WASHINGTON - Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies,
William C. Apgar, executive director of the center, said FHA programs
He advocated that the government agency be reconstituted as
The center's report is based on a series of forums around the nation
The report outlined a series of problems that plague the agency.
*FHA programs require time-consuming, redundant documentation, it said.
At a news conference, Jim Irvine, president of the National Association
He said once a homebuilder sells a home, the goal is to close the sale
Processing delays can lead to lost sales, Mr. Irvine suggested.
*The FHA's programs are too rigid, the report said.
With prices and programs set by Congress, the programs can't adjust
*The federal housing administrator lacks the technological resources to
The office "often does not know its own portfolio and can take several
Despite these shortcomings, FHA programs serve a vital role, Mr. Apgar
The report suggests that through demonstration programs and underwriting