On October 2, 2025, HUD, through FHA and Ginnie Mae, issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on the current and future roles of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and HECM Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) programs.  Stakeholders are invited to comment by December 1, 2025 (Docket No. FR-6551-N-01) via regulations.gov or mail.  

As we detailed in our prior Legal Update, on January 19, 2021, the FHA expanded eligibility to apply for FHA-insured mortgages to individuals residing in the United States under the DACA program by waiving certain FHA Handbook requirements.[1]  On May 28, 2021, the FHA published Mortgagee Letter 2021-12, which clarifies FHA’s existing eligibility requirements for DACA participants and other non-permanent residents who apply for FHA loans and implements the eligibility requirements instituted by the prior waiver into the HUD Handbook.[2]

Specifically, non-permanent residents, including DACA participants, individuals with refugee or asylee status, citizens of the Freely Associated States (“FAS”)[3] and individuals with an H-1B visa, must meet the following requirements:Continue Reading FHA Issues Guidance on Eligibility of DACA Recipients