Order Code RL34623
Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
Updated September 30, 2008
N. Eric Weiss, Darryl E. Getter, Oscar R. Gonzales, Mark Jickling,
Mark P. Keightley, and Edward Vincent Murphy
Government and Finance Division
Bruce E. Foote
Domestic Social Policy Division

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Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
Summary
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289, is likely to
affect most owner-occupied housing in the United States through a variety of
channels.
The act creates a new, stronger, unified regulator for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac,
and the Federal Home Loan Banks (the housing GSEs). As a result of various
provisions in the act, the secondary mortgage market is likely to be broadly affected.
For example, the Secretary of the Treasury is given (until December 31, 2009) the
authority to lend or invest in the housing GSEs on whatever terms the Secretary
determines to be appropriate. Starting in 2009, the maximum high cost conforming
loan limit is increased to 150% of the conforming loan limit; based on 2008 limits,
this would be $625,500. For the first time, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can go into
receivership. The GSEs were placed under conservatorship on September 7, 2008,
and Treasury used its new power to enter into a series of agreements to provide them
with financial support.
The act also modernizes many aspects of the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA). In high-cost areas, the maximum loan that the FHA can insure is identical
to the maximum mortgage amount that the housing GSEs can purchase. The
minimum downpayment on FHA-insured mortgages is increased from 3% to 3.5%,
seller-assisted downpayment assistance is prohibited, and there is a moratorium until
October 31, 2009, on the FHA’s implementation of risk-based insurance premiums.
HOPE for Homeowners authorizes the FHA to insure up to $300 billion in
mortgages that refinance homeowners who are unable to pay their current high
interest rate mortgages. As a condition of the borrower being eligible for the
program, the current lender must agree to write down the principal of the existing
mortgage to achieve a 90% loan-to-value ratio.
Other provisions lengthen from 90 days to 9 months the stay of foreclosure on
service members’ homes and provide additional support for disabled veterans with
special needs. The act appropriates $4 billion for state and local governments to
purchase and rehabilitate abandoned and foreclosed housing. This housing would be
sold or rented to low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
Tax provisions in the act include a refundable tax credit based on 10% of the
price of a home purchased by a first time homebuyer. The maximum tax credit is
$7,500 and the homebuyer pays back the credit over 15 years. This is roughly
equivalent to a price reduction to one-third of the amount of the credit ($2,500).
Homeowners who do not itemize on their tax returns can deduct state and local
property taxes up to $500 ($1,000 on joint returns).
This report will be updated.

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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
GSE Oversight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
HOPE for Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mortgage Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
FHA Modernization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Increased VA Guarantee Limits and Service Member Home Foreclosure . . 3
Redeveloping Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Assisting Disabled Veterans with Special Housing Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Housing-Related Tax Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Key Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Reform of the Government Sponsored Enterprises
(Division A, Title I-III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Title I, Subtitle A — Improvement of Safety and Soundness
Supervision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
General Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Treasury and Federal Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Capital Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Portfolio Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Federal Housing Finance Oversight Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Title I, Subtitle B — Improvement of Mission Supervision . . . . . . . . . 7
New Product Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Conforming Loan Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Housing Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Duty to Serve Underserved Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Housing Trust Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Title I, Subtitle C — Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Title I, Subtitle D — Enforcement Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Title I, Subtitle E — General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Title II — Federal Home Loan Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
FHLB Reorganization and Voluntary Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Community Financial Institution Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Refinancing Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Title III — Transfer of Functions, Personnel, and Property of
OFHEO and the FHFB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
HOPE for Homeowners (Division A, Title IV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Shared Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
HOPE Safe Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act (Division A, Title V) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
FHA Modernization Provisions (Division B, Title I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
FHA Premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Minimum Cash Downpayment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
FHA Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Increased Veterans Affairs Guarantee Limit and Mortgage Foreclosure
Protection for Service Members (Division B, Title III) . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Temporary Increase in Maximum Loan Guaranty Amount . . . . . . . . . 15
Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Protections for Service Members Relating to Mortgages and
Mortgage Foreclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Emergency Assistance for Redevelopment of Abandoned
and Foreclosed Homes (Division B, Title III) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Formula or Allocation Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Eligible Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Restrictions, Limitations, and Prohibitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Veterans Housing Matters (Division B, Title VI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Definition of Income for Assisted Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Housing Preservation (Division B, Title VIII) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Affordable Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Small PHA Paperwork Reduction Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Tax Provisions (Division C, Title I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
First-Time Home Buyer Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Additional Standard Deduction for Real Property for Nonitemizers . . 19
Homeowner Capital Gains Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Appendix A. Legislative History (110th Congress) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Appendix B. CRS Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix C. Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
List of Tables
Table 1. Housing Trust Fund Allocations, 2009-2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Table B1. CRS Housing Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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Housing and Economic Recovery
Act of 2008
Introduction1
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289, changes many
laws that affect both the housing and mortgage markets. Included in the act are
provisions to strengthen and to unify oversight of the housing government-sponsored
enterprises (GSEs — Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks).
The Treasury is authorized to lend or invest an unlimited amount of money in any of
the regulated entities in the event of financial or mortgage market emergencies.2
Other provisions address mortgage licensing, revise Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) operations, protect (for a limited time) service members against home
foreclosures, promote redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes, and assist
disabled veterans with special housing needs. The act also contains housing related
tax provisions. This report surveys the most important of these changes.
GSE Oversight
In recent years, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are congressionally
chartered stockholder-owned companies, have faced a series of accounting and
financial problems. Some of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs), which are
congressionally chartered member-owned companies, have also had financial
problems. Collectively, these problems led many in Congress to conclude that
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBs need a stronger regulator. P.L. 110-289
creates the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to be the new regulator for the
housing GSEs, replacing the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
(OFHEO) and the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB). The task of setting
mission goals is moved to FHFA from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD).3
P.L. 110-289 gives FHFA broad authority to regulate the housing GSEs. FHFA
is given the responsibility to review and to approve new types of mortgages. FHFA
was granted the authority to take over and reorganize an insolvent Fannie Mae or
1 Meredith Peterson, an information research specialist in the CRS Knowledge Services
Group, contributed to this report.
2 The legislation uses “regulated entity” to refer to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the
FHLBs. It uses “enterprise” to refer to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
3 The GSE provisions are in Division A, Titles I-III. CRS Report RL33940, Reforming the
Regulation of Government-Sponsored Enterprises in the 110th Congress, by Mark Jickling,
Edward Vincent Murphy, and N. Eric Weiss has more details on the GSE provisions.

