Today, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06). The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017 corrects a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulation which has harmed lower and moderate income families by making it harder for lenders to offer financing for manufactured homes.
“So-called ‘consumer protections’ that deny hard-working, low and moderate income Americans the ability to own their own home at an affordable price, are harming consumers – not protecting them,” said Congressman Barr. “Bureaucrats in Washington, who know nothing about rural America, should not stand in the way of those Kentuckians who want to invest in a home of their own, often at a lower cost than rent. That is why I introduced and the House passed this bipartisan and common sense legislation to make it possible for more families to achieve the American Dream of homeownership. ”
Background:
By expanding the range of loan products considered “high-cost” mortgages under the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, the CFPB has failed to recognize the unique nature of manufactured housing loans. Because of the increased legal liabilities and stigma associated with making a “high-cost” mortgage, some lenders have simply stopped making these loans.
H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017, simply clarifies that a manufactured home sales person is not originating a loan when helping a consumer apply for a mortgage or prepare loan information, unless they are compensated by a creditor, lender or mortgage broker.
H.R. 1699 also improves the “high cost” mortgage definition by slightly increasing the maximum interest rate and points and fees cap for manufactured loans for less than $75,000 in order to preserve access to mortgage credit for low and moderate-income consumers who are seeking to buy a manufactured home.