Author: Joan Ewing

What will 2009 Bring in the Housing Industry?

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello – I hope everyone had a very nice holiday and let us all look forward to the New Year with a positive attitude that it will be a GOOD YEAR!!!! Let’s all Toast to 2009! Before, we can look forward to the New Year; I think we need to look back one more time – then LET IT GO. 


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

FHA/HUD Engineering Certificates for Manufactured Housing

Written By: Joan Ewing 

I initially titled this article, “HUD Sues Lenders over Omission of Manufactured Housing Engineering Certificates,” but I decided that it might be a little over the top. But, the facts are this. A letter issued by the HUD Inspector General (MEMORANDUM NO: 2007-KC-0801) dated September 2007 recommended just that.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Who is FHA? When and Why Did They Get Into Mortgage Insurance?

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello Everybody – Another week in the mortgage industry is here and I am sure everyone uses the acronym FHA quite a few times a week. However, do we really know anything about FHA, when they were created, why they were created and what they really do? Who is FHA?


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Streamline Modification Program

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Everyone is getting back to their normal routine – it is important that we work together this year to help homeowners save their home, if possible. Fannie Mae has announced a program, which I feel is exciting and hopefully will help borrowers save their home.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Who Can Certify a Permanent Foundation on Manufactured Homes?

Written By: Joan Ewing 

There is confusion over just who can certify that a manufactured home foundation is permanent per HUD requirements. The simple answer is this. Only a professional engineer or registered architect can certify permanent foundations on existing manufactured homes whether under the September 1996 Permanent Foundation Guide for Manufactured Homes or the newer HUD Model Installation Rules.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Reforms For American Homeowners and Consumers

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello Everybody – Hope you are keeping busy. With interest rates up and down, depending on the day and hour of the week – refinances have been fluctuating as often. However, there seems to be a trend that home sales are on the rise and many lenders are keeping busy.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Getting the Latest News from HUD

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello Everyone - Are you currently processing loans for a small broker, processing loans on a contract basis, or perhaps working for a direct lender - Do you feel you are always one step behind the latest FHA Updates? While you believe you are processing your loans correctly – only after submission to underwriting you learn that FHA has changed the guidelines and you were not aware.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Home Inspection vs. Appraisal

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello Everybody – I feel the housing market is finally going to take a turn for the better. Although I have no crystal ball – I feel the questions, I have been fielding and the number of underwriting and processing jobs posted on CareerBuilder has soared. 


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

Underwriting Training : Becoming an Underwriter

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello everybody – hope you are keeping busy. I see business definitely picking up and some processors and underwriters are getting swamped with new job offers. Recently I have received several e-mails from the readers of NAMP Blogs about how to get into underwriting.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.

FHA Streamline Refinances

Written By: Joan Ewing 

Hello – There may be a glimmer of light for loan processors and underwriters as FHA rates and conventional rates, as well, continue to drop. The spark of increased could be FHA Streamline Refinances – which is what we will write about today.


Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.