HUD Secretary Steve Preston issued the following statement on the new housing package that is supposed to be signed by President Bush this week:

"This legislation is a mixed bag. The proposed legislation takes important steps to provide stability and confidence in the financial markets and in the institutions that support American's ability to gain access to affordable mortgages.

Yet,the bill ties our hands and denies us the proper tools to help more families. FHA has recently expanded its ability to refinance homeowners trapped in subprime adjustable rate mortgages. As we help more struggling families, FHA has implemented a fairer, more flexible pricing structure.

Unfortunately,this legislation would ban FHA's ability to charge differential pricing. Now, FHA will be required to increase prices on all customers or eliminate its refinancing program for subprime borrowers at a time when they need it the most."


Once the legislation is signed by President Bush, I will comment more on it -- but there will be many upcoming changes to the FHA program -- and not just the FHA Secure program!