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To: Johnny Canuck who wrote (45841)	9/18/2009 11:37:24 AM
From: Johnny Canuck	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 68217

Gov't home loan agency faces cash squeeze Federal Housing Administration faces cash squeeze, insists no taxpayer bailout needed By Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer On Friday September 18, 2009, 10:09 am EDT Buzz up! 5 Print Companies: Bank Of America CorporationCitigroup, Inc.Fannie Mae WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Housing Administration said Friday its cash cushion will dip below mandated levels for the first time, but officials insist it won't need a taxpayer rescue. Related Quotes Symbol Price Change BAC 17.72 +0.11 C 4.45 +0.03 FNM 1.57 -0.03 FRE 1.85 -0.02 JPM 44.97 +0.01 The agency, a growing source of funds for first-time homebuyers, faces mounting concerns that it will soon need a taxpayer bailout. As of this summer, about 17 percent of FHA borrowers were at least one payment behind or in foreclosure, compared with 13 percent for all loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rising defaults mean the FHA's reserves may sink below the 2 percent mark required by federal law. The FHA says a study being sent to Congress in November is expected to show that ratio dipping below required levels for the first time. David Stevens, the agency's commissioner, however, said in an e-mailed statement that FHA "will not require taxpayer assistance." The agency itself does not make loans, but rather offers insurance against default. Many borrowers are willing to pay for the insurance because FHA loans only require down payments of 3.5 percent of the purchase price. The FHA now insures about 5.3 million mortgages, up from about 4 million three years ago. In an effort to weed out shady operators, it wants to require that participating have a net worth of $1 million, up from the current requirement of $250,000, and undergo annual audits. Last month, FHA banned mortgage company Taylor, Bean & Whitaker from making any more federally insured loans after it failed to submit a required financial report, raising fraud concerns.