About the FHA Connection


Registering	Getting Help	Contacting Us

The FHA Connection provides FHA-approved lenders and business partners with direct, secure, online access to computer systems of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is primarily used by FHA-approved lenders for originating and servicing FHA-insured single family home mortgages and updating their lender information. It is also used by HUD personnel and other FHA-approved business partners to access Appraiser Review, Underwriter Review, Lender Assessment Subsystem (LASS), Multifamily Delinquency and Default Reports System (MDDR), and Physical Assessment Subsystem (PASS) for their business processing.

Many FHA Connection transactions are also available via the FHA Connection Business to Government (FHAC B2G) application. FHAC B2G is an XML based interface designed for Loan Origination Systems (LOS) to directly interface with the FHA Connection transactions. For detailed information on FHAC B2G, please visit our FHAC B2G information site.

For a detailed explanation of FHA Connection procedures, please see the FHA Connection Guide. FHA-approved lenders and service bureaus can also use the Mortgagee Packet to get an overview of the FHA single family insurance functions available on the FHA Connection.

Registering to Use the FHA Connection

An FHA Connection user ID and password are required to log on to the FHA Connection. To obtain an ID, an applicant must register according to the procedures defined for the user type.

•	FHA-approved Lender or Service Bureau	•	Auditor or Independent Public Accountant (IPA) Using LASS
•	FHA-approved Appraiser Participating in HUD's Appraiser Review	•	CAIVRS for Federal Agencies and Non-FHA Approved Lenders
•	FHA-approved Contractor Participating in HUD's Underwriter Review	•	FHA Subsidiary Ledger Business Partners

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Type of User

Registration

•	FHA-approved Lender
	(Single Family or Multifamily)
•	Service Bureau

The organization must designate an employee to act as an Application Coordinator. A maximum of two Application Coordinators are allowed. Application Coordinators maintain the FHA Connection user IDs for the entire organization (besides using the FHA Connection applications for which they are authorized). If the request for an Application Coordinator ID is approved, a notification letter disclosing the ID is mailed within 7 to 10 days to the organization's home office mailing address, to the attention of the organization's chief executive officer (CEO). Upon final approval by the CEO, the FHA Connection user ID is provided to the Application Coordinator.

• Prior to applying for an Application Coordinator ID, the applicant should verify the mailing address HUD has on record for the organization to avoid possible mailing delays.

• An Application Coordinator applicant is required to complete the Application Coordinator Registration form to obtain an FHA Connection user ID.

• Once the Application Coordinator receives an ID, other employees of the organization (Standard Users) can request FHA Connection user IDs for themselves by completing the Standard User Registration form.
• All registration forms are processed overnight. An e-mail message is sent to the e-mail address provided on the applicant's registration form notifying the applicant if an FHA Connection user ID was issued. If an ID was not issued, an explanation is provided.

• The Application Coordinator obtains the ID issued for the Standard User by accessing FHA Connection ID Administration through the FHA Connection's ID Maintenance menu. The Application Coordinator grants the Standard User the appropriate FHA Connection application authorizations (see Authorizing Users in the Mortgagee Packet for details). The FHA Connection user ID is then disclosed to the Standard User by the Application Coordinator. Application Coordinators can maintain their own FHA Connection user ID information and grant themselves the appropriate FHA Connection application authorizations.

Note: To establish a service bureau for a Title II lender, send a request via e-mail to sf_premiums@hud.gov. Mortgagee Letter 97-33 explains the information that must be included in the request. To establish a service bureau for a Title I lender, call the Premiums Help Line at (800) 669-5152, x4232.

FHA-approved Appraiser Participating in HUD's Appraiser Review

The appraiser is required to complete the Appraiser Registration form. Once HUD reviews and approves the request, an FHA Connection user ID is issued. The registration form is processed overnight. An e-mail message is sent to the e-mail address provided on the applicant's registration form notifying the applicant if an FHA Connection user ID was issued. If an ID was not issued, an explanation is provided. A notification letter disclosing the ID is mailed to the appraiser within 7 to 10 days to the address HUD has on record for the appraiser. The appraiser can verify that HUD has the correct address by using the Appraisers lookup. Note: An appraiser acting as a prime contractor must contact the appropriate Homeownership Center (HOC) and request that the appraiser's FHA Connection user ID be linked to the name HUD has on record for the prime contractor. Prime contractor information is maintained by the Appraiser Review data manager for each HOC.

FHA-approved Contractor Participating in HUD's Underwriter Review

The Underwriter Review contractor must designate an employee to act as an Application Coordinator. A maximum of two Application Coordinators are allowed. Application Coordinators maintain the FHA Connection user IDs for the entire organization (besides using the FHA Connection applications for which they are authorized). If the request for an Application Coordinator ID is approved, a notification letter disclosing the ID is mailed within 7 to 10 days to the organization's home office mailing address, to the attention of the organization's chief executive officer (CEO). Upon final approval by the CEO, the FHA Connection user ID is provided to the Application Coordinator.

