Credit Access For Less Secure Borrowers Central to Housing Finance Reform

ThernCenter for American Progress (CAP) and the National Council of LarnRaza have released a paper, Makingrnthe Mortgage Market Work for American’s Families, whichrnevaluates some of the problems facing the current mortgage market andrnpresents challenges for its reform. The paper also presents a couplernof concrete suggestions for reform including creations of a MarketrnAccess Fund to provide credit enhancement and supportive services tornunderserved but creditworthy populations and a framework forrnevaluating participants in an eventual new secondary market. </p

Wernare summarizing the paper’s assertions in two parts. This initial article dealsrnwith an overview of current market challenges and the need for<bincreased access and affordability and the secondary market’s role inrnsupporting this access and affordability. Part Two will look at thernconnection of rental-housing to the secondary market and CAP’srnsuggestions for a Market Access Fund and a suggested model forrnevaluating the secondary market. </p

<bCurrent Market Challenges; The Need For Increased Access and Affordability </p

America’srnhousing-finance system is at a decision point. We can chose tornrestructure it to restore balance to the housing market and providerncredit to a broad and diverse population, or we can live with arnsystem in which credit and housing choices are more costly, morernlimited, and less sustainable, especially for minority and low- andrnmoderate-income households. </p

ThernUnited States has a long history of unequal access to sustainable,rnaffordable mortgages, particularly for minority and low- andrnmoderate-income communities. Government programs such as the mortgagerninterest deduction disproportionately help those who least need itrnand creditworthy borrowers often have difficulty obtaining highrnquality mortgages. In the run-up to the housing crisis in 2007 manyrnborrowers found themselves in “credit deserts” that left them fewrnchoices beyond subprime lending. </p

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Lackrnof equal access to mortgage credit can be explained by a variety ofrnfactors, including not only traditional discrimination but also thernfailure of mortgage lenders to serve geographies and populations thatrnthey may see as less lucrative (known as market creaming). </p

WhilernCongress has tried to level the playing field – through the FairrnHousing and Equal Credit Opportunity Acts and other laws, minoritiesrncontinue to have trouble accessing safe and sustainable mortgagerncredit. Additionally, different communities or borrowers haverngenerally been served by different financial institutions and as arnresult face higher costs of borrowing and are more likely to berndenied loans. </p

Whilernthe 2012 homeownership rate for whites was 73.6 percent, Hispanic andrnAfrica American rates were 46.5 and 44.1 percent respectively. Theserndifferences significantly contribute to the dramatic wealthrndisparities between whites and minorities. The Urban Institute foundrnin 2010 the average white family had six times the wealth ($632,000)rnas the average black family ($98,000) or Hispanic family ($110,000)rnand that lower homeownership rates and falling home prices were thernkey drivers of the gap. For this reason, it is critical to redesignrnthe system to account for shifting demographics and changing consumerrnprofiles, including the rapid growth of communities of color,rndecreased economic security, and increasing demand among ruralrnAmericans.</p

ThernHarvard Joint Center for Housing Studies projects that communities ofrncolor will account for more than 70 percent of new household growth</bbetween 2010 and 2020. Given the relatively low rates ofrnhomeownership among these communities, this demographic shift createsrntremendous opportunity for lenders to expand into new markets. </p

Mostrnpeople think of mortgage lenders as the point of intersection withrnthe public. However the very large secondary mortgage market plays a<bcritical role in ensuring access and affordability. Lenders preferrnto make the types of mortgage loans that the secondary market willrnbuy and so one of the most effective ways to ensure a broad,rnaccessible, and affordable primary mortgage market is by creating arnsecondary market that promotes these same principles.</p

Unlikernindividual lenders with their constrained resources, the secondaryrnmarket can quickly and effectively pilot new concepts and can takerninnovations emerging from the primary market and standardize them tornreach a larger market and can quickly establish such a new product</bmarket. </p