Freddie Mac took a giant step toward transparency last week when it announced sweeping changes to its condominium and housing cooperative financing system. The government-sponsored enterprise that underwrites mortgages is introducing a tool that indicates whether a community is “certified” for financing or “not eligible”—and providing guidance that explains why a community may not be eligible.
In July, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac released updates to project eligibility standards for condominiums and housing cooperatives. It is critically important for condominium and housing cooperative projects to have access to loans that will meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac qualifications. CAI continues to provide specific feedback regarding the requirements.
Quite recently, two of the largest residential property insurance companies announced major cutbacks in California, and many HOAs are now experiencing skyrocketing property insurance rates. Here are some tips to simplify your property insurance with a “bare walls” approach.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are compiling troubling blacklists that prohibit mortgage financing for entire condominium or housing cooperative buildings. As the blacklists grow, community managers and board members have no knowledge their buildings are on them. When people are unable to buy and sell units in these buildings, property values may be affected.
More than 90% of respondents in a recent survey conducted by the Foundation for Community Association Research reported that their property and casualty insurance premium had increased at the last or current renewal with 24% citing an increase between $101 and $500, and 14% citing a larger increase. Eleven percent of respondents indicated that their property and casualty coverage was canceled or not renewed.
