We hear that many housing counselors are having difficulty passing the HECM exam because some of the test questions are not being covered in the training courses.  To help you prepare, go to http://www.hecmexam.org/ to see study materials, sample questions, etc. Watch this blog for changes in training curriculums to address this problem

The NY Times reports that Fannie Mae  has announced a “Deed For Lease” program allowing homeowners to become tenants in their homes. Read more-  06fannie.html

See DHCR Request for Proposal Foreclosure Prevention Program

Much needed funding to support housing counseling  was   announced in this link.  Scroll down to the end of the press release to see NYS awards  HUDNo.09-199

HAMP and Beyond: Setting the Agenda for 2010
A focus on New Initiatives, Successes, Problems and Solutions

When:  Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time:  8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Place:  26 Federal Plaza Conference Center
New York, NY

Invitations and registration information will be available soon

Sponsored by:
U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
The Office of Thrift Supervision
NeighborWorks America
Center for New York City Neighborhoods

Not many, without government intervention,  according to this article

Major US Role in Mortgages Shaping in Washington Post

OMRDD has a new publication, “A Financial Education Guide for Existing and Potential Homeowners and Renters with Developmental Disabilities.”

see    http://www.omr.state.ny.us/wt/publications/index.jsp

Position available. Click on   Job_Description_–_RDAC__housing counselor1 (3)

HUD recently posted to its website an updated housing counseling protocol for counseling in conjunction with the Making Home Affordable Program.  The revised protocol can be found under “What’s Hot!” at the following web address: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm
Specifically, the protocol describes the counseling required for loan modification recipients with a debt-to-income ratio that exceeds 55%, & the counseling protocol for households seeking information on the Making Home Affordable modification or refinance programs without having first received a provisional modification from the servicer. Regardless of funding source, for example HUD Housing Counseling grant or National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) funding, all housing counseling in conjunction with the Making Home Affordable Program must comply with this protocol. This message has gone out to the email addresses provided by all active Default Counseling agencies in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program.  All Parent Agencies should make sure their sub-agencies have received this information.  Housing Counseling Agencies should please direct questions or comments to your HUD point of contact or email at: Housing.Counseling@hud.gov

A series of free orientation sessions for homebuyers will be held in Queens Library branches across the borough this month by Chhaya CDC, a federally certified housing organization focused on the South Asian community in Queens.
Seminar topics will include how to decide when to buy a home, homeownership options in the city, credit and mortgage basics, how to avoid predatory lending and resources for affordable homeownership.

The sessions will be held:
May 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Flushing library branch, located at 41-17 Main Street;
May 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Jackson Heights branch, located at 35-51 81 St.;
May 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Elmhurst branch, located at 86-01 Broadway;
May 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Hill branch,
located at 118-14 Hillside Ave.;
May 30 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Jamaica branch, located at 89-11 Merrick Blvd.
All are welcome to the seminars, which will offer free one-on-one homeownership
and credit counseling. More sessions will be held in June.
Chhaya staffers speak Bangla, Hindi, Nepali and Urdu.
The group can be reached at (718) 478-3848 and is online at chhayacdc.org.

(from the Queens Chronicle)