Author: Karl Howley
Op-Ed: Despite headwinds, homeownership remains important in Missouri and across U.S.
USMI President Seth Appleton authored an opinion piece in the Springfield News-Leader on the greatest challenges that future homebuyers face in his home state using data from USMI’s 2024 National Homeownership Survey. In the piece, he explains how thousands have been able to purchase with low down payment mortgages using private MI and calls for the renewal of a tax deduction that more than 14,000 Missourians claimed in 2021 before the deduction expired. “For 15 years, millions of homeowners relied on this deduction to offset some of the costs of homeownership. There aren’t that many no-brainers in Washington, D.C. This, however, is one of them,” said Appleton. Read the full piece here.
Op-Ed: Automated mortgage insurance cancellation is a dangerous plan
Statement: Bipartisan Senate Confirmation of Scott Turner as HUD Secretary
WASHINGTON—Seth Appleton, President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers (USMI), released the following statement on today’s confirmation of Scott Turner by the United States Senate to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by a vote of 55 to 44:
“USMI congratulates Secretary Turner on his Senate confirmation to lead HUD. His experience and expertise in housing, community development, non-profit organizations, and public service prepare him well for this important role. Private mortgage insurance has helped nearly 39 million low down payment borrowers become homeowners, and has shielded the GSEs and taxpayers from nearly $60 billion in losses since the great financial crisis. With his background in the public and private sectors, we look forward to working with Secretary Turner to foster a coordinated and robust housing finance system in which private capital takes on an even greater role in enabling opportunities for homebuyers while protecting taxpayers and the government from mortgage credit risk. This will allow HUD to focus its efforts on its critical mission of safely and soundly assisting traditionally underserved borrowers.”
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U.S. Mortgage Insurers (USMI) is dedicated to a housing finance system backed by private capital that enables access to housing finance for borrowers while protecting taxpayers. Mortgage insurance offers an effective way to make mortgage credit available to more people. USMI is ready to help build the future of homeownership. Learn more at www.usmi.org.
Letter: Letter in Support of Bill Pulte’s Nomination
USMI sent a letter expressing strong support for William “Bill” Pulte to serve as the next Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). In the letter, USMI noted that the FHFA is a critical federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which collectively facilitate more than $8 trillion in funding for the U.S housing market. USMI urged the Committee to swiftly schedule a hearing to consider Mr. Pulte’s nomination and advance his nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Read the full letter here.
Letter: USMI Letter for the Record for the Committee on Ways and Means’ January 14th Hearing
USMI submitted a letter for the record for the House Committee on Ways and Means’ January 14, 2025 hearing titled “The Need to Make Permanent the Trump Tax Cuts for Working Families.” As the Committee on Ways & Means assesses the expiring and permanent provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), USMI strongly encourages Congress to support existing homeowners and prospective homebuyers by reinstating, making permanent, and expanding eligibility for the mortgage insurance (MI) premium tax deduction. USMI specifically urges Congress to include the bipartisan, bicameral Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act in tax legislation considered in 2025 and commends Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), as well as their counterparts Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), for championing this common-sense and targeted tax policy to assist working families. Read the full letter here.
