InfoBytes Blog
State Law Update: Mortgage Law Changes in Alabama & West Virginia
Alabama Enacts Residential Mortgage Satisfaction Act. On May 3, Alabama enacted Senate Bill 347, which establishes procedures by which a borrower can obtain a payoff statement for a residential mortgage, including the form of such a request, deadlines for responding to a request (14 days), and the method for providing the statement, among other things. The bill also requires a secured creditor to record a mortgage satisfaction within 30 days after it receives full payment and performance of the obligation, and establishes a process for enforcing the recording requirement. The bill takes effect March 1, 2013.
West Virginia Amends Mortgage Record Keeping Requirements. Recently, West Virginia amended regulations that implement the record keeping requirements for all licensed residential mortgage lenders, brokers, and servicers. For lenders who provide the initial funding on a loan, the rules now make clear that the requirement to retain electronic records includes emails between the lender and borrower. Initial lenders and mortgage brokers also must maintain an itemized list of all fees and charges imposed on each loan and received by the lender or broker and by any third party. Further, the regulation adds a new requirement that a lender or broker document tangible net benefit to the borrower prior to refinancing a residential mortgage. The regulation also contains a new section on the process by which the state Division of Banking will determine if mortgage loan originator applicants meet certain standards of financial responsibility required by West Virginia law. The requirements took effect May 1, 2012.