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Freddie Mac and this authority was used on September 7 when the FHFA placed
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under conservatorship.4 The FHFA has greater
authority to set capital requirements for the housing GSEs. FHFA can now require
the GSEs to dispose of assets and limit their portfolio sizes.
FHFA also has broad regulatory powers over the FHLBs, and is required by law
to recognize the differences between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the FHLBs.
For example, both enterprises must continue to exist, whereas the 12 FHLBs can
merge, and FHFA can require FHLBs to merge. FHFA has all the powers of the
FHFB, which formerly regulated the FHLBs, including conservatorship and
receivership.
In the event of mortgage and financial market emergencies, P.L. 110-289 gives
the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to lend or invest as much money as
necessary to the regulated entities and to set the terms of the loan. This authority
expires December 31, 2009. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated
the expected federal budgetary costs at $25 billion based on a less than 50%
probability of Treasury having to use this authority before the authority expires at the
end of December 2009.5 Since Treasury has invoked this authority, CBO estimate
implies an expected cost of $50 billion or more. CBO estimated that there was
almost a 5% chance that the losses would total more than $100 billion. The act
authorizes the Federal Reserve and Treasury to consult with FHFA on safety and
soundness issues including use of the loan authority.
HOPE for Homeowners
Concerns over rising rates of delinquency, default, and foreclosure as well as
other mortgage market conditions prompted some members to seek a way to help
homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes. The act creates a voluntary
program with an authorization level of $300 billion in FHA-insured mortgages to
refinance mortgages of homeowners unable to pay their current mortgages.6
Homeowners who meet certain conditions can refinance into a FHA-insured
mortgage if the current lender(s) agrees to write down the principal of the current
loan to achieve a 90% loan-to-value ratio and to pay a 3% insurance premium. CBO
4 Among CRS’ reports on the GSEs under conservatorship are CRS Report RS22950,
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in Conservatorship, by Mark Jickling; CRS Report RL34657,
Financial Institution Insolvency: Federal Authority over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and
Depository Institutions, by David H. Carpenter and M. Maureen Murphy; and CRS Report
RL34661, Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Financial Problems: Frequently Asked
Questions, by N. Eric Weiss.
5 Letter from Peter R. Orszag, director, Congressional Budget Office, to John M. Spratt,
chairman, Budget Committee, House of Representatives, July 22, 2008.
6 Division A, Title IV. For further information, see CRS Report RL33879, Housing Issues
in the 110th Congress, by Libby Perl et al.

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CRS-3
projects that 400,000 homeowners with $68 billion in new mortgages will take
advantage of this program.7
Mortgage Licensing
Weak enforcement oversight of mortgage originators in some states and the lack
of such laws in other states has sometimes made it difficult to take legal action
against those who allegedly violated various state and federal laws. Moreover, it has
made it difficult for mortgage originators to investigate fully the background of
individuals that they are considering hiring. The act seeks to create uniformity in
mortgage originator licensing and registration. It will result in the creation of a
national database of mortgage originators. The act encourages states to develop a
system to license and register anyone who originates a home mortgage.8 HUD is to
create a backup system, which would apply in states that fail to meet the
requirements of this title.
FHA Modernization
Earlier in the 110th Congress, the FHA asked for congressional approval to
modernize its lending practices to allow it to compete with private sector lenders.
The FHA has said that these changes would allow it to better serve homeowners and
to help more renters become homeowners. The act increases FHA loan limits,
prohibits seller-funded downpayment assistance with FHA-insured loans, raises the
loan limit on home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs) to the conforming and
high cost loan limits, increases the minimum downpayment on FHA mortgages from
3% to 3.5%, and prohibits HUD from implementing risk-based insurance premiums.9
The new FHA loan limit in high-cost areas is the lesser of 115% of the local
area median home price or 150% of the GSE conforming loan limit ($417,000 x
150% = $625,500 based on the 2008 conforming loan limit).
Increased VA Guarantee Limits and
Service Member Home Foreclosure
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, P.L. 110-185, created a temporary new
high-cost exception to the conforming loan limit and increased the maximum size
loan that the FHA can insure. It did not change the guarantee limit for the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of
2008, P.L. 110-289, increases the maximum mortgage that the VA can guarantee to
7 Congressional Budget Office, Cost Estimate: Federal Housing Finance Regulatory
Reform Act of 2008, June 2, 2008, pp. 6-11.
8 Division A, Title V.
9 Division B, Title I. For additional information see CRS Report RS22662, H.R. 1852 and
Revisiting the FHA Premium Pricing Structure: Proposed Legislation in the 110th Congress,
by Darryl E. Getter; CRS Report RS22934, Treatment of Seller-Funded Downpayment
Assistance in FHA-Insured Home Loans, by Bruce E. Foote; and CRS Report RS20530,
FHA Loan Insurance Program: An Overview, by Bruce E. Foote and Meredith Peterson.

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CRS-4
the FHA’s maximum until December 31, 2008. P.L. 110-289 also requires the
Department of Defense to develop a counseling program for service members who
are likely to face home foreclosure.10 It increases the current stay of foreclosure for
service members from 90 days to 9 months from the end of active duty.
Redeveloping Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes
Some Members of Congress and housing advocates have been concerned that
high concentrations of foreclosed and abandoned homes can have an adverse impact
on neighborhoods. P.L. 110-289 appropriates $4 billion in community development
block grants (CDBG) to state and local governments for the redevelopment of
abandoned and foreclosed homes.11 HUD is to develop an allocation formula within
60 days of enactment that considers the percentage of foreclosed homes, the
percentage of homes with subprime mortgages, and the percentage of loans in default
or delinquent. Participating governments must purchase the homes at a discount
from current market appraised value.
Assisting Disabled Veterans with Special Housing Needs
Under prior law, the VA Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans
program made grants to seriously injured veterans to construct or modify housing to
accommodate their disabilities.12 Veterans were eligible for up to $50,000 in
assistance if they (1) had lost the use of both lower extremities, (2) were blind and
had lost the use of one lower extremity, (3) had lost the use of one lower extremity
together with either organic disease or the loss of one upper extremity, or (4) had lost
the use of both upper extremities at or above the elbows. Veterans were eligible for
up to $10,000 in assistance if they (1) were blind, or (2) had lost the use of both
hands.
P.L. 110-289 makes active duty members of the Armed Forces, as well as
veterans, eligible for the program. In addition, the law makes a new disability
category — individuals with severe burn injuries — eligible for assistance. It raises
the amounts for which disabled individuals are eligible to $60,000 and $12,000,
depending on the type of disability. The act also authorizes the Defense Department
to pay for a wider range of improvements and structural changes to the homes of
service members with permanent disabilities.
Housing-Related Tax Provisions
Some members of Congress have been concerned that the turmoil in the housing
and financial markets has made it more difficult for renters to purchase their first
homes and that increasing property taxes are hurting homeowners who do not
10 Division B, Title II.
11 Division B, Title III. For additional information on this aspect, see CRS Report RS22919,
Community Development Block Grants: Legislative Proposals to Assist Communities
Affected by Home Foreclosures, by Eugene Boyd and Oscar R. Gonzales.
12 Division B, Title V.

