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Freddie Mac Updates Tools and Policies Regarding Disclosure of Property Valuation
On October 8, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-20, which (i) announces tools and systems that provide estimates of property value generated by Freddie Mac’s proprietary automated property valuation model and (ii) updates requirements related to disclosure of property valuation information. Freddie Mac explains that its property value estimates can help sellers/servicers identify potentially inflated appraised values that may need additional review early in the origination process and also can be used to determine property values for Freddie Mac modifications or refinances, but that use of the valuation information may impact seller/servicers’ obligation to comply with the revised valuation disclosure requirements finalized by the CFPB earlier this year. For sellers, the Bulletin states that Freddie Mac will be adding disclaimers about the property value estimate, and provides additional options for system-to-system users. For servicers, Freddie Mac plans to provide supporting text for use in complying with the new disclosure requirements and to provide to borrowers. The Bulletin identifies certain other changes related to the use of property valuation data.
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Provide Additional Guidance Regarding CFPB ATR/QM Rule
On October 1, Freddie Mac issued an industry letter and Fannie Mae issued Lender Letter LL-2013-07 to provide additional information regarding Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s new purchase eligibility requirements based on the CFPB’s final ability-to-repay/qualified mortgage (ATR/QM) rule. The letters inform sellers that, during an initial transitional period, the enterprises will not make any changes to their quality control processes and will not, except under certain circumstances, issue any repurchase requests related to the new points and fees eligibility requirements. The letters remind sellers that they must comply with all applicable laws regarding points and fees, including state laws and regulations that may be more restrictive than the CFPB ATR/QM rule, and withdraws prior guidance regarding excessive points and fees. Finally, the letters advise sellers that while Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are not at this time requiring any additional documentation, sellers should retain all materials that might be necessary to demonstrate compliance with the new eligibility requirements.
Freddie Mac Revises Numerous Selling, Servicing Requirements
On September 24, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-18, which updates and revises certain selling and servicing requirements. Effective October 1, 2013, Freddie Mac will require that seller/servicers (i) provide third-party vendors retained to perform functions relating to origination and servicing of mortgages with training on fraud prevention, detection, and reporting as outlined in the Seller/Servicer Guide, (ii) maintain written procedures for reporting fraud or possible fraud in connection with a mortgage sold to or serviced for Freddie Mac, and (iii) report to Freddie Mac when they first know or suspect an incident of fraud may have occurred in connection with a mortgage sold to or serviced for Freddie Mac, rather than when they have a reasonable belief of such an incident. With regard to selling requirements, the bulletin, among other things, (i) updates asset documentation requirements, including the requirements for verification of large deposits, (ii) updates requirements for underwriting borrowers on temporary leave, (iii) updates certain relief refinance requirements, and (iv) retires Investor Feature Identifiers for temporary subsidy buydown mortgages with special characteristics.
FHFA Seeks to Clarify Relief from City of Chicago Vacant Property Ordinance
On September 20, the FHFA filed a motion requesting that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois amend an order it issued after holding on August 23 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exempt from a 2011 City of Chicago ordinance that established new requirements for mortgagees and their agents regarding the maintenance of vacant property. The FHFA, as conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sued the city in December 2011 over the ordinance, which requires mortgagees to register vacant properties and pay a $500 registration fee per property. The FHFA asked the court “to specify the contents and persons” bound by its August 23 order. The motion was accompanied by a proposed order for declaratory and monetary relief, which would restate Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s immunity from the City’s ordinance and also would require the City to refund any payments that those the two enterprises, or any entities acting on their behalf, made pursuant to the ordinance.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Extend Streamlined Modifications, Announce HAMP Changes, Increase Certain State Foreclosure Timelines
On September 16, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-17, and on September 18, Fannie Mae issued Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2013-18, which extend those entities’ streamlined modification programs to include all streamlined modification trial period plans that become effective by December 1, 2015. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also extended the expiration date for HAMP such that Trial Period Plan Effective Dates must be on or before March 1, 2016 and Modification Effective Dates must be on or before September 1, 2016. Fannie Mae further applied these extended time frames to Second-Lien Modification Programs. In addition, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac revised their eligibility requirements for proposed HAMP modifications that are submitted through the Treasury Net Present Value Model on or after January 1, 2014. Further, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (i) retired the annual servicer “Pay for Success” incentive for HAMP-eligible mortgages, effective for modifications with effective dates on or after April 1, 2014 and (ii) updated requirements for repurchased loans subject to a HAMP permanent mortgage loan modification or trial plan. Finally, the Freddie Mac bulletin increased state foreclosure timelines by 30 days in Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington, for all foreclosure sales completed after September 1, 2013, while Fannie took the same action through a separate servicing notice.
