[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74104-74105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29335]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education Courses
for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan
Program
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On September 23, 2013, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Single
Family Housing Direct Program published a Notice in the Federal
Register, ''Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education
Courses for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502
Direct Loan Program'' (78 FR 58272). Through this action, RHS is
extending the submission deadline of online homeownership education
course packages for National Office approval to December 31, 2013.
DATES: Online homeownership education providers interested in having
their courses reviewed should submit a complete package to the Single
Family Housing, Direct Loan Division on or before December 31, 2013.
Submissions may be sent electronically to
[email protected] or by mail to 1400 Independence Avenue,
Stop 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shantelle Gordon,
[email protected] or (202) 205-9567.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective on May 7, 2007, first-time
homebuyers financed under the direct loan program must successfully
complete an approved homeownership education course prior to loan
closing. 7 CFR Part 3550.11 outlines the order of preference given to
courses. First preference is given to classroom, one-on-one counseling,
or interactive video conference. These formats are generally extensive
and require a significant time and participation commitment from the
Agency applicants. Second preference is given to interactive home-study
or interactive telephone counseling of at least four hours duration.
These formats may only be used if the formats under the first
preference are not reasonably available. Third preference, which can
only be used if all other formats are not reasonably available, is
given to online counseling. The regulation also outlines the
requirements an education provider and their course must meet in order
to be approved for use by Agency applicants.
While approval is generally made by the Agency at the state level,
there is currently one nationally approved online education provider.
To expand the Agency applicants' access to and options of approved
education providers, the Agency will consider approving other online
education providers on a national level. Approval will be subject to
meeting course criteria, a recommendation by the Agency-selected panel
of housing partners, and signoff by the Administrator. Approval will be
given as a third preference format unless the education provider is
able to demonstrate and document how their online course along with a
required supplemented service provides the same level of training and
individualized attention as a first or second preference.
A notice of education providers approved through this process will
be issued via a memorandum to the Rural Development (RD) state offices.
The memorandum will list the format preference assigned to each
provider. A copy of the memorandum will be simultaneously emailed to
all education providers who applied through this notice.
Approvals are not subject to expiration. However, an approval may
be revoked for justifiable cause.
At a minimum, courses submitted for consideration must contain the
following content:
Preparing for homeownership (evaluate readiness to go from
rental to homeownership)
Budgeting (pre and post purchase)
Credit counseling
Shopping for a home
Lender differences (predatory lending)
[[Page 74105]]
Obtaining a mortgage (mortgage process, different types of
mortgages)
Loan closing (closing process, documentation, closing costs)
Post-occupancy counseling (delinquency and foreclosure
prevention)
Life as a homeowner (homeowner warranties, maintenance, and
repairs)
The Agency-selected panel will base their recommendation on the
following considerations:
Certificate of completion
Fee (must be nominal)
Duration
Topics covered
System features (chat function, bookmarks, start-stop, audio,
etc.)
Readability (level of complexity in language used)
User Friendliness
Bi-lingual Spanish
Multi-lingual
Pre/Post assessment of knowledge
Attractiveness of site/course
Submission packages should include course background, copy of
certificate of completion, price sheet, and contact information (name,
phone number, and email address).
If an education provider wishes to be considered as a first or
second format preference, they must express which one in their
submission package, provide strong written justification, and
supporting materials.
Due to the lapse in federal funding that caused a partial closing
of federal government operations from October 1 through October 16,
2013, RHS is extending this notice and submission deadline for review
of online homeownership education courses to December 31, 2013.
Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived
from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a
program discrimination complaint form, (available at any USDA office
location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
Or call toll-free (866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional
information, the appropriate office or to request documents.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities
may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or
(877) 845-6136 (in Spanish). ``USDA is an equal opportunity provider,
employer and lender.''
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (e.g. Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA TARTET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
Dated: November 20, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29335 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P