The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2021-23, which establishes mandatory transition dates for mortgagees to submit appraisals for single family forward and reverse mortgage endorsements through the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module.
The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) appraisal submission functionality is a new capability immediately available within the module. Mortgagees must deliver appraisals through the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module based on the following mandatory transition dates:
- Effective on and after March 14, 2022, appraisal delivery through the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module is mandatory for all cases unless a previous appraisal version has been submitted to the legacy EAD portal.
- For cases with a previous appraisal submission in the legacy EAD portal before March 14, 2022, appraisal resubmissions may continue to be delivered through the legacy EAD portal until April 15, 2022.
- After April 15, 2022, appraisal submissions for all cases, regardless of previous submission status, must be delivered through the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module.
Until further notice, the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module will only accept appraisal resubmissions for cases initiated in the module. Prior to April 15, 2022, FHA will notify mortgagees in an upcoming FHA INFO when the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module is available to receive resubmissions initiated in the legacy EAD portal.
Registration and Onboarding Information
Existing EAD Portal Users
Existing legacy EAD portal user information will automatically be registered in the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module. These users will receive an email from FHACatalyst@hud.gov with instructions on how to complete registration.
New FHA Catalyst: EAD Module Users
New users seeking access to the module must ask their FHA Connection (FHAC) coordinator to email the completed FHA Catalyst External User Access Request Form to the FHA Resource at answers@hud.gov. This form may also be used to modify or terminate user access. The existing EAD Administrator function is not available in the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module at this time.
Technology Service Providers
For mortgagees or their technology service providers seeking to establish direct integration access to FHA Catalyst: EAD Module, the onboarding process will occur in waves, which are tentatively scheduled for October, November, and December 2021. To sign up for a wave, requests must be submitted by email to answers@hud.gov with the subject line: “Catalyst EAD Module Wave Registration.”
Application Programming Interface (API) Developers
API developers can request a copy of the Developer’s Guide, which defines the supported data standards for electronic appraisal submissions to the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module, by email at answers@hud.gov.
Additional Resources
Mortgagees are encouraged to review the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module External User Guide and the FHA Catalyst: EAD Module web page for further information. Upcoming trainings will also be communicated via FHA INFO at a later date.
In addition, this update will be incorporated in an upcoming version of the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1.