{"id":625,"date":"2014-11-25T12:11:17","date_gmt":"2014-11-25T16:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentary\/?p=625"},"modified":"2014-12-01T15:22:47","modified_gmt":"2014-12-01T19:22:47","slug":"will-factor-rate-fracture-hecms-fate-present-value-and-the-future-of-hecm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/2014\/11\/25\/will-factor-rate-fracture-hecms-fate-present-value-and-the-future-of-hecm\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Factor Rate Fracture HECM\u2019s Fate? Present Value and the Future of HECM"},"content":{"rendered":"

During FHA\u2019s 2014 fiscal year, the following events occurred:\u00a0 Home prices increased about 5% nationwide.\u00a0 FHA\u2019s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (\u201cHECM\u201d) reverse mortgage program shifted from production of predominantly fixed rate loans to predominantly adjustable rate loans. Thousands of seasoned loans paid off and were replaced by a FY 2014 vintage with lower Principal Limit Factors, i.e. Loan-to-Value (\u201cLTV\u201d) ratios, and higher Mortgage Insurance Premiums (\u201cMIPs\u201d).\u00a0 Each new HECM loan now pays a colossal 2.5% MIP at closing, or else is restricted for one year to a 60% draw of the Initial Principal Limit. The result of all this good news, according to FHA\u2019s newly released MMI Fund Report and Fiscal Year 2014 HECM Actuarial Study: \u00a0the value of the HECM portion of its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (\u201cMMI\u201d) fund declined by $7.7 billion.\u00a0 How is that possible?<\/p>\n

The MMI Fund Economic Net Worth estimates are \u201cPresent Values,\u201d that is, a single number that quantifies the economic value in today\u2019s dollars of the fund\u2019s future cash flows.\u00a0 In both the MMI report and the accompanying Actuarial Review (see page i), the vast majority (67%) of this decline is attributed to a change in the \u201cDiscount Rate.\u201d\u00a0 What does that mean?<\/p>\n

The terms \u201cdiscount rate\u201d and \u201cdiscount factor\u201d are central components of present value.\u00a0 They describe two different numbers that are inversely related.\u00a0 The \u201cdiscount factor\u201d is a number from 0 to 1 which, when multiplied by an amount of future cash flow, equals that future cash flow\u2019s equivalent present value.\u00a0 The \u201cdiscount rate\u201d is a number from 0 to 1, typically expressed as a percentage, which is a measure of how much value is discounted over a discrete period, typically a year or a month.\u00a0 The two terms are related to one another in the basic present value equation:<\/p>\n

Discount Factor = 1 \/ (1 + Discount Rate)t<\/sup><\/p>\n

Where t = time period<\/p>\n

For example, if the annual discount rate is 10%, the discount factor for cash flow at the end of year 1 is approximately 0.9090909.\u00a0 It follows that at a 10% discount rate, $100 received one year from now is worth approximately $90.91 today, and that $90.91 compounded at 10% for one year equals approximately $100.\u00a0 The Actuarial report gives another example on page C-4.\u00a0 Now, bear these relationships in mind when reading the Actuarial Report\u2019s explanation for the large decline in the MMI Fund value, under Section f, \u201cDiscount Factor Update\u201d on page 19:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis decomposition step shows the effect of the FY 2015 budget discount factors. The latest OMB published discount factors are higher than the values of the FY 2014 factors used in last year\u2019s Review, as shown in Appendix C. \u00a0The higher discount factors decrease the present values of both future positive and negative cash flows. \u00a0The net impact of discount factors is a balance among these opposing cash flow items. \u00a0<\/strong>As HECM recoveries occur at longer durations in the future than claims, the higher interest rate assumption in the long run has a larger negative impact on the cash inflows than outflows. \u00a0As the result [sic], the FY 2014 HECM economic value decreased by $5,182 million and the FY 2020 HECM economic value decreased by $13,763 million. This is the largest factor leading to the much lower economic value this year than last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s apply some decomposition steps of our own, and decompose this paragraph one sentence at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>The latest OMB published discount factors are higher than<\/span> the values of the FY 2014 factors used in last year\u2019s Review, as shown in Appendix C.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

