Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs): Determination of Maximum Claim Amount; and Eligibility for Discounted Mortgage Insurance Premium for Certain Refinanced HECM Loans

This rule makes two technical changes to HUD's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. First, the rule extends the date for calculating the maximum claim amount in the HECM program from the date of the underwriter's receipt of the appraisal report to the date of closing. This change provides a more easily verifiable and more easily identifiable date. Second, this rule corrects an unintended consequence that results in a situation where HECM loans that are not in default but have been assigned pursuant to regulatory provisions, and remain in effect, are not eligible to be refinanced with a discounted initial mortgage insurance premium (MIP). This rule would permit such HECM loans to be eligible for the discounted initial MIP upon refinancing, in accordance with the purpose of the HECM program, which is to improve the financial situation of elderly homeowners.