conventional mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2008. Prescribes a formula for calculating such limitations for mortgages originated on or after January 1, 2009. Instructs the Director to establish and maintain a method of assessing the national average one-family house price (housing price index) for use in adjusting the conforming loan limitations of the enterprises. Requires the Comptroller General to audit the Director's methodology and report the results to certain congressional committees. Expresses the sense of Congress that:
(1) securitization of mortgages by the enterprises plays an important role in providing liquidity to the U.S. housing markets; and
(2) Congress encourages them to securitize mortgages acquired under the increased conforming loan limits established by this Act.
(Sec. 334) Requires the Director to report annually to specified congressional committees on the enterprises.
(Sec. 335) Requires the enterprises to report annually to Congress on affordable housing stock.
(Sec. 336) Requires the Director to establish and enforce standards that:
(1) prohibit the enterprises from the purchase, service, holding, selling, lending on the security of, or otherwise dealing with any mortgage on a one- to four-family residence that will be used as the principal residence of a mortgagor that does not have a Social Security number (mortgagor identification requirements); and
(2) prohibit the federal home loan banks from providing any advances to a member for use in financing, and from accepting as collateral for any advance to a member, any mortgage on a one- to four-family residence that will be used as the principal residence of the mortgagor that does not have such a number.
(Sec. 337) Instructs the Director to establish and report annually to Congress on annual single family and multifamily special affordable housing goals with respect to mortgage purchases by the enterprises. Authorizes an enterprise to petition the Director during a year to reduce the level of any goal for that year. Prescribes standards for such a goal reduction.
(Sec. 338) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to impose a duty upon the enterprises to serve underserved markets (rural markets and very low-, low-, and moderate-income families). Prescribes requirements for enterprise development of loan products and flexible underwriting guidelines to facilitate a secondary market for mortgages on manufactured homes.
(Sec. 339) Requires the Director to assign additional credit toward achievement of the housing goals for enterprise mortgage purchase activities that comply with such goals and support:
(1) environmental housing standards; and
(2) housing that includes a licensed childcare center. Sets forth penalties for noncompliance with housing goals.
(Sec. 340) Instructs the Director to establish an affordable housing fund with amounts allocated by the enterprises to:
(1) increase homeownership for extremely low-and very low-income families;
(2) increase investment in housing in low-income areas, including those designated as qualified census tracts or an area of chronic economic distress;
(3) increase and preserve the supply of rental and owner-occupied housing for extremely low- and very low-income families;
(4) invest in public infrastructure development; and
(5) leverage investments from other sources to affordable housing and its attendant public infrastructure development. Sunsets the affordable housing fund program after five years. Prohibits the enterprises from redirecting (passing through) costs to the originators of mortgages they purchased or securitized. Prescribes formulas for affordable housing needs allocations for Louisiana and Mississippi. Requires each grantee to establish an allocation plan. Cites Social Security, photo, REAL ID, passport, and USCIS photo identification requirements for recipients of affordable housing grants. Instructs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the effects the affordable housing fund will have upon credit for homebuyers, including:
(1) the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac make allocations to such fund based on the average total mortgage portfolios; and
(2) the extent to which the mandatory allocation costs will either be borne by such entities or will be passed on to homebuyers.
(Sec. 342) Specifies additional grounds for the issuance of cease-and-desist orders by the Director upon an enterprise. Chapter 3: Prompt Corrective Action -
(Sec. 345) Requires the Director to establish specified capital classification criteria for the federal home loan banks. Authorizes the Director to reclassify an enterprise in circumstances of rapidly depleting of core or total capital or engagement in unsafe or unsound practices.
(Sec. 346) Specifies regulatory actions for enterprises which are undercapitalized, including:
(1) mandatory monitoring;
(2) restricted asset growth; and
(3) prior approval of acquisitions, including new products and new activities.
(Sec. 347) Specifies management improvement actions, including dismissal of directors or executive officers and ordering the election of a new board, the Director must take with respect to a significantly undercapitalized enterprise. Prohibits any significantly undercapitalized enterprise, without the Director's prior approval, from paying an executive officer of the enterprise:
(1) any bonus; or
(2) any compensation exceeding the officer's average rate (excluding bonuses, stock options, and profit sharing) for the previous 12 months.
