As part of our audit of the East Orange Revitalization and Development Corporation (Corporation), we reviewed the City of East Orange’s (City) compliance with the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) in regard to the eligibility of an awarded capacity building grant and developer fees awarded to the Corporation. This review raised issues in regard to the City’s compliance with HOME program requirements, Federal regulations, and HOME...

We audited the Jersey City Housing Authority’s (Authority) administration of its Replacement Housing Factor (RHF) grants received under the capital fund program. This is the third audit report regarding the Authority’s capital fund programs. We selected the Authority because of the size of its capital fund programs and because of its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) risk rating. Our audit objective was to determine...

We audited the Jersey City Housing Authority’s (Authority) administration of its public housing capital fund program funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). This is the second audit report regarding the Authority’s capital fund programs. We selected the Authority because of the size of its capital fund programs and because of its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) risk rating. Our...

We reviewed Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loan settlement documents from two branches of DHI Mortgage Company, LTD (DHI Mortgage), in Arizona. During a previous audit of loan origination by the same branches (audit report number 2009-LA-1018), there was information indicating that the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Act) might have been violated; however, we were unable to report on the issue at the time. Our review...

We audited the City of Mesa’s (grantee) Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP1) grant to determine whether the grantee administered the grant in accordance with HUD’s program requirements. The audit was started primarily because the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) audit plan includes objectives to review Housing and Economic Recovery Act grantees and because staff from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of...

We conducted an audit of the Irvington Housing Authority’s (Authority) Capital Fund programs. The audit objectives were to determine whether Authority officials (1) obligated and expended its Capital Funds in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations, (2) had a financial management system in place that complied with program requirements and (3) whether the allegations in an anonymous complaint could be...

We audited the City of Bayonne, NJ's (City) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) economic development activities in response to a complaint (HL- 09-1015) that contained four allegations. Our audit objectives were to determine whether the City (1) disbursed CDBG economic development funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to HUD and with the applicable rules and regulations, (2) used CDBG economic development...

We audited the Jersey City Housing Authority's (Authority) administration of its capital fund programs. We selected the Authority because of the size of its capital fund programs and because of its US, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) risk rating. Our audit objectives were to determine whether the Authority (I) obligated and expended funds under the Public Housing Capital Fund program (CFP) and Capital Fund Financing...

We conducted a review of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans underwritten by Security Atlantic Mortgage Company, Inc. (Security Atlantic), an FHA direct endorsement lender. This review was conducted as part of the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Operation Watchdog initiative to review the underwriting of 15 direct endorsement lenders at the suggestion of the FHA Commissioner. The Commissioner expressed concern regarding the...

We completed a review of the Retreat at Santa Rita Springs (community), a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured multifamily project under Section 231 of the National Housing Act. Our audit was in response to a request for audit from Representative Gabrielle Giffords of the 8th District of Arizona. The owner defaulted on the $29.9 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-insured mortgage in November 2009, the month...

We completed an audit of the City of Jersey City’s (City) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) float loan activity. Our audit objective was to determine whether the City ensured that CDBG funds used for the float loan complied with applicable rules and regulations. The City did not comply with applicable regulations and failed to take timely action when the float loan defaulted. Specifically, it did not (1) make a good faith effort to...

We audited the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program at the State of Arizona Housing Department (Department) because it was the largest single Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program grant awarded within Arizona under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Our objective was to determine whether the Department administered the grant in compliance with Recovery Act and other applicable...

We audited Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc. (Infinity Home Mortgage), a nonsupervised lender approved to originate Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family mortgage loans. We selected Infinity Home Mortgage because its default rate for the State of Pennsylvania was significantly higher than the average default rate for the State. Our objective was to determine whether Infinity Home Mortgage complied with U.S. Department of Housing...

We audited Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loan processes at two DHI Mortgage Company, LTD (DHI Mortgage), branches in Scottsdale, AZ, to determine whether DHI Mortgage originated, approved, and closed FHA-insured single-family loans in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements. We recently conducted an audit of DHI Mortgage’s Tucson and Scottsdale branches and identified significant...

We completed an audit of the City of Jersey City's (City) capacity to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Our objectives were to evaluate the City’s capacity in the areas of internal controls, eligibility, financial controls, procurement, and output/outcomes in administering CDBG funds. The City generally had adequate financial...

In response to an April 3, 2009, hotline request from the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Pipe Spring, AZ (Kaibab), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Inspector General reviewed HUD’s evaluation of Kaibab’s application for an Indian Community Development Block Grant (Indian Block Grant) under HUD’s 2008 notice of funding availability. The review objective was to evaluate the merits of the complainant’s...

We completed an audit of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the City of Paterson (City). Our audit objectives were to determine whether the City (1) disbursed CDBG funds efficiently and effectively in accordance with its submission to HUD and applicable rules and regulations and (2) had a financial management system in place to adequately safeguard the funds. The City did not always disburse CDBG funds efficiently...

We completed an audit of Ark Mortgage, Incorporated (Ark Mortgage), a nonsupervised direct endorsement lender located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The audit objectives were to determine whether Ark Mortgage officials (1) originated insured loans in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Federal Housing Administration (HUD/FHA) requirements and (2) developed and implemented a quality control plan that complied with...

We completed an audit of Jersey Mortgage Company (Jersey Mortgage), a nonsupervised lender located in Cranford, New Jersey. The audit objectives were to determine whether Jersey Mortgage (1) approved Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/FHA, which include adherence to prudent lending practices, and (2) developed and implemented a...