[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42187-42189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17072]



[[Page 42187]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 200

[Docket No. FR 5395-F-02]
RIN 2502-AI92


Federal Housing Administration (FHA): Refinancing an Existing 
Cooperative Under Section 207 Pursuant to Section 223(f) of the 
National Housing Act

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends HUD's regulations governing the 
eligibility for FHA insurance of mortgages used for the purchase or 
refinancing of existing multifamily housing projects. Although the 
statutory language authorizing such insurance does not distinguish 
between rental or cooperative multifamily projects, HUD's regulations 
limit FHA insurance to existing rental projects. Given the significant 
needs identified for multifamily cooperative financing, the Department 
determined that it was appropriate to reconsider the regulatory imposed 
limitation. Accordingly, this rule revises HUD's regulations to enable 
existing multifamily cooperative project owners to obtain FHA insurance 
for the refinancing of existing indebtedness.

DATES: Effective Date: August 20, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Carey, Director, Policy 
Division, Office of Multifamily Housing Development, Office of Housing, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 
6152, Washington, DC 20410-8000; telephone number 202-708-1142 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

A. The February 1, 2011, Proposed Rule

    On February 1, 2011, at 76 FR 5518, HUD proposed to revise its 
regulations governing the eligibility for FHA insurance of mortgages 
used for the purchase or refinancing of existing multifamily housing 
projects. Under section 223(f)(1) of the National Housing Act (12 
U.S.C. 1715n(f)(1)) (NHA), FHA is authorized to insure mortgages 
executed in connection with the purchase or refinancing of an existing 
multifamily housing project. The existing multifamily housing project 
to be purchased or refinanced may have been financed originally with 
conventional debt, equity, or FHA insured mortgages. The section 223(f) 
program insures lenders against loss on mortgage defaults and allows 
for long term mortgages (up to 35 years). In general, a project is 
eligible for section 223(f) mortgage insurance if the sponsor can 
demonstrate that there is a definite market demand, and that the 
project is economically self-sufficient.
    HUD's regulations implementing the section 223(f) program are 
codified at 24 CFR part 207 (entitled ``Multifamily Housing Mortgage 
Insurance''). Section 207.1 of these regulations cross references to 
the eligibility requirements for existing projects contained in 24 CFR 
200.24 and makes the eligibility requirements applicable to multifamily 
project mortgages insured under section 24 CFR part 207.\1\ Section 
200.24 provides that ``a mortgage financing the purchase or refinance 
of an existing rental housing project . . . may be insured pursuant to 
the provisions of section 223(f) of the [National Housing] Act . . .'' 
(emphasis added). Thus, while the statutory language of section 223(f) 
authorizes FHA mortgage insurance for existing multifamily housing 
projects, irrespective of whether the project is for rental or 
cooperative housing, HUD's regulations limit section 223(f) financing 
to rental housing.
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    \1\ The regulations codified at 24 CFR part 200 (entitled 
``Introduction to FHA Programs'') set forth, in a single location of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, requirements that are generally 
applicable to FHA programs. Section 207.1 cross-references to the 
eligibility requirements set forth in 24 CFR part 200, subpart A. 
Section 200.24 is the relevant eligibility provision for existing 
multifamily projects in subpart A of 24 CFR part 200.
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    Lack of financing has recently been a particular problem for 
multifamily cooperatives, which contend with legal restrictions on 
cooperative share transfers and requirements for approval by the board 
of a cooperative for some membership or operational changes. In 
addition, ``affordable'' cooperatives, which have low initial purchase 
prices, limited maintenance fees, and a cap on unit resale prices, face 
further challenges because the potential for generating new income 
through turnover of units and additional assessments is low.
    Through the February 11, 2011 proposed rule, HUD proposed to remove 
the regulatory limitation to facilitate the refinancing of cooperatives 
through mortgage insurance issued under section 223(f) of the NHA to 
both provide needed support to this cooperative financing market sector 
and further HUD's mission of preserving affordable housing. The changes 
were proposed to assist eligible cooperative projects to obtain 
refinancing to make necessary repairs and/or consolidate more expensive 
outstanding debt, thereby preserving affordable housing stock. 
Interested readers are referred to the preamble of the February 1, 
2011, proposed rule for additional information regarding the proposed 
regulatory changes.

