FHA MORTGAGES ENJOYING "BACK TO BASICS" BOUNCE IN ALASKA MARKETS
FHA-insured Homebuying Activity Up Significantly from Last Year in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau Markets

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - With the conventional and sub-prime mortgage markets in turmoil, mortgages insured by
HUD's Federal Housing Administration appear to be enjoying a "back to basics" bounce in markets in Alaska.

Through just the first two-thirds of Federal fiscal year* 2008, for example, FHA has insured more home purchase mortgages in Alaska - 1,249 - than in each of fiscal years 2007 and 2006 and, by the end of the fiscal year, may exceed the fiscal year 2005 endorsements.

In market-specific data, HUD also reported that through the first two-thirds of fiscal year 2008, in Anchorage, Fairbanks-North Star, Matanuska-Susit and Juneau, FHA already had insured more home purchase mortgages in 2008 than in either fiscal years 2007 or 2006.

"Earlier this decade, the volume of FHA-insured mortgages fell significantly as homebuyers took advantage of the terms offered by other lenders, especially subprime lenders," said HUD Regional Director John Meyers. "But as the subprime mortgage market began to have difficulties and borrowers wanted to minimize their risks, more and more homebuyers have been coming back to the safe, smart and sound basics of FHA-insured mortgages."

Approximately one-third of the increase in volume resulted from the refinancing of conventional or subprime
mortgages into FHA-insured mortgages under HUD's FHASecure program.

FHASecure gives homeowners with non-FHA adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), current or delinquent and regardless of reset status, the ability to refinance into an FHA-insured mortgage. With FHASecure, the lender will not automatically disqualify a borrower who is delinquent on a mortgage loan, and the lender may offer a second
mortgage to make up the difference between the value of property and the amount owed.

FHA is a part of HUD. Its FHA mortgage insurance fund is supported by premiums charged to borrowers and not by taxpayer funds. Its mortgages are attractive to homebuyers because they require only ay a three percent downpayment and permit grant and gift funds to help cover downpayment and other closing costs. In addition, FHA has more relaxed credit standards and permits borrowers to carry more debt than private mortgage insurers typically allow.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly people and people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nations fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the web at www.hud.gov.

* NOTE – A Federal fiscal year runs from October 1st through September 30th. Below the data for Federal fiscal year 2008 is from October 1st, 2007 through May 31st, 2008. Data for Federal fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007 is from October 1st through September 30th.