Improve model documentation by addressing the model documentation deficiencies cited in this report and narrowing or consolidating them into fewer pieces of documentation, as appropriate.

Formalize and define coding best practices within Ginnie Mae’s model governance framework.

Apply coding best practices during model development processes and add a control for reviewing model code for compliance with best practices.

Ensure that documentation is maintained to support reimbursable cost receivables recorded on Ginnie Mae’s financial statements or write off the reimbursable costs receivables that are not valid or cannot be supported.

Establish audit trails to ensure that supporting documentation can be easily traced and verified to the recorded transactions in the general ledger.

Establish and implement remedial action plans to document the implementation testing of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with OMB Circular A-123, appendix A.

Update its internal controls descriptions to reflect controls in place and implement monitoring activities to ensure that it carries out the controls and documents their performance and results.

Resolve the issues identified with the mastersubservicers to improve the data quality and timing of the raw data received for SLDB monthly processing and minimize manual adjustments.

Modify the standing operating procedures for the SLDB data quality checks that address mastersubservicer data deficiencies, data quality rules, and severity levels, to include periodic assessments of the appropriateness of the severity levels.

Review VAPE data validation procedures to improve preventive controls to determine the reasonableness of the inbound VAPE data before SLDB processing.

Implement the planned SLDB code fixes and enhancements to reduce future manual adjustments.

Update HUD’s loss mitigation policies, to include deadlines for the servicers to file the FHA-HAMP nonincentivized partial claims, and consider imposing sanctions for noncompliance with these deadline requirements.

Update HUD’s loss mitigation policies, to include deadlines for the servicers to report the new terms of the FHA-HAMP nonincentivized loan modifications, and consider imposing sanctions for noncompliance with these deadline requirements.

Ensure that the HECM cash flow model assumptions capture all valid assignments or provide an analysis showing that the model results are not biased due to the exclusion of valid HECM assignments.

Document and implement policies and procedures to ensure that data observations for key assumptions that are inconsistent with FHA’s understanding of program operations are researched and further analyzed and that all results are concurrently documented and included in the model documentation.

Update the posting models to ensure that refunds relating to payments made in prior years are properly recorded in accordance with OMB Circular A-11.

Correct the programming error in the HERMIT system to ensure that the correct insurance-in-force balances are reported on the note disclosures.

Develop policies and procedures to ensure that the line items in the required note disclosures are understood, properly calculated, and properly disclosed in the financial statements in accordance with OMB Circular A-136.

Require lenders to obtain the borrowers’ consent to verify the existence of delinquent Federal taxes with the IRS during loan origination and deny any applicant with delinquent Federal tax debt and no payment plan or a noncompliant payment plan or an applicant refusing to provide consent from receiving FHA insurance to put at least $6.1 billion to better use by avoiding potential future costs to the FHA insurance fund.

Status

The Office of Single Family Housing will need additional tax information to complete the planned action. In July 2024, Single Family Housing proposed closing the recommendation with no action because the primary action discussed would require Congressional authorization, and another option discussed would place an undue burden on borrowers and lenders and was not practical. OIG disagreed with the request. Single Family maintains that without an automated solution from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it is not practical for individual borrowers and/or lenders to manually check tax status with the IRS. However, OIG’s position is that action is required since delinquent tax debtors are ineligible for FHA loans under existing FHA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines.

Analysis

To fully address this recommendation, HUD will need to provide evidence that it established a method of borrower consent to verify the existence of delinquent federal taxes.

Implementation of this rule should result in HUD putting $6.1 billion to better use.

Revise HUD handbooks for forward and reverse mortgages to reflect that tax liens and judgments are no longer reported on credit reports.