B. This Final Rule

    This final rule follows publication of the February 1, 2011, 
proposed rule and takes into consideration the public comments received 
in response to the proposed rule. By the close of the public comment 
period on April 4, 2011, HUD received five public comments on the 
proposed rule.
    Comments were submitted by individuals, a local housing 
preservation and development agency, a national association 
representing the interests of housing cooperatives, and a national 
nonprofit organization focused on manufactured housing ownership. The 
majority of comments expressed support for the proposed regulatory 
changes, with a few commenters raising questions about the rule or 
offering suggestions for additional amendments. After careful 
consideration of the issues raised by the commenters, HUD has decided 
to adopt the proposed regulatory amendments without change.
    The final regulatory text provides as did the proposed regulatory 
text that a mortgage financing the purchase or refinance of an existing 
rental housing project or refinance of the existing debt of an existing 
cooperative project under section 207 of the NHA, or for refinancing 
the existing debt of an existing nursing home, intermediate care 
facility, assisted living facility, or board and care home, or any 
combination thereof, under section 232 of the NHA, may be insured 
pursuant to provisions of section 223(f) of the NHA and such terms and 
conditions established by HUD. HUD's risk management practices for the 
financing or refinancing of mortgages for all projects covered by 
section 207 of the National Housing Act, and which, as a result of this 
rule, would now include cooperatives provides for more careful review 
of projects that exceed $100 million.
    The following section of this preamble summarizes the significant 
issues raised by the commenters on the February 1, 2011, proposed rule 
and HUD's responses to these comments.

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II. Discussion of Public Comments Received on the February 1, 2011, 
Proposed Rule

    Comment: Include section 223(f) cooperative refinancing in the 
Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) system. One commenter 
suggested that, in order to expedite processing time, HUD allow section 
223(f) refinancing for housing cooperatives to be processed under the 
Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) system. MAP is a processing 
procedure designed to establish national standards for approved lenders 
to prepare, process, and submit loan applications for FHA multifamily 
mortgage insurance.
    HUD Response. HUD agrees that processing cooperative refinance 
transactions under MAP would expedite the processing of these 
transactions. Section 223(f) purchase loan transactions are already 
eligible for processing under MAP and HUD will consider including 
cooperative refinance transactions for processing under MAP.
    Comment: Expand regulation to include manufactured housing 
cooperatives. One commenter urged HUD to include cooperatives formed by 
homeowners in manufactured home communities to be eligible for FHA 
mortgage insurance upon refinancing their existing blanket mortgage 
debt covering the land and infrastructure improvements. The commenter 
wrote that, consistent with the mission of FHA, manufactured housing 
cooperatives expand opportunities for low and moderate income 
homebuyers. The commenter wrote that resident ownership of manufactured 
home communities has proven critical to providing long-term housing 
security to homeowners.
    HUD Response. HUD declines to accept the commenter's 
recommendation. It is HUD's long standing policy to not use Section 
223(f) mortgage insurance for the refinancing of manufactured housing 
parks. The Section 223(f) program structure is not tailored to 
accommodate the unique risks and real estate features associated with 
financing for manufactured home communities. Such properties are 
appropriately served by conventional financing sources which can tailor 
loan terms and underwriting requirements to address these risks and 
real estate features. HUD notes that manufactured home cooperatives as 
well as other manufactured homeownership transactions are eligible 
under the Section 207 mortgage insurance program when substantial 
rehabilitation or new construction is proposed.
    Comment: Questions regarding FHA programs. Two commenters raised 
concerns that supporting cooperatives by providing government support 
for refinancing could negatively affect other parts of the housing 
market. The commenters requested that HUD provide some basic 
information on such as the following issues: Where the money is coming 
from, who will pay for the mortgage insurance, and whether lenders 
could increase their rates during the life of the loan.
    HUD Response. HUD disagrees that providing refinancing for 
cooperatives could negatively affect other parts of the housing market. 
Providing refinancing for cooperatives helps preserve affordable 
housing stock in the nation. With respect to basic information about 
Section 223(f) program, information about this program can be found at 
the following HUD Web site: http://portal.hud.gov:80/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/progdesc/purchrefi223f. This Web 
site provides detailed information about the Section 223(f) program,

III. Costs and Benefits

    In providing for refinancing for cooperatives under the Section 
223(f) program, the costs incurred by FHA and the borrower are costs 
typical of those associated with HUD's multifamily insurance programs. 
The documents and transactions for refinancing cooperatives are similar 
to those for FHA-insured multifamily programs, and the costs for the 
borrower are those that typically occur with closing the loan and 
document transaction costs. The costs for FHA include those pertaining 
to underwriting applications, overseeing construction advances, 
monitoring program compliance, collecting mortgage insurance premiums 
and processing claims for insurance. Typically these costs are offset 
by mortgage insurance premiums received under the program.
    Additionally, with respect to costs and risks, and as noted earlier 
in this preamble, HUD's risk management practices for the financing or 
refinancing of mortgages for all projects covered by section 207 of the 
National Housing Act, and which, as a result of this rule, now includes 
cooperatives provides for more careful review of projects for which 
financing or refinancing exceed $100 million.
    While the costs are similar to those involved in FHA multifamily 
housing transactions, the benefits in allowing refinancing for 
cooperatives helps to preserve affordable housing stock in the U.S. 
Refinancing the existing underlying mortgage of a cooperative is 
considered a preferred alternative than expending a cooperative's 
reserve fund, which would have a negative impact on the cooperative's 
financial strength. Refinancing would help to avoid the need for a 
special assessment (often needed for a large emergency repair such as a 
leaking roof), which benefits the residents of a cooperative. If the 
cooperative's reserve fund is too low, the residents must pay the cost 
of the assessment, and this could harm low-to-moderate income 
occupants, especially those on a fixed income.