But wait a minute; at the bottom of page C-4, the same report states:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe discount factors used in this Review are lower than<\/span> the corresponding discount factors in last year\u2019s Review.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This contradicts the statement on page 19.\u00a0 Which one did they mean?\u00a0 Let\u2019s read on and look for clues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe higher discount factors decrease the present values of both future positive and negative cash flows.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This statement is doubly wrong.\u00a0 First, higher discount factors increase<\/em> the present value of future positive cash flows.\u00a0 Second, the effect on positive and negative cash flows cannot be the same.\u00a0 Higher discount factors<\/em> mean lower discount rates<\/em>.\u00a0 Therefore, higher discount factors increase<\/em> the present values of positiv<\/em>e future cash flows, but decrease<\/em> the present value of negative <\/em>cash flows.\u00a0 This is because the higher the discount factor (in other words, the lower the discount rate), the higher the absolute present value of the future amount.\u00a0 That means a higher<\/em> value for positive<\/em> cash flows and lower<\/em> value (that is, more negative) for negative cash flows.\u00a0 So no clues there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe net impact of discount factors is a balance among these opposing cash flow items.\u00a0 As HECM recoveries occur at longer durations in the future than claims, the higher interest rate assumption in the long run has a larger negative impact on the cash inflows than outflows.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>We assume that the reference to \u201chigher interest rate assumption\u201d means \u201chigher discount rate assumption,\u201d given the context.\u00a0 The federal government tends to use interest rates approximating the Treasury yield curve as the discount rates for calculating present values, as the Actuarial Report explains on page C-4.\u00a0 The discount factors shown in Appendix C, when translated into the corresponding rates, do indeed result in a reasonable set of discount rates which approximate the Treasury yield curve a few months back. In the attached spreadsheet<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>, we translate the present value factors into discount rates.<\/p>\n

Given the conclusions of this year\u2019s report, we have to conclude that the report really does mean higher <\/em>discount rates<\/em>, which means they meant to say lower<\/em> discount factors<\/em> on page 19 as well as in the Appendix.<\/p>\n

But the issue is still confused.\u00a0 That\u2019s because the nature of FHA\u2019s cash flows with regard to HECM are NOT as simple as \u201cHECM recoveries occur at longer durations in the future than claims, the higher interest rate assumption in the long run has a larger negative impact on the cash inflows than outflows.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>This implies that FHA\u2019s cash flows are all back loaded, and its negative cash flows are all front loaded.\u00a0 <\/strong>In fact, this does not describe the lifecycle of any HECM loan. \u00a0Consider the present value equation in Appendix C, paragraph C3 of the Actuarial Report, \u201cNet Future Cash Flows\u201d on page C-4:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe portfolio cash flow for a HECM book of business can be computed by summing the individual components:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Net Cash Flow<\/em>t <\/sub>= Upfront Premiums<\/em>t<\/sub> + Annual Premiums <\/em>t <\/sub>+ Recoveries <\/em>t <\/sub>– Claim Type 1st<\/sub><\/em> – Claim Type 2s<\/em>t<\/sub> – Note Holding Expenses <\/em>t<\/sub>\u201c<\/p>\n

In other words, there is a lot more to HECM cash flow than recoveries and claims.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, different loans have different patterns of cash flows, so one can\u2019t make general statements about the impact of changing discount rates.\u00a0 Consider further four possible types of HECMs, categorized by four possible life cycles:<\/p>\n

HECM Loan Type 1<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 This loan never defaults and pays off before reaching 98% of the Maximum Claim Amount (\u201cMCA\u201d) and before the loan balance exceeds the property value.\u00a0 FHA will simply collect premiums and never pay a claim.\u00a0 For these loans, a higher discount rate decreases present value but, as the cash flow is all positive, the present value to the MMI fund is positive regardless of the discount rate.<\/p>\n

HECM Loan Type 2:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 This loan defaults and\/or has a \u201ccrossover loss\u201d before reaching the 98% Maximum Claim Amount.\u00a0 A crossover loss happens when the loan balance exceeds the property value at the time of payoff.\u00a0 For these loans, the MMI fund will earn premiums for months or years and then may <\/em>pay a Type I claim when the loan pays off, if<\/em> a loss occurs that is covered by FHA. For these loans, or any set of cash flows that is positive then negative, higher discount rates can increase<\/em> present value, depending on the timing and magnitude of the cash flows.<\/p>\n

HECM Loan Type 3<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 This loan never defaults and pays off after reaching 98% of the Maximum Claim Amount, but before the loan balance exceeds the property value.\u00a0 FHA collects premiums for several years, then buys the loan at the 98% Maximum Claim Amount (Type II claim), and then collects the accreted loan balance when the loan finally pays off. \u00a0For these loans, FHA\u2019s cash flow is positive, then negative, then positive again. The present value impact of higher discount rates also depends on the magnitude and timing of these cash flows.<\/p>\n