(Sec. 348) Changes from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Director to appoint a conservator or receiver of a critically undercapitalized enterprise. Requires the Director to appoint the Agency as such conservator or receiver. Specifies circumstances and grounds for exercise of such authority, including grounds for mandatory receivership. Authorizes an enterprise to seek judicial review of the Agency's appointment as conservator or receiver. Revises procedures for a conservatorship or receivership. Specifies the Agency's powers as conservator or receiver. Chapter 4: Enforcement Actions -
(Sec. 351) Revises the Director's authority to issue charges and/or a temporary cease-and-desist order upon an enterprise or affiliated party for unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law. Authorizes the Director to deem an entity to be engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice if it receives a less-than-satisfactory rating in its most recent examination.
(Sec. 353) Authorizes a court, upon the application of the Director or the Attorney General, to issue a restraining order:
(1) prohibiting any person from disposing of any funds or other property of an enterprise (prejudgment attachment); and
(2) appointing a person temporarily to administer the order.
(Sec. 354) Authorizes the Director to apply for enforcement of a notice or order directly (currently, only through the Attorney General) to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, or the U.S. district court within the jurisdiction of which the enterprise's headquarters are located.
(Sec. 355) Revises the three tiers of violations subject to civil money penalties. Increases such penalties.
(Sec. 356) Grants the Director removal, prohibition, and subpoena authority over an enterprise or affiliated party in violation of any law or order.
(Sec. 357) Subjects to criminal liability any person, subject to a removal order, who without the Director's prior written approval knowingly participates, directly or indirectly, in any manner in the affairs of any enterprise.
(Sec. 358) Authorizes the Director to apply directly for enforcement of any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum (currently, only through the Attorney General) to the appropriate U.S. District court. Chapter 5: General Provisions -
(Sec. 361) Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to revise requirements governing the boards of the enterprises. Changes the number of board members for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from 18, of whom five must be appointed by the President, to 13, or any other number the Director determines appropriate. Eliminates presidential appointments. Requires all board members to be elected by the common stockholders.
(Sec. 362) Instructs the Director to report to Congress on portfolio operations, safety and soundness, and mission of the enterprises, including an analysis of potential systemic risk implications, the housing and capital markets, and the financial system of portfolio holdings.
(Sec. 364) Requires the Director to study and report to Congress on the effects upon financial and housing finance markets of alternatives to the current secondary market system for housing finance. Subtitle B: Federal Home Loan Banks -
(Sec. 372) Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to:
(1) bring the federal home loan banks under Agency regulation;
(2) revise requirements governing membership, terms, and compensation of the board of directors;
(3) permit joint activities by the banks; and
(4) permit information sharing and voluntary mergers between such banks.
(Sec. 377) Exempts home loan banks from specified requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities Act of 1933, and related SEC regulations regarding:
(1) transactions in capital stock of such banks;
(2) bonds, debentures and other obligations of such banks;
(3) periodic reporting requirements; and
(4) tender offers in connection with transactions in capital stock of the banks.
(Sec. 378) Increases from $500 million to $1 billion the total asset requirement for a community financial institution member. Adds community development activities to the limited uses of a secured long-term advance from a federal home loan bank.
(Sec. 380) Instructs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress and the Director on:
(1) the use of the affordable housing programs of the banks to determine the extent to which such programs are used to assist long-term care facilities for low- and moderate-income individuals; and
(2) the effectiveness and adequacy of such assistance in meeting the needs of affected communities. Subtitle C: Transfer of Functions, Personnel, and Property of Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Federal Housing Finance Board, and Department of Housing and Urban Development - Chapter 1: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight -
(Sec. 385) Abolishes the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of HUD (OFHEO).
(Sec. 387) Transfers each OFHEO employee to the Agency. Chapter 2: Federal Housing Finance Board -
(Sec. 391) Abolishes the Federal Housing Finance Board.
(Sec. 393) Transfers each Board employee to the Agency. Chapter 3: Department of Housing and Urban Development -
(Sec. 395) Transfers specified enterprise-related functions, employees, and property from HUD and OFHEO to the Agency Director. Title IV: Emergency Mortgage Loan Modification - Emergency Mortgage Loan Modification Act of 2008 -
(Sec. 402) Establishes a standard for loan modifications or workout plans for pools of certain residential mortgage loans. States that the servicer of such pooled loans owes a duty to the securitization vehicle to maximize recovery of proceeds for the benefit of all investors and holders of beneficial interests in the pooled loans in the aggregate, and not to any individual party or group of parties. Deems the loan servicer to be acting on behalf of the securitization vehicle in the best interest of investors and holders if the servicer makes certain loss mitigation efforts for a loan in or facing payment default in the reasonable belief that the particular modification, workout plan, or other mitigation actions will maximize the net present value to be realized over that which would be realized through foreclosure. Shields a servicer, acting in a manner consistent with such duty, from liability to specified