FHA/HUD's revised condominium certification regulations originally slated to take effect on October 1, 2009 and pushed back to November 2nd, are now scheduled to be implemented on December 7, 2009.  The onerous new regs, as described in HUD's Mortgagee Letter 2009-19 (published on June 12, 2009), were met with controversy due to the potentially chilling impact on the ability of a condominium project to obtain FHA certification.

As a result of public outrage, in mid-September, FHA/HUD announced postponement of implementation of the new regs.  On October 21st, FHA stated in an email:

Implementation of FHA’s new policy guidance for condominium project approval and condo unit financing will be delayed until December 7^th  2009.  The new guidance, to be issued within the next two weeks, will:  1) offer additional leniencies to address the difficult market conditions and 2) augment some portions of FHA Mortgagee Letter 2009-19, providing additional information and clarification.

 

Until the new guidance takes effect on December 7^th, 2009 lenders may continue to use the Spot Loan Approval guidance issued in Mortgagee Letter 1996-41.  Further, the site condo and manufactured housing condo project changes that have already been implemented are not affected by this delay.

Looks like FHA/HUD took notice of the public's comments (led in great part by lobbying from Community Association Institute (CAI), National Home Builders Association, National Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association). 

We should know within a couple weeks how the final regs will play out.  Stay tuned for further information on this important topic.