•	Prior to applying for an Application Coordinator ID, the applicant should use the URS Contractor Address lookup to verify the mailing address HUD has on record for the organization to avoid possible mailing delays.
•	An Application Coordinator applicant is required to complete the URS Registration form to obtain an FHA Connection user ID.
•	Once the Application Coordinator receives an ID, other employees of the organization (Standard Users) can request FHA Connection user IDs for themselves by completing the URS Registration form.
•	All registration forms are processed overnight. An e-mail message is sent to the e-mail address provided on the applicant's registration form notifying the applicant if an FHA Connection user ID was issued. If an ID was not issued, an explanation is provided.
•	The Application Coordinator obtains the ID issued for the Standard User by accessing the ID Maintenance Menu and selecting FHA Connection ID Administration. The Application Coordinator grants the Standard User the appropriate FHA Connection application authorizations. The FHA Connection user ID is then disclosed to the Standard User by the Application Coordinator. Application Coordinators can maintain their own FHA Connection user ID information and grant themselves the appropriate FHA Connection application authorizations.

Auditor or Independent Public Accountant (IPA) Using LASS

Auditors and independent public accountants (IPA) are required to obtain FHA Connection user IDs as "Independent users" in order to assist HUD business partners (i.e., FHA-approved lenders) with their annual lender audit. Currently, they are auditor submitters and independent public accountants. Independent users can register for online access to LASS by completing the Independent User Registration. The registration form is processed overnight. An e-mail message is sent to the e-mail address provided on the applicant's registration form containing the FHA Connection user ID issued for the applicant. If an ID was not issued, an explanation is provided. After an ID is issued, the Application Coordinator of the lender the Independent user is assisting grants the appropriate LASS user role. The Independent user can then go to the Online Systems page on HUD's web site to access the LASS system. For more information, please see the LASS FAQs.

CAIVRS for Federal Agencies and Non-FHA Approved Lenders

Registration for secure Internet use of the Credit Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS) by employees of participating CAIVRS Federal agencies and non-FHA lending institutions is available at the CAIVRS Web site.

FHA Subsidiary Ledger Business Partners

Registration for secure Internet use of the FHA Subsidiary Ledger is available to HUD business partners.

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FHA Connection Online Help

A help link is located on each data entry page to assist you. The help provides details about valid data entries and information returned.

Some pages have a help link in the form of a question mark	[Help]
Other pages have redesigned help, which includes a bar of help links near the top of the page.

Business Background

Steps for Processing

Field Descriptions

Help

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MDDR Overview

The Multifamily Delinquency and Default Reporting System (MDDR) automates the delinquent loan reporting process through a Web-based application. This tool allows lenders, program managers, portfolio managers and HUD headquarters users to submit, update, and view records and reports in the HEREMS database. However, only lenders have access to MDDR through the FHA Connection. All other users access MDDR through Secure Systems. If users require further information about the MDDR system, they can locate it by clicking on the Help link in the system. If additional assistance is needed, users may contact the MDDR Help Desk at (800) 767-7588. Please note that this help desk is for MDDR issues only. If users have other FHA Connection concerns, they should send an e-mail to SF Administration. The MDDR Help Desk has specific hours of operation and they are:

Monday - Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM EST
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST

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FHA Connection Contacts

If you have any questions about the use of the FHA Connection, please direct them to the appropriate staff depending on the function or issue you are having.

Contacts for specific systems available on the FHA Connection are listed below:

• Multifamily FHA - Multifamily Delinquency and Default Reporting
E-mail: MDDR Administration (mddr_help@hud.gov)
Phone: (800) 767-7588

• Multifamily FHA - Physical Assessment Subsystem
E-mail: Real Estate Assessment Center - Technical Assistance Center (REAC_TAC@hud.gov)
Phone: (888) 245-4860

• Single Family FHA - Lender Assessment
E-mail: Real Estate Assessment Center - Technical Assistance Center (REAC_TAC@hud.gov)
Phone: (888) 245-4860

• Single Family FHA - Claims Processing
E-mail: Claims Help Desk (FHA_SFClaims@hud.gov)

• Single Family FHA - Property Improvement/Manufactured Housing (Title I)
E-mail: Financial Operations Center (Title_One_help@hud.gov)
Phone: (800) 669 -5152

Questions concerning all other FHA Connection functions, issues with signing onto the FHA Connection, or the unavailability of the FHA Connection Web server should be directed to SF Administration or to the HUD Homeownership Center (HOC) for your area. The HOC telephone numbers are listed below.

HOC Telephone Area Served

Atlanta (888) 696-4687

Alabama Caribbean Florida Georgia

Illinois Indiana Kentucky Mississippi

North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee

Denver (800) 543-9378

Arkansas Colorado Iowa Kansas

Louisiana Minnesota Missouri Montana

New Mexico Nebraska North Dakota Oklahoma

South Dakota Texas Utah Wisconsin

Wyoming

Philadelphia (215) 656-0578

Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Maine

Maryland Massachusetts Michigan New Hampshire

New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania

Rhode Island Vermont Virginia West Virginia

Santa Ana (888) 827-5605

Arizona California Idaho Nevada

Oregon Washington Hawaii Alaska

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