HUD Underestimated Rising Property Charges for an Estimated 1,237 HECM Borrowers
We conducted an audit on the effectiveness of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program’s Life Expectancy Set Asides (LESA). The LESA is a set aside portion of the HECM mortgage that makes property tax, hazard insurance, and flood insurance payments on behalf of certain financially vulnerable borrowers. While not guaranteed, the LESA funds are intended to last for the full duration of the borrower’s life expectancy.