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CRS-5
itemize. P.L. 110-289 authorizes a refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for first-time
homebuyers.13 The act allows homeowners who do not itemize on their tax returns
to deduct up to $500 in property taxes (up to $1,000 for joint filers). It places
restrictions on the homeowner capital gains exclusion on houses originally purchased
as second homes.
Key Provisions
The remainder of this report summarizes key provisions of the act. It does not
provide exhaustive coverage of the legislation. The legislative history of H.R. 3221
is in Appendix A. A list of CRS experts who assisted with this report is in
Appendix B, and Appendix C contains a list of acronyms used in this report.
Reform of the Government Sponsored Enterprises
(Division A, Title I-III)
This division is entitled the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of
2008. (Section 1001)
Title I, Subtitle A — Improvement of Safety and
Soundness Supervision.
The act creates the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) as an independent
federal agency with general supervisory and regulatory authority over Fannie Mae,
Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank system. (Section 1101)
General Authority. FHFA is headed by a director, appointed by the President,
with advice and consent of the Senate, for a five-year term. The director is to oversee
the operations of each regulated entity and require them to operate in a safe and
sound manner to foster a liquid, efficient, competitive, and resilient national housing
finance market to minimize the cost of housing finance (including for housing for
low- and moderate-income families). FHFA is authorized to issue any regulations,
guidelines, or orders that are necessary to carry out the authorizing statutes.
The FHFA reviews and can reject acquisition or transfer of a controlling interest
in a regulated entity. It can administer conservatorship or receivership through
litigation without Department of Justice involvement. FHFA makes certain that the
regulated entities operate in the public interest and that the entities remain adequately
capitalized.
13 Division C, Title I. For additional information on housing and taxation, see CRS Report
RS22389, An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, by Mark
P. Keightley; CRS Report RS22917, The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program: The
Fixed Subsidy and Variable Rate, by Mark P. Keightley; CRS Report RL32978, The
Exclusion of Capital Gains for Owner-Occupied Housing, by Jane G. Gravelle and Pamela
J. Jackson; and CRS Report RS22841, Mortgage Revenue Bonds: Analysis of Sections 3021
and 3022 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, by Mark P. Keightley and
Erika Lunder.

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CRS-6
FHFA is to establish standards for each regulated entity for internal controls,
audits, and risk management. (Sections 1101, 1102, 1107, and 1108)
The prohibition (in prior law) against excessive executive compensation is
enhanced by permitting FHFA to take into account wrongdoing on the part of the
executive, and to hold pay in escrow while a determination is made. (Sections 1113
and 1114)
Treasury and Federal Reserve. In the event of a financial or mortgage
market emergency, the Treasury is given the authority to stabilize the housing finance
system by purchasing obligations and securities of the housing GSEs in unlimited
amounts under terms and conditions determined by Treasury. This authority expires
December 31, 2009. (Section 1117)
FHFA is to confer with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
about the risks posed to the financial system by the housing GSEs. FHFA must
consult with the Chairman of the Board of Governors before placing Fannie Mae or
Freddie Mac in receivership or conservatorship. This requirement expires December
31, 2009. (Section 1118)
Capital Requirements. FHFA is to establish risk-based and minimum
capital requirements for the enterprises to ensure safe and sound operation and
maintenance of sufficient capital and reserves to support risk exposure. (Sections
1110 and 1111)
Portfolio Limits. FHFA is to promulgate regulations to govern the portfolio
holdings of the enterprises, to ensure that the holdings are backed by sufficient
capital, and are consistent with the mission and the safe and sound operations of the
enterprises. These criteria shall take into consideration the ability of the enterprises
to provide a liquid secondary market through securitization activities and their
portfolio holdings in relation to the overall mortgage market. FHFA may order an
enterprise to dispose of or acquire any asset. (Section 1109)
If FHFA finds that a regulated entity has failed to meet any prudential standard,
the entity must submit a corrective plan within 30 days, and FHFA may prohibit any
increase in total assets of the entity, require an increase in regulatory capital, or take
other actions until the deficiency is corrected. FHFA shall take one or more of these
actions if the entity fails to meet prescribed standards, if the deficiency is not
corrected, and if the entity underwent extraordinary growth in the 18 months prior to
the date when it first failed to meet the standard. (Section 1108)
Federal Housing Finance Oversight Board. The act creates the Federal
Housing Finance Oversight Board to advise the Director on overall strategies and
policies. Board members are the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD), the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), and the FHFA Director, who chairs the Board. (Section 1103)
Funding. The FHFA is funded by assessments collected from the enterprises.
Assessments collected from the Federal Home Loan Banks are to be used only for
their supervision. (Section 1106)

