AWACSMortgage compliance intelligence from Flightline

Newrez Correspondent · Correspondent Bulletin Announcement 2026-045 · Published

Transition to Agency Websites and FHA Handbook for Underwriting Standards

Correspondent clients should consult GSE websites directly for conventional conforming rules and FHA Handbook 4000.1 for FHA requirements. Newrez will continue providing overlay matrices and product summaries alongside existing VA and USDA guides.

InformationalIn effect nowAll checks passedRead the bulletin ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Loan impact

Summarized from the bulletin · verified

Applies to: Agency conventional and FHA mortgages sold to Newrez.

Scope differs by change; see each change below.

Addressed to
Newrez correspondent sellersFrom the publisher, not quoted from the text
Investor
NewrezFrom the publisher, not quoted from the text
Affected area
Eligibility
Affected documents
Underwriting guidelines; product matrices
Applicability confidence
Verified: every row taken from the source text is supported by it; rows marked "from the publisher" are not quoted

Summary by AWACS. Newrez Correspondent's guide is proprietary, so AWACS does not reproduce its text. Read the official announcement ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What changed

Summarized from the bulletin
RequirementPreviouslyNow
Direct referencing of GSE guideline repositoriesClarifiedNot statedUsers must navigate directly to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac web portals for conforming agency underwriting guidance.
Applies when: Program is Conventional
Primary authority source for FHA loan evaluationClarifiedNot statedFHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 is established as the primary manual for FHA underwriting criteria.
Applies when: Program is FHA

What to do

AWACS interpretation · not source language

What to review: Review the guidance clarifying that conventional underwriting standards must be accessed directly from GSE websites and FHA standards from FHA Handbook 4000.1 while continuing to reference Newrez overlay matrices.

QC implications

  • Quality control should test that conventional and FHA loan files align directly with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA Handbook 4000.1 standards in conjunction with Newrez overlay matrices.

Source and record

Version 1 · archived

Checks

  • Source verified: Passed

    The document ID, link and publication date match the official source.

  • Quotes match the source: Passed

    Every quoted passage appears word for word in the official document.

  • Requirements backed by the source: Passed

    Anything marked required is backed by the requirement language and dates in the source.

  • In scope: Passed

    The document is about residential mortgage lending.

  • Format and labels: Passed

    The record follows the AWACS format and uses its standard labels.