Summary:The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides reinsurance on multifamily housing projects whose mortgage loans are originated, underwritten, serviced, and disposed of by Qualified Participating Entities (QPEs) and/or their approved lenders. Section 542(b) encourages the development and preservation of affordable housing. The program was developed as a demonstration program to test innovative mortgage insurance and reinsurance products to provide affordable multifamily housing through a partnership between the QPEs and HUD. HUD's mortgage credit enhancements are used to support the underwriting and production strengths of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other qualified Federal, State, and local public financial and housing institutions. Currently Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are participants in the Section 542(b) Risk-Sharing program.

A related program is the Housing Finance Agency Risk-Sharing Program (Section 542(c)).

Purpose:
The program provides a new insurance authority independent of the National Housing Act. The purpose of the program is to support and encourage the production and preservation of affordable Housing. The program provides insurance and reinsurance for multifamily housing projects whose loans are originated, underwritten, serviced, and disposed of by a QPE and/or its approved lenders.

Type of Assistance:
Guaranteed/Insured Loans. A QPE and/or its approved lenders may originate and underwrite affordable housing loans. If there is a default, the QPE will pay all costs associated with loan disposition and will seek reimbursement from HUD. The HUD risk share will be 50 percent pro rata. The program enables HUD to provide alternative forms of Federal credit enhancement to increase affordable multifamily housing lending.

Eligible Activities:
HUD selectively invites QPEs to participate in a variety of mortgage options to assess the effectiveness of the various credit enhancements. The QPE and HUD enter into Risk-Sharing agreements to implement the program. A QPE or its lender, in turn, makes loans to investors, builders, developers, public entities, and private nonprofit corporations or associations.

Eligible Borrowers:
Eligible mortgagors include investors, builders, developers, public entities, and private non-profit corporations or associations may apply to a qualified QPE and/or its lender.

Eligible Customers:
Individuals, families, and property owners are eligible.

Application:
To obtain mortgage insurance, a potential lender should consult with a HUD-approved QPE to obtain mortgage insurance. The potential lender then submits an application directly to the QPE. If the QPE refuses the application, the applicant may modify the application and reapply. 

Technical Guidance:
The program is authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Section 542(b), Public Law 102-550, 12 U.S.C. 1707. There are no program regulations; requirements are set forth in risk-sharing agreements with the QPEs. Section 235 of HUD's FY 2001 Appropriations Act, Public Law 106-377, amended Section 542, which changed the Risk Sharing Pilot Program to a permanent multifamily  insurance program. The program is administered by the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Program Administration Division.

Program Accomplishments: In FY2023, the Department insured mortgages for 2 projects with 501 units, totaling $53.2 million.

If you have questions regarding local projects/ properties proposals, financing or housing assistance, please click this link to find your closest local HUD Office and their Multifamily Production contacts.

If you have questions about HUD programs, policies and guidance in the MAP Guide, please click this link to use the HUD Exchange, "Ask A Question" form.

Last Updated: 10/11/2023