Federal District Court Holds Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Exempt From Chicago's Property Maintenance Ordinance
On August 23, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois held that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exempt from a 2011 ordinance that established new requirements for mortgagees and their agents regarding the maintenance of vacant property. FHFA v. City of Chicago, No. 11-8795, 2013 WL 4505413 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 23, 2013). The FHFA, as conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sued the city over the ordinance, which requires mortgagees to register vacant properties and pay a $500 registration fee per property. The ordinance also imposes maintenance and other obligations on mortgagees and their agents (including servicers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), regardless of whether the properties are foreclosed upon, and mandates fines for non-compliance. The court granted summary judgment for the FHFA, holding that the statute that created the FHFA—the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA)—preempts the local ordinance. The court reasoned that although HERA does not expressly preempt local laws, Congress intended for the FHFA to be the only entity responsible for operating Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s business and could not have intended to allow thousands of municipalities to impose varying obligations on the FHFA. On those grounds, the court granted the FHFA’s motion for summary judgment. The court also held in the alternative “for purposes of completeness” that the registration fees imposed on Fannie and Freddie by the ordinance would constitute an impermissible tax on the FHFA in violation of the federal government’s immunity from taxation.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Update Selling Policies Based on CFPB QM Rule
On August 20, Fannie Mae issued Announcement SEL-2013-06 and Freddie Mac published Bulletin 2013-16, both of which update numerous selling requirements in response to the CFPB’s final Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage (ATR/QM) rule. As promised in their July 2013 notices to sellers, the issuances (i) detail new mortgage eligibility requirements (e.g., retirement of mortgages with original maturities in excess of 30 years and making mortgages with prepayment penalties ineligible for sale) (ii) revise thresholds for points and fees, (iii) revise higher-priced mortgage loans eligibility requirements, and (iv) remind sellers of other policies, including those related to the representation and warranty framework announced in September 2012. The changes take effect when the ATR/QM rule goes into effect on January 10, 2014.
Freddie Mac Updates SCRA Servicing Requirements
On August 15, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-05, which, among other things, revises requirements relating to the SCRA and similar state laws and explains servicer responsibilities to effectively implement military relief legal protections. Specifically, Freddie Mac eliminated the requirement that servicers collect and report official documentation of a servicemember’s disability or death and available government benefits in the event a servicemember dies or becomes disabled while on active duty. In addition, Freddie Mac added a new guide section to include the additional foreclosure relief Freddie Mac provides to servicemembers and their dependents, and repurposed another guide section to remind servicers of their responsibilities to evaluate servicemembers and their dependents for the most appropriate relief or workout option from Freddie Mac’s existing options when a servicemember or dependent: (i) does not qualify for mortgage relief under the provisions of the SCRA or similar state laws; or (ii) qualifies for mortgage relief under the provisions of the SCRA or similar state law, but chooses to explore other relief options.
FHFA Seeks Comment on Strategies to Reduce Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Multifamily Role
On August 9, the FHFA sought public input for reducing Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s presence in the multifamily housing market. In its request for public comment, the FHFA set forth various potential strategies, and is considering (i) placing restrictions on available loan terms (e.g. ceasing providing five-year loan terms), (ii) simplifying and standardizing loan products (e.g. establishing common loan terms, product features, and underwriting requirements), (iii) imposing new limits on property financing (e.g. restricting maximum financing amount), and (iv) imposing new limits on business activities (e.g. prohibiting the purchase of seasoned loans or loan pools). Comments on the proposals are due by October 8, 2013.
Freddie Mac Updates Disaster Assistance, Other Servicing Policies
On August 15, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-15, which updates and revises many of its servicing requirements, including those related to assistance for borrowers impacted by an eligible disaster. With respect to such impacted borrowers, the Bulletin provides updated requirements related to (i) property protection activities, such as ascertaining the extent of the damage, and, if necessary, securing abandoned properties, (ii) managing the delinquency of a borrower whose mortgaged premises or place of employment was impacted by a disaster, (iii) the addition of the new Disaster Relief Modification for Borrowers who were current or less than 31 days delinquent at the time of a disaster, (iv) streamlined modifications for borrowers who were current or less than 31 days delinquent at the time of a disaster, (v) Trial Period Plan eligibility requirements, (vi) insurance loss settlements, and (vi) credit reporting. The Bulletin also instructs servicers to follow applicable state laws when handling Freddie Mac default legal matters (e.g. foreclosure) and adds a new Guide chapter about when servicers should take advantage of state procedures that allow for quickly completing foreclosures. Further, the Bulletin (i) revises requirements for servicemembers and their dependents, (ii) revises property inspection requirements, (iii) revises requirements for the reimbursement of attorney fees and costs related to contested foreclosures and mediation, expenses incurred for title work, and condominium, homeowners association and Planned Unit Development assessments in super lien states, (iv) permanently extends the submission time frame for 104SF claims from 30 days to 45 days, and (v) updates unemployment forbearance requirements.