AARMR urges waiving of certain fees and charges

Federal Issues Covid-19 AARMR Mortgages Lending Servicing

On March 17, the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) issued a statement encouraging mortgage lenders and servicers to take steps to “mitigate the impact to consumers of actions taken in response to Covid-19.” For lenders, the AARMR suggests steps such as waiving rate lock extension fees if an application is delayed for reasons beyond an applicant’s control, or refraining from closing an application due to incompleteness if an applicant is having difficulty gathering required documents. For servicers, the AARMR suggested waiving certain late charges (if permitted), offering forbearance plans or other deferment options, and generally ensuring that all staff are aware of available options and are proactive in assisting borrowers with potential delinquent payments. The AARMR also encourages member agencies to consider the impact of Covid-19 in their dealings with brokers, lenders, servicers, and MLOs.