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CRS-7
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. Each regulated entity shall
create an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion to ensure the inclusion and
utilization of minorities and women in all levels of business activities. (Section
1116)
Title I, Subtitle B — Improvement of Mission Supervision.
New Product Approval. HUD’s authority for new product approval and
housing goals is transferred to the FHFA. New products must be consistent with the
enterprise’s charter, be in the public interest, and be consistent with the safety and
soundness of the enterprise and the mortgage finance system. Requests for new
product approval are published in the Federal Register with a 30-day public
comment period. The request must be approved or denied within 30 days after the
close of the comment period. Temporary approval may be given without public
comment under exigent circumstances. (Sections 1121, 1122, and 1123)
Conforming Loan Limit. The conforming loan limit will increase to reflect
the annual change in a housing price index maintained by FHFA. The limit cannot
decline; decreases are “banked” and used against later increases. In high-cost
housing areas, defined as areas where the median home price exceeds the conforming
loan limit, the limit is increased to the lesser of 115% of area median or 150% of the
national conforming loan limit. For example, using 2008’s conforming loan limit of
$417,000, the maximum high-cost limit would be $625,500. According to the
legislation, the Sense of Congress is that loans above the national conforming loan
should not be held in a GSE’s portfolio, but should be securitized.14 (Section 1124)
Housing Goals. The authority to establish and monitor housing goals for the
enterprises is moved to the FHFA from HUD. There are four single-family housing
goals and one multifamily housing goal. In addition, the enterprises are required to
provide FHFA with sufficient information to determine if minorities are charged a
different interest rate than nonminorities.
FHFA is to set annual goals for each enterprise’s purchase of conventional,
conforming, single-family, owner-occupied, purchase money mortgages financing
housing for (1) low-income families, (2) very low-income families, and (3) families
that reside in low-income areas. A fourth goal is to be created for the purchase of
refinance mortgages by low-income families.
Low-income areas are census tracts or block numbering areas in which the
median income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, and includes
families having incomes not greater than 100% of the area median income who reside
in minority census tracts.
14 CRS Report RL34236, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Proposals to Regulate Their
Mortgage Portfolio Size in the 110th Congress, by N. Eric Weiss, analyzes the systemic risks
that might be caused by the GSEs’ retained mortgage portfolios and earlier legislative
proposals.

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CRS-8
Very low-income is defined for owner-occupied units as income not in excess
of 50% of area median income; and for rental units, it is income not in excess of 50%
of area median income, adjusted for family size.
Extremely low-income owner-occupied units are owned by families with
incomes not in excess of 30% of the area median income, or rented by families
whose income is not in excess of 30% of the area median income, with adjustments
for family size.
There is an annual multifamily special affordable housing goal for mortgages on
multifamily housing that is affordable to low-income families. There is a subgoal for
units affordable to very low-income families. Units financed with state housing
finance agency bonds will count. Within the multifamily special affordable housing
goal, FHFA is to establish additional requirements for the smaller multifamily
housing projects.
A regulated entity may petition the Director to reduce the level of any goal.
(Sections 1128, 1129, and 1134)
If it appears that an enterprise will not meet any housing goal and that the goal
is feasible, FHFA has a number of tools at its disposal: it can require a corrective
plan from the enterprise, it can issue a cease and desist order, impose civil fines, or
prohibit any new products until the enterprise complies. (Sections 1129 and 1130)
Duty to Serve Underserved Markets. The act explicitly states that the
enterprises are obligated to serve underserved markets as long as this provides a
reasonable economic return (that may be less than the return earned on other
activities). The enterprises are also obligated to improve the liquidity of, and the
distribution of capital available for, mortgage financing for underserved markets.
Underserved markets are manufactured housing purchased by very low-, low-, and
moderate-income families, affordable housing preservation, and rural housing for
very low-, low-, and moderate-income families and for any other market that FHFA
determines to be underserved. In 2009, the 2008 housing goals previously set for
HUD apply, unless FHFA modifies them.
Housing Trust Fund. A Housing Trust Fund is created to increase housing
opportunities among very low-income families and families in low-income areas.
Grants can be used for (1) the production, preservation, and rehabilitation of rental
housing for the benefit of extremely and very low-income families, and (2) the
production, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing for homeownership (including
such forms as downpayment assistance, closing cost assistance, and assistance for
interest-rate buy-downs) for extremely and very low-income first-time home buyers.
Grants cannot be used for political activities, advocacy, lobbying, counseling
services, travel expenses or preparing or providing advice on tax returns. FHFA shall
issue regulations that grant amounts may not be used for administrative, outreach, or
other costs of the grantee or any recipient of such grant amounts, except that grant
amounts may be used for administrative costs of the grantee of carrying out the
program required under this section.

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CRS-9
Each enterprise is to contribute to the Housing Trust Fund 4.2 basis points
(0.042%) of the unpaid principal balances of its total new business purchases. If this
had been in effect in calendar year 2007 when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
purchased $1.2 trillion in mortgages, the enterprises would have contributed $500.8
million to the trust.15 The contributions can be suspended if they would cause severe
financial problems for an enterprise.
Each year, 25% of the housing trust fund goes to support a reserve fund for
HOPE for Homeowners bonds. During the first three years, a decreasing percentage
(100%, 50%, 25%) of the other 75% will go for the HOPE program. Of this other
75% (as adjusted in the first three years), 65% goes to the Housing Trust Fund; 35%
goes to a Capital Magnet Fund to provide competitively awarded grants to support
affordable housing for primarily extremely low-, very low-, and low-income families.
Table 1 shows how these percentages work out.
Table 1. Housing Trust Fund Allocations, 2009-2012
HOPE Bond
Capital
HOPE
Housing
Year
Reserve
Magnet
Total
Program
Trust Fund
Fund
Fund
75% (100%
2009
25%
0%
0%
100%
of 75%)
37.50%
24.375%
13.125%
2010
25%
(50% of
(65% of
(35% of
100%
75%)
37.50%)
37.50%)
18.75%
36.56%
19.69 (35%
2011
25%
(25% of
(65% of
100%
of 56.25%)
75%)
56.25%)
48.75%
26.25%
2012
25%
0%
(65% of
(35% of
100%
75%)
75%)
Source: Section 1131 and CRS calculations.
HUD is to create a formula to distribute the fund’s money to states and Indian
tribes, who must establish and publish their own plans for distributing grants each
year. The minimum allocation for states and the District of Columbia is $3 million.
If future legislation creates another affordable housing trust fund used only for
affordable rental and owner-occupied housing, this fund will be merged into the new
fund. (Section 1131)
15 Mortgage purchases are reported in Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, 2008
Report to Congress, p. 111.

