PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 36 · Passed House amended · Jul 25, 2006
Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2006 - (Sec. 3) Amends the National Housing Act to modify requirements for determining the maximum insurable mortgage amount.
Increases the maximum insurable mortgage amount to the full median house price in a home's area, allowing the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure up to 100% of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC, or Freddie Mac) conforming loan limit. Increases the minimum loan limit (floor) from 48% to 65% of such limit.
(Sec. 4) Extends the permissible FHA mortgage term from 35 to 40 years.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
(Sec. 5) Revises cash downpayment requirements. Repeals the requirement that a minimum of three percent of the estimated acquisition cost be paid down. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to determine the downpayment amount based on factors commensurate with the likelihood of default.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to reinstate the current downpayment requirement if defaults increase beyond a specified ratio. Requires the Secretary to make default determinations for each of the five years following enactment of this Act, and report on them annually to Congress, including their effect upon the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF).
Instructs the Secretary not to count among such defaults any on properties in disaster areas.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to establish, for a mortgage secured by a one- to four-family dwelling, a mortgage insurance premium structure involving a single premium payment collected prior to the insurance of the mortgage or annual payments, subject to specified maximum up-front and annual premium amounts. Allows the premium rate to vary during the mortgage term, as long as the basis for determining the variable rate is established before execution of the mortgage.
Establishes a premium reduction incentive for timely payment of permiums over a five-year period.
Requires prior notice to mortgagees and Congress in order to establish or alter a premium structure.
(Sec. 8) Makes the rehabilitation loan program an obligation of the MMIF instead of the General Insurance Fund (GIF).
(Sec. 9) Revises notification requirements regarding discretionary action taken by the Secretary to suspend or revoke the approval of a mortgagee to participate in FHA programs.
(Sec. 10) Permits the Secretary to insure any mortgage covering a one-family unit in a condominium project if the project has a multifamily blanket mortgage insured by the Secretary.
Redefines mortgage to include a first mortgage given to secure the unpaid purchase price of a fee interest, or long-term leasehold interest, in a one-family unit in a multifamily (condominium) project.
(Sec. 11) Revises requirements governing the MMIF. Sets limitations upon the Secretary's authority to enter into commitments for loan guarantees.
Confers fiduciary responsibility upon the Secretary to ensure that the MMIF remains financially sound.
Directs the Secretary to provide for and report to Congress annually on an independent actuarial study of the MMIF. Requires quarterly reports to Congress on loan guarantee commitments, loss rates, and projected annual subsidy rates.
Sets forth operation goals of the MMIF, and authorizes the Secretary to make programmatic or premium adjustments for it if such goals are not being met, or if there is a substantial probability that the MMIF will not maintain its target subsidy rate.
Makes obligations of the MMIF insured mortgages used in conjunction with the Homeownership Voucher program and insured home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs, or reverse mortgages).
(Sec. 12) Makes insurance of a Native Hawaiian Home Land or an Indian reservation mortgage the obligation of the MMIF (instead of the GIF).
(Sec. 14) Eliminates the 250,000 limitation upon the aggregate number of HECMs for elderly homeowners insured under the Act.
Establishes the FHLMC conforming loan limit as the maximum HECM amount and maximum claim amount.
Authorizes the Secretary to insure an HECM when its primary purpose is to enable an elderly mortgagor to purchase a one- to four-family dwelling in which the mortgagor will occupy one of the units. Sets the FHLMC conforming loan limit as the maximum principal obligation placed upon an HECM.
Revises the meaning of mortgage relating to a dwelling unit in a residential cooperative housing corporation (RCHC) for HECM insurance purposes. Specifies in such a mortgage a first or subordinate mortgage or lien on all stock allocated to such a dwelling unit, as well as a first mortgage or first lien on a leashold. Includes in the meaning of a first mortgage a first or subordinate lien on all stock allocated to an RCHC dwelling unit.
Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on mortgage insurance premiums for insurance of HECMs regarding: (1) the possible effects on costs to mortgagors and the program's financial soundness of reducing premiums; and (2) the feasibility and effectiveness of exempting from all program requirements any insured HECM under which all or part of future payments to the homeowner are used for a long-term care insurance contract on the mortgagor or family members.
(Sec. 15) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements to insure for up to 36 months mortgages involving a principal obligation of up to 100% of the FHLMC conforming loan limit for a single family residence located in a presidentially declared major disaster area.
(Sec. 16) Redefines mortgagee to allow participation in the federal mortgage insurance program by state-licensed mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders who make, underwrite, or service mortgage loans. Requires a state-licensed mortgage broker or correspondent lender that closes but does not underwrite or service a mortgage to post a surety bond of $75,000, in lieu of annual audit and net worth requirements, in order also to participation in the program.
(Sec. 17) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Secretary should use a portion of funds received in excess of claims paid from premiums paid for FHA single family housing mortgage insurance to increase substantially the funding for technology used in the program; (2) the goal of this investment should be to bring such technology up to or exceeding the level and sophistication of the technology used in the conventional mortgage lending market; and (3) the Secretary should report to Congress on the progress the Department is making toward such goal and, if progress is not sufficient, the resources needed to make greater progress.
People & committees
Rep. Ney, Robert W. [R-OH-18] · R–OH
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 7 (Roll no. 400). (text: CR H5734-5738)
House roll call 400 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 7 (Roll no. 400).(text: CR H5734-5738)
House roll call 400 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5813-5814)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5121.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5734-5742)
Mr. Ney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 340.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 109-589.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 109-589.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4583)
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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