IV. Findings and Certifications

Executive Order 13563, Regulatory Review

    The President's Executive Order (EO) 13563, entitled ``Improving 
Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' was signed by the President on 
January 18, 2011, and published on January 21, 2011, at 76 FR 3821. 
This Executive Order requires executive agencies to analyze regulations 
that are ``outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively 
burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in 
accordance with what has been learned.'' Section 4 of the EO, entitled 
``Flexible Approaches,'' provides, in relevant part, that where 
relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives, and to 
the extent permitted by law, each agency shall identify and consider 
regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and 
freedom of choice for the public.
    HUD submits that the changes made by this rule are consistent with 
the directions of Executive Order 13563 as the rule extends refinancing 
to cooperatives, which increases affordable multifamily housing options 
under the Section 207 program. Refinancing a cooperative through FHA 
mortgage insurance promotes HUD's mission to increase the supply of 
affordable housing by assisting eligible cooperative projects to obtain 
refinancing to make necessary repairs and/or consolidate outstanding 
debt, thereby serving to preserve the affordable housing stock.

Regulatory Flexibility Act--Small Business

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility 
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking 
requirements, unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This final rule

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does not add or modify any economic costs imposed on participants in 
the FHA multifamily mortgage insurance programs. Rather, the rule 
eliminates a current regulatory barrier to program eligibility and 
expand participation in these programs. As discussed earlier in this 
preamble, section 223(f) of the NHA authorizes FHA mortgage financing 
for existing multifamily projects, irrespective of whether the project 
provides rental or cooperative housing. The rule revises the 
regulations governing eligibility for financing under section 223(f) to 
enable owners of multifamily cooperative housing projects to refinance 
their existing mortgage debt with FHA insurance. Accordingly, the 
undersigned certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Environmental Impact

    A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to the 
environment was made at the proposed rule stage, in accordance with HUD 
regulations at 24 CFR part 50, which implements section 102(2)(C) of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 
The FONSI remains applicable to this final rule and is available for 
public inspection between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays 
in the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Room 10276, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20410. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters 
building, please schedule an appointment to review the FONSI by calling 
the Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may access this 
number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency 
from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule 
either (1) imposes substantial direct compliance costs on state and 
local governments, and is not required by statute, or (2) the rule 
preempts state law, unless the agency meets the consultation and 
funding requirements of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule 
does not have federalism implications and does not impose substantial 
direct compliance costs on state and local governments or preempt state 
law within the meaning of the Executive Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1531-1538) (UMRA) establishes requirements for federal agencies to 
assess the effects of their regulatory actions on state, local, and 
tribal governments, and on the private sector. This rule does not 
impose any federal mandates on any state, local, or tribal governments, 
or on the private sector, within the meaning of the UMRA.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements for this rule have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned OMB 
control number 2502-0029. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information, unless the collection 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for the 
principal FHA mortgage insurance program is 14.155.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 200

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Equal employment 
opportunity, Fair housing, Housing standards, Lead poisoning, Loan 
programs--housing and community development, Mortgage insurance, 
Organization and functions (Government agencies), Penalties, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Social Security, Unemployment 
compensation, Wages.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, HUD amends 24 CFR part 
200 as follows:

PART 200--INTRODUCTION TO FHA PROGRAMS

0
1. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 200 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1703, 1709, and 1715b; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).


0
2. Revise Sec.  200.24 to read as follows:


Sec.  200.24  Existing projects.

    A mortgage financing the purchase or refinance of an existing 
rental housing project or refinance of the existing debt of an existing 
cooperative project under section 207 of the Act, or for refinancing 
the existing debt of an existing nursing home, intermediate care 
facility, assisted living facility, or board and care home, or any 
combination thereof, under section 232 of the Act, may be insured 
pursuant to provisions of section 223(f) of the Act and such terms and 
conditions established by HUD.

    Dated: July 15, 2014.
Carol J. Galante,
Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2014-17072 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P