Looking at the discount factors however, we notice that they are well below the interest rates that FHA would earn once it purchases a loan at 98% of the MCA.\u00a0 In other words, FHA pays a price of par to buy a loan earning premium interest, a fact much lamented by HMBS issuers.\u00a0 So even if these discount rates are higher than last year, they are not so high that FHA has a negative carrying cost.\u00a0 In the absence of losses, a loan in which FHA receives premium, then pays par, then collects premium interest, must generate positive present value for the MMI fund. \u00a0Higher discount rates may or may not decrease the present value, but the present value cannot be negative.\u00a0 But of course, losses are not always absent, which brings us to:<\/p>\n

HECM Loan Type 4<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 This loan defaults and\/or has a crossover loss after reaching 98% of the Maximum Claim Amount. \u00a0Premiums are collected, then FHA purchases the loan at 98% of the Maximum Claim Amount, then it eventually pays off.\u00a0 For these loans, cash flow is positive, then negative, then positive.\u00a0 At the time of payoff\/liquidation, FHA suffers a loss, so the interest earned from buyout to payoff may not make up for losses (i.e. excess of Claims over Recoveries) and advances (i.e. the \u201cNote Holding Expenses\u201d in the equation above).\u00a0 FHA does not buy HECM loans that are in default, which means that these loans acquired under the Type II claim are clean loans that have been in compliance for years, including payment of taxes and insurance.\u00a0 HECM loans can default after FHA buys them, and these loans may become a larger problem for FHA, however, as the Actuarial report states on page D-4: \u201cDefault is a decreasing function of elapsed time from origination.\u201d\u00a0 The likelihood of default diminishes with each passing year, so these loans are positively selected from FHA\u2019s standpoint.<\/p>\n

The report\u2019s characterization of HECM cash flow describes at best part<\/em> of the life cycle for some<\/em> HECM loans.\u00a0 It could conceivably apply to the current MMI portfolio of HECM loans, which are all at different stages of their life cycle, but this seems unlikely, with so many new loans so far from the 98% assignment trigger.\u00a0 As a result, the report falls far short of explaining the results of its model.<\/p>\n

The report also does not adequately account for the FHA\u2019s conclusion \u201cthat the HECM portfolio is well over ten times more volatile than the Forwards\u201d (MMI Report, page 41).\u00a0 \u00a0Is this assertion supported by recent performance?\u00a0 The reports have very little empirical data on past performance.\u00a0 How many loans liquidated with losses last fiscal year?\u00a0\u00a0 What were realized losses from claims on these loans?\u00a0 What was net cash flow?\u00a0 How much MIP was collected?\u00a0 Perhaps this data was in Exhibits II-10 and II-11, which seem to have gone missing from the MMI report.<\/p>\n

A careful reading of these reports reveals a big difference between actual performance and projected performance.\u00a0 For example, Exhibit II-5 (MMI Report, page 37) shows the experience of the Fund during FY 2014.\u00a0 The Capital Resources of the forward loan portfolio declined 4.6%, the Capital Resources of the reverse portfolio declined 3.3%.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t sound like ten times more volatility.<\/p>\n

How does this volatility break down by each variable, for example, home prices?\u00a0 The average LTV ratio of a new HECM barely exceeds 50%; many FHA loans have original LTVs as high as 97%.\u00a0 Yes, HECMs have negative amortization and future draws, but are HECMs really ten times more volatile when they start off with at least 30% more equity?<\/p>\n

Finally, these Economic Net Worth numbers that cast HECM in such a relatively bad light are projections based on a set of assumptions.\u00a0 So which is really volatile:\u00a0 the loans or the assumptions?\u00a0 Are these assumptions more volatile in ways that favor forward mortgages versus reverse mortgages?\u00a0 \u00a0With all of these problems and unanswered questions, we must question the model\u2019s methodology and the validity of its conclusions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During FHA\u2019s 2014 fiscal year, the following events occurred:\u00a0 Home prices increased about 5% nationwide.\u00a0 FHA\u2019s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (\u201cHECM\u201d) reverse mortgage program shifted from production of predominantly fixed rate loans to predominantly adjustable rate loans. Thousands of seasoned loans paid off and were replaced by a FY 2014 vintage with lower Principal Limit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hecm-program"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=625"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":637,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625\/revisions\/637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newviewadvisors.com\/commentaries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}