InfoBytes Blog
Filter
Subscribe to our InfoBytes Blog weekly newsletter and other publications for news affecting the financial services industry.
Federal Agencies Announce Two-Year HAMP Extension
On May 30, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) through December 31, 2015. Concurrently, the Treasury Department and HUD announced an extension of the HAMP deadline for non-Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to harmonize with the FHFA extension. The programs were set to expire at the end of 2013. In addition, the FHFA extended from August 2015 through the end of 2015 its streamlined modification initiative.
Freddie Mac Extends Deadline for Servicer Law Firm Selection, Retention Requirements
On May 28, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2013-9, which extends for two months the date by which servicers must adhere to certain new requirements related to the management of law firms for default servicing, bankruptcies, and related litigation. Servicers now have until August 1, 2013 to comply with the changes related to selection and retention of firms, firm minimum requirements, training and contracting, referral of default-related legal matters, prohibitions, and use of connectivity and invoice-processing systems.
Freddie Mac Announces Start of Modified Loans Securitization
On May 23, Freddie Mac announced that it has begun securitizing certain loans that were modified for borrowers at risk of foreclosure. The announcement explains that (i) to be eligible for securitization, loans must be current for at least six consecutive months, (ii) the modified loans are pooled into new Freddie Mac Fixed-Rate Modified Participation Certificates (Modified PCs) with new “MA-MD” prefixes, and (iii) the pools are not TBA deliverable and do not include loans modified through HAMP. Freddie Mac intends to provide additional pool-level and loan-level disclosures specific to the Modified PCs, as well as pool-level disclosure of payment history covering up to 36 months before the Modified PC issuance.
Banking Agencies, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Offer Guidance Regarding Oklahoma Tornadoes
Last week, the FDIC, the OCC, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac issued guidance and information for banks, lenders, and servicers operating in areas impacted by recent tornadoes. The FDIC and the OCC encouraged banks to work with borrowers, extend repayment terms, restructure existing loans, or ease terms for new loans, provided such actions are consistent with sound banking practices, and to take other steps such as waiving ATM fees and late payment penalties. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reminded servicers of the range of borrower relief options available in the wake of a natural disaster.
Sixth Circuit Holds Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Exempt from Local Taxes
On May 20, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned a district court decision and held that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exempt from state and local real estate transfer taxes. Oakland v. Fed. Hous. Fin. Agency, No.12-2135/2136, 2013 WL 2149964 (6th Cir. May 20, 2013). In this case, as in other similar cases pending around the country, Michigan counties and the state of Michigan sued to recover state and local real estate transfer taxes from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHFA for property transfers made by those entities. The appeals court held that Congress expressly exempted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from “all taxation,” including all state and local taxation, when it chartered those institutions and that it applied the same exemption to the FHFA as conservator in the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act. The court rejected the state and local entities' argument that the phrase "all taxation" applies only to direct taxes and not excise taxes. The court added that Congress specifically carved out real property taxes from the "all taxation" exemption, but did not carve out the types of transfer taxes at issue in this case. The court vacated the district court's order and remanded with direction that the district court enter summary judgment for the FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. In a statement issued after the decision, one Michigan county stated that it plans to seek Supreme Court review.
Freddie Mac Introduces Low Activity Fee, Updates Numerous Seller/Servicer Requirements
On May 15, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin Number 2013-8, which includes numerous revisions to requirements for sellers and servicers. According to the Bulletin, beginning January 1, 2014, a seller/servicer will be charged a $7,500 low activity fee if the seller/servicer does not either (i) sell mortgages to Freddie Mac with an aggregate unpaid principal balance greater than $5 million during the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) service, or act as a servicing agent for, mortgages for Freddie Mac with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of at least $25 million as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year. In addition, the Bulletin, among other things: (i) requires seller/servicers to comply with the deadlines specified by Freddie Mac when it requests cooperation in a fraud investigation; (ii) notifies sellers and reminds servicers that seller/servicers must direct mortgage insurers providing coverage on mortgages sold to and/or serviced for Freddie Mac to release data to Freddie Mac at Freddie Mac’s request; (iii) updates and revises requirements for Living Trusts and announces that mortgages secured by properties in which the legal and equitable title is held by a land trust will no longer be eligible for purchase under the Guide, unless certain conditions are met; and (iv) prohibits sellers that have guarantor master commitments from taking out fixed-rate cash contracts for the sale of super conforming mortgages.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Directed to Purchase Only QM Loans
On May 6, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must limit their future mortgage acquisitions to loans that meet the requirements for qualified mortgages under the CFPB’s January 2013 ability-to-repay/qualified mortgage rule (ATR/QM rule), including special or temporary qualified mortgage requirements, and loans that are exempt from the “ability-to-repay” requirements. After the ATR/QM rule takes effect on January 10, 2014, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will no longer purchase a loan subject to the ability-to-repay requirements if the loan (i) is not fully amortizing, (ii) has a term of longer than 30 years, or (iii) includes points and fees in excess of 3% of the total loan amount, or such other limits for low balance loans as set forth in the rule. The announcement, together with announcements made by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, confirms that the enterprises will continue to purchase loans that meet the underwriting and delivery eligibility requirements stated in their respective selling guides, including those that are processed through their automated underwriting systems.
Freddie Mac Announces Numerous Servicing Policy Updates
On April 15, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin Number 2013-6, which announces numerous revisions to servicing requirements. The bulletin updates the allowable amounts for attorney fees for default-related legal services and details changes to the reimbursement process for such fees. Freddie Mac also reminds servicers about changes to foreclosure sale bidding on first lien mortgages. The bulletin explains that because Freddie Mac may need to verify directly with mortgage insurers the presence and nature of mortgage insurance coverage, servicers and sellers are required to direct mortgage insurers in writing to release data to Freddie Mac upon request. In addition, the bulletin (i) reminds servicers of the reporting activities they must undertake after extending trial periods for borrowers who subsequently file for bankruptcy during the trial period plan and provides requirements on reporting the optional interim month, (ii) revises Servicing Success Program requirements related to Servicer Success File Reviews and the Servicer Performance Profile, (iii) updates the Guide to reflect the retirement of the Freddie Mac Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives initiative, and (iv) announces other miscellaneous form and Guide updates.
FHFA Announces Two-Year HARP Extension
On April 11, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to December 31, 2015. The program was set to expire at the end of 2013. In addition, the FHFA plans to launch a nationwide campaign to educate consumers about HARP. The FHFA announcement also includes HARP frequently-asked-questions and eligibility criteria for a HARP refinance.
FHFA OIG Calls for Oversight of Counterparty Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws
On March 26, the FHFA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report that concludes the FHFA has failed to actively oversee how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac monitor counterparty compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws. The OIG review found that the FHFA is vulnerable to questions about why it does not have a strategy to monitor the Enterprises’ activities to assess whether they are aligned with the public interest as reflected in federal and state laws and regulations, and that the Enterprises’ failure to pursue seller repurchase demands related to mortgages in default with no material underwriting deficiencies—but that were originated in violation of consumer protection laws—may result in losses to the Enterprises that could be avoided or mitigated. The OIG concludes that given the FHFA’s duty under HERA to ensure that the activities of the Enterprises are consistent with the public interest, the FHFA should develop and implement a risk-based plan to monitor the Enterprises’ oversight of their counterparties’ compliance with contractual requirements, including consumer protection laws. According to the report, the FHFA has begun to put together a plan to address this oversight role.