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CRS-10
Title I, Subtitle C — Capital.
FHFA is to set capital classification standards for the FHLB, Fannie Mae, and
Freddie Mac that reflect the differences in operations between the banks and the
enterprises. (Section 1142)
FHFA may downgrade the capital classification of a regulated entity (1) whose
conduct could rapidly deplete core or total capital, or (in the case of an enterprise)
whose mortgage assets have declined significantly in value, (2) which is determined
(after notice and opportunity for a hearing) to be in an unsafe or unsound condition,
or (3) which is engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice.16
No growth in total assets is permitted for an undercapitalized GSE, unless (1)
FHFA has accepted the GSE’s capital restoration plan, (2) an increase in assets is
consistent with the plan, and (3) the ratio of both total capital to assets and tangible
equity to assets is increasing. An undercapitalized entity is subject to heightened
scrutiny and supervision.
If a regulated entity is significantly undercapitalized, FHFA must take one or
more of the following actions: new election of Directors, dismissal of Directors
and/or executives, and hiring of qualified executive officers, or other actions.
Without prior written approval, executives of a significantly undercapitalized
regulated entity may not receive bonuses or pay raises. In addition, FHFA may
appoint a receiver or conservator for several specified causes related to financial
difficulty and/or violations of law or regulation.
Mandatory receivership requires FHFA to appoint itself as the receiver if a
regulated entity’s assets are (and have been for 60 days) less than its obligations to
its creditors, or if the regulated entity has (for 60 days) not been generally paying its
debts as they come due. (Sections 1142 and 1143)
Title I, Subtitle D — Enforcement Authority.
FHFA may issue subpoenas and cease-and-desist orders against a regulated
entity, or a regulated entity-affiliated party (such as corporate officers), for safety and
soundness reasons, but not for failure to comply with housing goals. FHFA may
impose fines ranging from $10,000 to $2 million per day. In certain extreme cases,
FHFA may suspend or remove regulated entity-affiliated parties and may also issue
industry-wide suspensions; these actions may be appealed to the courts. Criminal
penalties apply to anyone who participates, directly or indirectly, in the affairs of a
regulated entity while it is under suspension or order of removal.
FHFA may apply to U.S. District Court for an injunction to enforce cease and
desist orders, or any other order. (Sections 1151, 1152, 1153, 1155, 1156, and 1158)
16 Capital classifications are adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly
undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. (Sec. 1142)

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CRS-11
Title I, Subtitle E — General Provisions.
The act eliminates the five presidentially appointed members of the boards of
directors of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBs and reduces the size of their
boards from 18 to 13, or such number as FHFA establishes. (Sections 1162 and
1202)
Title II — Federal Home Loan Banks.
While FHFA is given regulatory oversight of all the housing GSEs, it is directed
to take into account differences between the enterprises and the FHLBs in taking
supervisory or enforcement actions. (Section 1201)
Board of Directors. Each FHLB will be managed by a board of 13 directors,
or other number as FHFA determines. The President no longer appoints members to
the boards. The majority of each board must be officers of member banks, and at
least two-fifths of board members must be independent directors. Directors are
elected by the member banks. (Section 1202)
FHLB Reorganization and Voluntary Merger. FHLBs may merge with
other FHLBs with the approval of FHFA. The number of FHLB districts may be
reduced to fewer than eight as a result of voluntary mergers or liquidation of a bank;
prior to the act, the minimum number of FHLB districts was eight. (Sections 1209
and 1210)
SEC. FHLBs are exempt from some SEC reporting regulations, including
ownership of capital stock in the FHLB, tender offers related to FHLB capital stock,
and reporting related party transactions in the FHLB system. Shares of FHLB capital
stock are defined as “exempted securities” for the purposes of defining a government
securities broker or a government securities dealer. Nevertheless, the FHFBs have
individually agreed to file reports with the SEC. (Section 1208)
Community Financial Institution Members. Community Financial
Institution members must have total assets of $1 billion. The earlier minimum was
$500 million. (Section 1211)
Refinancing Authority. FHLBs are given authority to refinance mortgages
on primary residences of families at or below 80% of area median income. (Section
1218)
Title III — Transfer of Functions, Personnel, and Property of OFHEO
and the FHFB.
OFHEO and FHFB are abolished one year after enactment. HUD’s authority to
set housing goals is transferred to FHFA upon enactment. Employees are given
lateral transfers to FHFA. (Sections 1133, 1301, and 1311-1314)

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CRS-12
HOPE for Homeowners (Division A, Title IV)
This title, also called the “HOPE for Homeowners Act of 2008,” creates a
program to help financially distressed homeowners to refinance into more affordable
FHA-insured mortgages. HOPE is a voluntary program that requires borrowers and
current lenders to take certain actions.
To be eligible for the HOPE program, borrowers must provide two years of tax
returns and certify that
! they are not intentionally defaulting;
! as of March 31, 2008, their debt-to-income ratio was greater than
31%, or as Board determines;
! this is their primary residence, and that it is a single-family home (1-
4 units); and
! they have not been convicted of mortgage fraud.
The current lender(s) must agree to certain conditions:
! To pay a 3% one-time insurance fee to FHA;
! To write down the mortgage to achieve a 90% loan-to-value ratio, if
necessary;
! To waive prepayment penalties on the existing mortgage; and
! To release all existing claims, such as second mortgages. HUD may
facilitate coordination with subordinate lien holders.
The new loans carry certain restrictions:
! The new loan may not exceed 90% of current appraised value of the
property;
! The maximum loan amount is 132% of the Freddie Mac limit (in
2007, $417,000 x 132% = $550,440); (Section 1402)
! Second liens will not be allowed for the first five years, except as
permitted by regulation; and
! The interest rate must be fixed for the life of the loan, which cannot
exceed 30 years.
When the mortgage is issued, a single insurance premium of 3% from proceeds
to mortgage holder is charged. There are annual insurance premiums of 1.5%.
Shared Appreciation. When an owner sells or refinances a mortgage, HOPE
and the borrower share any equity created as a direct result of such sale or refinance:
! Less than 1 Year, HOPE gets 100%;
! Year 1-2, HOPE gets 90%;
! Year 2-3, HOPE gets 80%;
! Year 3-4, HOPE gets 70%;
! Year 4-5, HOPE gets 60%; and
! Year 5+, HOPE gets 50%.

