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FHFA eases loan processing for GSEs
On March 31, the FHFA announced that it has provided flexibility to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) in processing loans. According to the announcement, the GSEs will now be allowed to (i) use “desktop appraisals on new construction loans”; (ii) accept an “alternative to the Completion Report” to show that construction is complete; (iii) rely on documents from borrowers to allow draws instead of requiring inspections; and (iv) utilize remote online notarizations and powers of attorney to a greater extent. Fannie Mae updated LL-2020-04 to specifically address temporary appraisal requirements, identification of Fannie Mae loans, and alternatives to complete report Form 1004D. Additionally, Fannie Mae updated LL-2020-03 for single-family sellers, adding remote online notarization, verification of self-employment, age of documentation, market-based assets, powers of attorney, and lender QC requirements. Freddie Mac also covered the FHFA topics in Bulletin 2020-8 with Covid-19-related selling guidance.
Colorado regulator issues appraisal guidance for banks and credit unions
On March 27, Colorado’s Division of Banks and Division of Financial Services distributed a document consolidating Covid-19 related guidance regarding inspections and appraisals from the Appraisal Standards Board, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FDIC. Taken together, the agencies have issued guidance indicating that they will accept external-only or desktop inspections and appraisals in light of risks of conducting interior inspections during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Indiana amends certain financial institution and consumer credit provisions
On March 18, the Indiana governor signed House Enrolled Act No. 1353, which amends various provisions concerning financial institutions and consumer credit, including those related to first lien mortgage lenders, credit unions, and surety bond requirements for licensed mortgage loans originators, pawnbrokers, and money transmitters, among others. Among other things, the act also amends a provision in the state statute governing credit unions, which provides that loans made by a credit union to the credit union’s individual officers (and to the immediate family members of an officer, director, or supervisory committee member) must be made in accordance with Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board. The act also stipulates that required appraisals connected to mortgage loans made to credit union members must be “consistent with the appraisal standards and transaction value limitations” outlined in the National Credit Union Administration’s appraisal regulations. The amendments take effect July 1.
Agencies increase threshold for appraisal exemption under TILA for HPMLs
On October 30, the CFPB, OCC, and the Federal Reserve Board published a final rule in the Federal Register, which increases the smaller loan exemption threshold for the special appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans (HPMLs) under TILA. TILA requires creditors to obtain a written appraisal before making a HPML unless the loan amount is at or below the threshold exemption. Each year the threshold must be readjusted based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The exemption threshold for 2020 is $27,200, up from $26,700 in 2019. The final rule will take effect January 1, 2020.
Agencies raise residential appraisal requirement to $400,000
On September 27, the OCC, the Federal Reserve Board, and the FDIC announced a final rule increasing the threshold for residential real estate transactions requiring an appraisal from $250,000 to $400,000. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in November 2018, the agencies proposed the threshold increase in response to feedback that the exemption threshold had not increased to keep pace with the price appreciation in the residential real estate market. The final rule also includes the rural residential appraisal exemption included in the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (previously covered by InfoBytes here), and implements the Dodd-Frank Act mandate that institutions appropriately review appraisals for compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. The final rule is effective the first day after publication in the Federal Register, except for the evaluation requirement for transactions exempted by the rural residential appraisal exemption and the requirement to review appraisals for compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, which are effective January 1, 2020.
The FDIC press release is available here, the Federal Reserve Board press release is available here, and the concurrence letter from the CFPB is available here.
OCC issues guidance on appraisal management company registration
On September 16, the OCC issued Bulletin 2019-43, “Appraisals: Appraisal Management Company Registration Requirements,” which reminds covered institutions of the new registration requirement for appraisal management companies (AMC) that became effective on August 10. Specifically, under 12 CFR 34, subpart H, AMCs are now required to register with the state or states in which they do business; however, an AMC that is owned and controlled by an insured depository institution and regulated by the OCC, Federal Reserve Board, or FDIC is not subject to the registration requirement. The Bulletin reminds covered institutions that they should conduct sufficient due diligence to confirm that third-party AMCs are registered as required, including (i) checking the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (ASC) national AMC registry; (ii) checking the relevant state’s AMC registry if the AMC is not listed on the national registry; and (iii) if no electronic registry check is available, requesting evidence of registration directly from the AMC. Moreover, if a covered institution determines that a federally related transaction is in a state that is not registering AMCs, an institution may instead use an individual appraiser, a staff appraiser employed by the institution, a smaller AMC not subject to the regulation, or a federally regulated AMC.
Fannie Mae updates Selling Guide
On December 4, Fannie Mae issued SEL-2018-09, which announces updates to the Selling Guide, including a new self-employment income calculation tool and an updated policy for appraisal waivers for disasters. Specifically, the guide now addresses the use of an approved vendor tool to assist lenders in calculating self-employment income: Fannie Mae “will provide representation and warranty enforcement relief on the accuracy of the calculation of the amount of self-employment income” to lenders that use this tool and enter the income calculated into Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter. Additionally, the guide now allows lenders to exercise appraisal waiver offers on loans in process at the time of a disaster. If a property was damaged during a disaster, but the damage does not affect the safety, soundness, or structural integrity of the property and the repair items are covered by insurance, the lender may still deliver the loan to Fannie Mae; however, the lender must obtain a cost estimate for the repair and ensure that funds are available to the borrower to guarantee the completion of the repairs. The appraisal waiver change is available starting on or after the weekend of December 8. Among other things, the updates also include changes to (i) commission income and unreimbursed business expenses; (ii) Desktop Underwriter Version 10.3; (iii) small business administration loans; and (iv) duplicative provisions regarding flood insurance coverage.
FHA’s second appraisal requirement for reverse mortgages now fully automated
On November 29, FHA announced that the protocols in place for the second appraisal requirement for certain reverse mortgage transactions are now fully automated. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in September, FHA announced that it would require a second appraisal for certain Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) transactions (also known as “reverse mortgages”) to mitigate the risk that valuation of the collateral poses to FHA borrowers and the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, according to Mortgagee Letter 2018-06. FHA will perform a collateral risk assessment of the appraisal prepared for use in all reverse mortgage originations; whether a second appraisal is required will depend on the results of the assessment. Now, once an appraisal is logged into the system, a lender will immediately receive a message indicating whether a second appraisal is required or not required.
Agencies increase threshold for appraisal exemption under TILA for HPMLs
On November 23, the CFPB, OCC, and the Federal Reserve Board published a final rule in the Federal Register, which increases the smaller loan exemption threshold for the special appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans (HPMLs) under TILA. TILA requires creditors to obtain a written appraisal based on a physical visit to the home’s interior before making a HPML, unless the loan meets or is less than the threshold exemption. Each year the threshold must be readjusted based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The exemption threshold for 2019 is $26,700, up from $26,000. This final rule is effective January 1, 2019.
Agencies propose $400,000 threshold for residential appraisal requirement
On November 20, the OCC announced a joint notice of proposed rulemaking with the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, which raises the threshold for residential real estate transactions requiring an appraisal to $400,000 from its current level of $250,000. According to the OCC, the proposal is in response to feedback that the current exemption threshold has not increased to keep pace with the price appreciation in the residential real estate market. The proposal includes the rural residential appraisal exemption included in the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (previously covered by InfoBytes here). Additionally, among other things, the proposal implements the Dodd-Frank Act mandate that institutions appropriately review appraisals for compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Comments will be due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.