HUD's mission is to strengthen the housing market and ensuring consumers have fair and informed access to housing. HUD takes strong action to hold the mortgage industry accountable for the products and services they provide to families who are either seeking to buy or rent a home or struggling to keep the home they have.

For example, HUD constantly monitors lenders who are approved by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). By evaluating loan performance, FHA can identify those lenders who fail to apply the agency's standards when originating, underwriting or servicing mortgages.
In addition, HUD's Mortgagee Review Board can take strong action against lenders who fall short of their responsibilities to adhere to FHA's guidelines.

HUD's Office of the Inspector General can also investigate allegations of improper lending and servicing behavior in the housing market. In the most extreme cases of alleged misconduct, HUD may event refer particular cases for the U.S. Department of Justice for action.

Historically, HUD also investigated alleged violations involving the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (ILS). Regulatory oversight of these two areas now falls under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
 

President Obama established the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force in November 2009 to hold accountable those who helped bring about the last financial crisis as well as those who would attempt to take advantage of the efforts at economic recovery. Examples of financial fraud include situations in which homebuyers or lenders falsify information to obtain a home loan or so-called foreclosure rescue companies who prey on families struggling to keep their homes. Read more.
 

HUD's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to protecting HUD's programs and taxpayers' dollars from unscrupulous individuals and corporations who take advantage of the housing programs administered by HUD. In addition to investigating suspected cases involving waste, fraud and abuse, HUD's OIG also works to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Read more.