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CRS-13
When a property is sold, the program and borrower shall each get 50% of any
appreciation in the appraised value that occurs after the time that the mortgage was
insured.
Treasury may issue up to $300 billion in bonds to finance these mortgages, and
Ginnie Mae is authorized to package them into mortgage-backed securities for sale
in the secondary market.
Mortgages in this program may be issued from October 1, 2008, to September
20, 2011. (Section 1402)
HOPE Safe Harbor. The act creates a safe harbor for loan modifications that
enable homeowners to refinance in the HOPE program. Absent provisions to the
contrary, loan servicers have a duty to maximize total funds to the loan pool, not a
duty to individual investors. (Section 1403)
Truth in Lending Act (TILA). TILA is amended in several ways. Section
1403 of the act provides legal protections to certain mortgage servicers that provide
loan modifications as a part of the Hope for Homeowners program.17 Additionally,
Division B — Foreclosure Prevention expands the definition of mortgages that are
subject to Truth in Lending disclosures, while also enhancing the disclosure
requirements for those mortgages. The main impetus of these enhanced disclosures
relates to adjustable interest rates and how they may affect monthly payments. The
bill also increases penalties for certain TILA violations.
S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act (Division A, Title V)
This title, also known as Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing
Act of 2008 or S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, provides for state or
federal licensing or registration of anyone originating a home mortgage. States,
acting through the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American
Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, are to establish a nationwide
mortgage licensing and registry system for residential mortgage loan originators.
Within one year of enactment, the federal banking agencies, through the Federal
Financial Institutions Examination Council and the Farm Credit Administration, are
to develop a system for registering employees of depository institutions and their
subsidiaries as registered loan originators. (Section 1507)
HUD is to create a backup system for loan originators in states that do not
implement a licensing and registration system. If at any time HUD determines that
the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry is failing to meet the
requirements of the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, HUD is directed to establish
and maintain such a system.
17 David Carpenter, legislative attorney in the American Law Division, wrote this section.

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CRS-14
FHA Modernization Provisions (Division B, Title I)
This title is also called FHA Modernization Act of 2008. The FHA high cost
area loan limit is increased to the lesser of 115% of the median price of a
single-family residence, as determined by the HUD Secretary, or 150% of the Freddie
Mac conforming loan limit. In 2008, this would have been $625,500 (150% of the
conforming loan limit, $417,000). The FHA loan obligation is not to exceed 100%
of the appraised value of the property. These limits are effective upon expiration of
the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (January 1, 2009). (Section 2112)
FHA Premiums. The law increases the FHA upfront mortgage insurance
premium from 2.5% to 3% of the mortgage amount, and for a borrower that has
received homeownership counseling, the upfront mortgage insurance premium is
increased from 2% to 2.75% of the mortgage amount. The act places a 12-month
moratorium on FHA’s planned implementation of risk-based premiums as set forth
in a notice published in the Federal Register on September 20, 2007. (Section 2133)
Minimum Cash Downpayment. To obtain an FHA-insured loan, prior law
required borrowers to contribute at least 3% in cash or its equivalent to the cost of
acquiring the property. The act increases the cash requirement to 3.5%. Loans from
family members are considered as cash for this purpose. If the borrowed amount is
secured by a lien (i.e., a second mortgage), the lien must be subordinate to the
mortgage. The sum of the lien and the mortgage may not exceed 100% of the
appraised value of the property. Prohibited sources of funding for the required funds
include (1) the seller, (2) any entity that financially benefits from the transaction, or
(3) any third party that is directly or indirectly reimbursed by the parties in (1) or (2).
(Section 2113)
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs). The act removes the
limit on the aggregate number of HECMs that may be originated. It establishes a
HECM loan limit equal to the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit or the high cost
loan limit and requires that the borrower must receive counseling by an independent
third party that is not associated with, or compensated by, the party that is involved
in funding, originating, or servicing the mortgage; or the sale of annuities,
investments or other financial or insurance products. (Section 2122)
Origination fees are limited to 2% of the first $200,000 of the maximum claim
amount, plus 1% of the claim amount in excess of $200,000, but may not exceed
$6,000. This maximum origination fee may be adjusted in increments of $500
whenever the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index would produce a
number that exceeds $500 when applied to the current maximum origination fee.
(Section 2122)
Lenders cannot require borrowers to purchase insurance, an annuity, or other
product as a condition of eligibility of for a HECM. (Section 2122)
Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. The act rewrites the section of
law governing the MMI fund to (1) limit loan commitments to the amount specified
in appropriations acts for each fiscal year; (2) establish that HUD has the fiduciary
responsibility to ensure that the MMI fund remains financially sound; (3) require an

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CRS-15
annual independent actuarial study of the fund; (4) require quarterly reports to
Congress; (5) require the adjustment of insurance premiums when needed; (6)
establish operational goals for the Fund; and (7) provide that the Homeownership
Voucher program and the home equity conversion program become obligations of
the MMI Fund instead of the General Insurance Fund. (Section 2118)
FHA Improvements. The act authorizes $25 million in each year from
FY2009 until FY2013 to improve the technology, processes, program performance,
elimination of fraud and staffing at FHA. (Section 2126)
Increased Veterans Affairs Guarantee Limit and
Mortgage Foreclosure Protection for Service Members
(Division B, Title III)

Temporary Increase in Maximum Loan Guaranty Amount. The VA
guarantees mortgage payments by a veteran to the lender in case of borrower default.
Prior to the act, the maximum guaranty was 25% of the Freddie Mac conforming loan
limit. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 increased the Freddie Mac conforming
loan limits through December 31, 2008, to the higher of the 2008 conforming loan
limits, or 125% of the median home price for the area in which the property is
located, but in no case could the loan limit exceed 175% of the Freddie Mac limit.
It was later discovered that these increased limits did not apply to home loans
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs because of the way the language
of the act was drafted. The VA guarantee is determined by the “permanent”
conforming loan limits. The act provides that through December 31, 2008, the
maximum VA guaranty amount is 25% of the Freddie Mac loan limit as increased
by the Economic Stimulus Act. (Section 2201)
Counseling. The Department of Defense is directed to develop and implement
mortgage foreclosure counseling for members of the Armed Forces returning from
active duty abroad. (Section 2202)
Protections for Service Members Relating to Mortgages and
Mortgage Foreclosures. The act prevents lenders from foreclosing on a
veteran’s home within nine months after the end of military service. Similarly, any
proceedings on the home or property of a service member can be stayed for nine
months after the end of military service. The interest rate on a mortgage created
before entering military service can be no higher than 6% during the term of military
service and one year thereafter. (Section 2203)
The provisions of this title are effective immediately and expire on December
31, 2010. (Section 2204)

