The Office of Single Family Housing (SFH) supports affordable homeownership and refinancing opportunities for qualified borrowers through its Single Family mortgage insurance programs. FHA's Single Family mortgage insurance programs protect mortgage lenders against losses from default, encouraging lenders to provide mortgage financing to eligible homebuyers, including first-time and low-to-moderate income homebuyers and individuals and families of color. Historically, more than 80 percent of purchase transaction mortgages insured by FHA every year are for first-time homebuyers.
FHA's Single Family insurance endorsement program is managed through the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF). The MMIF is funded by collecting two types of mortgage insurance premiums: up-front mortgage insurance premiums charged to borrowers for each FHA-insured mortgage at endorsement and monthly insurance premiums that lenders collect from borrowers and remit to FHA.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., SFH is comprised of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary and three headquarters-based Program Offices, and four regional Homeownership Centers (HOCs):
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The Office for Single Family Program Development is responsible for the development and implementation of all SFH origination through endorsement policies, program guidelines, standards, and operating procedures for FHA's Single Family Title II mortgage insurance programs as well as all policies, standards, and procedures for Title I mortgage insurance programs under the National Housing Act. It is also responsible for developing and overseeing SFH employee and external stakeholder communications, marketing, outreach, and training that supports these efforts.
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The Office for Single Family Asset Management is responsible for developing and implementing policies for mortgage servicing, claims, and property disposition that helps FHA assist homeowners in avoiding foreclosure whenever possible while mitigating losses to the MMIF. The Office is also responsible for overseeing and servicing the Single Family Secretary-held portfolio. The Office includes the FHA National Servicing Center with locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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The Office for Lender Activities and Program Compliance is responsible for administering various risk management activities. The Office evaluates and approves lenders participating in FHA's Single Family, Multifamily, and Title I programs; assesses lenders' performance, internal controls, and compliance with underwriting and servicing requirements in SFH mortgage programs; and initiates enforcement actions when appropriate.
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The HOCs are responsible for all Single Family mortgage insurance operations, disposition of HUD's Real Estate Owned inventory, oversight and compliance, and training and outreach in their designated geographic area.
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Online Handbook 4000.1
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