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CRS-16
Emergency Assistance for Redevelopment of Abandoned
and Foreclosed Homes (Division B, Title III)
The act appropriates $4.1 billion for assistance to state and local governments
to redevelop abandoned and foreclosed homes.18 Of this amount, $3.92 billion is
supplemental assistance to state and local governments, as defined below.19 HUD
administers the program as part of the Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) program.20 An additional $180 million is appropriated for counseling
intermediaries, with $30 million for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation,
for a total appropriation of $4.1 billion.
By October 1, 2008—60 days from enactment of the law—HUD must develop
a formula to distribute the funds to state and local governments based on
! the number and percentage of foreclosed homes in each state or
locality;
! the number and percentage of subprime mortgages in each state or
locality; and
! the number and percentage of homes in default or delinquency in
each state or locality. (Section 2301)
Funds must be distributed to state and local governments by November 1, 2008, 30
days after development of the formula. (Section 2305)
Formula or Allocation Elements. Each state and local government
receiving funds is required to allocate funds within 18 months of receipt of the funds
and to give priority consideration to areas and metropolitan cities with
! the greatest percentage of home foreclosures;
! the highest percentage of subprime loans; and
! the greatest likelihood of facing a significant rise in the number of
home foreclosures.
Although the legislation identifies the factors to be used by HUD to develop a
formula, it does not specify an actual formula other than requiring a minimum
allocation for each state of 0.5%, $19 million. (Section 2302)
18 Oscar R. Gonzales, analyst in Economic Development Policy, wrote this section.
19 See Section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.
5302).
20 Section. 2301, sub-part E stipulates: “Except as otherwise provided by this section,
amounts appropriated, revenues generated, or amounts otherwise made available to States
and units of general local government under this section shall be treated as though such
funds were community development block grant funds under title I of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).”

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CRS-17
Eligible Activities. State and local governments can use funds to
! create financial instruments to finance the purchase and
redevelopment of foreclosed homes and residential properties;
! purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes and residential properties
for sale, rent, or redevelopment;
! establish land banks for foreclosed homes; and
! demolish blighted structures. (Section 2301)
Restrictions, Limitations, and Prohibitions. The purchase price of a
home or residential property must be less than the home’s current appraised market
value. The discounted value should be significant enough to ensure that when the
home is sold by the state or local government the purchaser (homebuyer) will pay
below market value for the home or property. Further, when a foreclosed home or
property is to be purchased as a primary residence by an eligible homebuyer, the
resale price cannot exceed the cost the state or local government paid to acquire and
redevelop or rehabilitate the property. (Section 2301)
During the first five years of the act, a community or state must reinvest all
profits in additional sales, rentals, redevelopment, and rehabilitation of foreclosed
homes and properties. After the five-year period, all profits are to be deposited in the
U.S. Treasury unless HUD approves a request to allow a community or state to
continue to use funds to finance activities eligible for assistance under the act. Other
provisions of the bill subject funds and revenues generated by activities under this act
to the same requirements as funds appropriated under the regular CDBG program.
However, HUD may issue alternatives to CDBG requirements, except in the areas
of fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and environmental review, for
the sole purpose of expediting the use of funds under the act.
In addition, the legislation
! prohibits funds from being used in economic development projects
involving the use of eminent domain; (Section 2303)
! limits the income of individuals and families who may benefit from
assistance provided by the act to those whose incomes do not exceed
120% of the area’s median income; (Section 2301)
! requires a state and local government to certify that at least 25% of
the amount allocated by the bill will be used to purchase and
redevelop housing for individuals and families whose incomes do
not exceed 50% of the area’s median income; (Section 2301) and
! requires that each state receives a minimum allocation of 0.5% of the
amount appropriated. (Section 2302)
Veterans Housing Matters (Division B, Title VI)21
The act authorizes VA to furnish home improvements and structural alterations
for service members hospitalized or receiving outpatient care, medical services, or
21 Elizabeth Perl, analyst in housing policy, contributed this section.

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CRS-18
treatment, and for service members likely to be discharged or released from service
due to a total and permanent injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty.
(Section 2601)
The act amends existing law to allow service members on active duty, as well
as veterans (who are currently eligible), to qualify for home improvements pursuant
to the Specially Adapted Housing program for veterans with severe disabilities. The
act adds severe burn injuries to the current categories of disabilities that qualify for
assistance to modify homes to accommodate disabilities.
Grants for veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain specially
adapted homes are increased to a maximum of $60,000 from $50,000. These grants
provide “wheelchair” homes to veterans with loss, or loss of use of the upper or
lower extremities and who need braces, canes, crutches or wheelchairs for
locomotion.
Maximum grants for veterans whose service-connected disabilities include
blindness in both eyes or loss, or loss of use, of both hands to make special housing
adaptations are increased to $12,000 from $10,000. VA is to increase both of these
maximum grant amounts annually based on the cost of construction.
Definition of Income for Assisted Housing. The act excludes lump sum
disability payments to veterans from the definition of income for the Section 8 and
public housing programs. (Section 2608)
Housing Preservation (Division B, Title VIII)22
Affordable Housing. The act has provisions that apply to certain affordable
housing projects. Specifically, the act
! makes certain provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L.
109-171) relating to HUD’s ability to provide below-market sales of
foreclosed properties not applicable to a property in Michigan
(Section 2801);
! makes a multifamily housing property in Massachusetts eligible for
Section 8 enhanced voucher assistance (Section 2802);
! Makes a multifamily housing property in California eligible for
Section 8 voucher assistance and directs that the property be
provided with such assistance (Section 2805);
! permits the transfer of rental assistance contracts, use restrictions,
and debt from two properties in Ohio to other properties in Ohio, at
the request of the owners (Section 2803);
! strikes a provision in public housing law authorizing a set-aside of
funds for disaster recovery (Section 2804);
! allows grantees funded through HUD’s Shelter Plus Care program
to enter into 15 year contracts with building owners or lessors of
22 Maggie McCarty, specialist in housing policy, contributed this section.

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CRS-19
permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals (Section
2835); and
! permits HUD to convert a rental assistance payment contract to a
Section 8 project-based rental assistance contract for a multifamily
housing property in New York. This provision is in Division A,
Title VI (Section 1603).
Small PHA Paperwork Reduction Act. The act amends the public housing
authority (PHA) annual plan requirement for certain small PHAs. It includes
language clarifying that exempted PHAs are still required to file certain civil rights
certifications, hold public hearings and supply information from such hearings, and
convene resident advisory boards. (Section 2701-2702)
Tax Provisions (Division C, Title I)
This title may be cited as the Housing Tax Credit Coordination Act of 2008.
First-Time Home Buyer Credit. First time home buyers of a primary
residence are eligible for a refundable, repayable tax credit of 10% of purchase price,
up to $7,500. This is the equivalent of an interest-free loan and also is equivalent to
reducing the purchase price of the home by an estimated one-half to one-third of the
credit amount.23 The credit applies to residences purchased on or after April 9, 2008
and before July 1, 2009, in taxable years ending on or after such date. (Section 3011)
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The act increases the 2008 and
2009 per capita credit allocation to states by $0.20 above 2008’s $2.00 per capita, and
also increases the minimum state credit allocation by 10%. The LIHTC is used to
subsidize new or substantially rehabilitated housing that low-income families can
afford. The act changes the LIHTC rate for non-federally subsidized new buildings
to not less than 9%. The LIHTC credit rate has varied monthly between 7.69% and
9.27% since the program was first introduced. The LIHTC rate for projects placed
in service in August 2008 is 7.94%. State housing credit agencies may treat a
building as in a difficult to develop area in order to ensure the project’s viability.
(Section 3003)
Additional Standard Deduction for Real Property for Nonitemizers.
This provision allows nonitemizers to take an additional standard deduction for state
and local property taxes not to exceed $500 (or $1000 on joint returns) in tax year
2008. There is no restriction on jurisdictions that increase property taxes. (Section
3012)
Homeowner Capital Gains Exclusion. This section of the act, actually
included as a revenue raiser, reduces the ability of a homeowner to exclude capital
23 This is based on the net present value of the tax credit at a discount (mortgage) rate of
6.5%. The credit is claimed by the first time homebuyer the year after the house is
purchased. This assumes that the home is kept for 15 years. If the homebuyer moves
sooner, the net present value of the credit declines. For example, if the homebuyer moves
in year six, the credit is worth less than 25% of the face value.

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CRS-20
gains on a second home. This change will affect those who purchase a home and do
not initially use the house as their principal residence. It modifies the law that
requires a homeowner to live in the home for two of the last five years in the case of
a home not initially used as a principal residence. The modification adjusts the
$250,000 ($500,000) exclusion for single (married) taxpayers by the ratio of time that
the house was the taxpayer’s principal residence to the time that the taxpayer owned
the house. (Section 3092)

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CRS-21
Appendix A. Legislative History (110th Congress)
August 4, 2007. On August 4, 2007, the House passed H.R. 3221 as an energy
package.

Senate Passage April 10, 2008. The Senate’s amendment in the nature of a
substitute to the House-passed energy bill would have addressed foreclosures by
reforming the Federal Housing Administration (FHA); encouraging counseling;
providing communities funds to acquire foreclosed properties; and providing tax
incentives to encourage house sales. The FHA provisions would have enabled FHA
to refinance some troubled loans if the lenders agreed to write-down the value of the
loans so that the outstanding balance was significantly below the current appraised
value of the house. The bill also would have provided $4 billion through the
Community Development Block Grant program to allow state and local governments
to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes. Additional funds would have been
provided for housing counseling for at-risk borrowers. In addition, the bill would
have provided a $7,000 tax credit for the purchase of foreclosed homes and newly
constructed homes and extends the carryback period for net operating losses.
House Passage May 8, 2008. The House added several additional
housing-related bills to the Senate’s April 10 framework. In addition to
FHA-refinances, community funds, borrower counseling, and tax incentives, the
House version incorporated bills for the FHA loan program (H.R. 5830), Government
Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) reform (H.R. 1427), FHA modernization (H.R. 1852),
liability protection for loan servicers who modified loans (H.R. 5579), foreclosure
protections for service members (H.R. 4883), changes to the Low Income Housing
Tax Credit program (H.R. 5720), a temporary first-time home-buyer tax credit, and
clarified that the provisions of H.R. 3221, as well as provisions of the National Bank
Act and the Home Owner’s Loan Act, does not preempt state laws regulating the
foreclosure of residential real property or the treatment of foreclosed property.
Senate Passage July 11, 2008. The Senate received the greatly expanded
House-passed version of H.R. 3221 and referred the bill to committee. The Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs again amended the bill with a
manager’s amendment (S.Amdt. 4983). The Senate then passed a new version
addressing many of the bills rolled into H.R. 3221 by the House, including GSE
reform, an affordable housing fund, FHA modernization, first-time home buyer tax
credits, and protections for service members.
House Passage July 23, 2008. The House agreed with an amendment to the
Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate by a vote of 272-152.
Senate Passage July 26, 2008. The Senate agreed to the motion to concur in
House amendment to Senate amendment to House amendments to Senate
amendment to the bill by vote of 72-13.
Enactment. President George W. Bush signed H.R. 3221, the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act, into law on July 30, 2008. It became P.L. 110-289.

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CRS-22
Appendix B. CRS Experts
Table B1 lists CRS experts in areas related to this report.
Table B1. CRS Housing Experts
Name
Expertise
Telephone
Email
N. Eric Weiss
Government
7-6209
eweiss@crs.loc.gov
Sponsored
Enterprises
Eugene Boyd
Economic
7-8689
eboyd@crs.loc.gov
Development
David H. Carpenter
Legal Aspects
7-9118
dcarpenter@crs.loc.gov
Bruce E. Foote
FHA
7-7805
bfoote@crs.loc.gov
Modernization,
Veterans Housing,
Predatory Lending
Darryl E. Getter
FHA
7-2834
dgetter@crs.loc.gov
Modernization
Oscar R. Gonzales
Economic
7-0764
ogonzales@crs.loc.gov
Development
Mark Jickling
Government
7-7784
mjickling@crs.loc.gov
Sponsored
Enterprises
Mark P. Keightley
Housing Taxes
7-1049
mkeightley@crs.loc.gov
Maggie McCarty
Public and
7-2163
mmccarty@crs.loc.gov
Assisted Housing
Edward Vincent
Government
7-6201
tmurphy@crs.loc.gov
Murphy
Sponsored
Enterprises,
Subprime and Alt-
A Mortgages
Libby Perl
Housing for
7-7806
eperl@crs.loc.gov
Special
Populations,
including
the Elderly,
Disabled,
Homeless

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Appendix C. Acronyms
CBO
Congressional Budget Office
CDBG
Community Development Block Grants
FHA
Federal Housing Administration
FHFA
Federal Housing Finance Agency
FHFB
Federal Housing Finance Board
FHLB
Federal Home Loan Bank
GSE
Government-sponsored Enterprises
HECM
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
HUD
Department of Housing and Urban Development
LIHTC
Low Income Housing Tax Credit
MMI
Mutual Mortgage Insurance
OFHEO
Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
PHA
Public Housing Authority
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
TILA
Truth in Lending Act
VA
Department of Veterans Affairs

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