(a)
Statutory terms. All terms defined in RESPA (12 U.S.C. 2602)
‡ are
used in accordance with their statutory meaning unless otherwise defined
in paragraph (b) of this section or elsewhere in this part.
(b) Other terms. As used
in this part: Application means the submission of a borrower’s financial
information in anticipation of a credit decision relating to a federally
related mortgage loan, which shall include the borrower’s name, the
borrower’s monthly income, the borrower’s social security number to
obtain a credit report, the property address, an estimate of the value
of the property, the mortgage loan amount sought, and any other information
deemed necessary by the loan originator. An application may either
be in writing or electronically submitted, including a written record
of an oral application.
Balloon
payment has the same meaning as “balloon payment” under Regulation
Z (12 CFR part 1026).
Bureau means the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
Business day means a day on which the offices
of the business entity are open to the public for carrying on substantially
all of the entity’s business functions.
Changed circumstances means:
(1) (i) Acts of
God, war, disaster, or other emergency;
(ii) Information particular to the borrower
or transaction that was relied on in providing the GFE and that changes
or is found to be inaccurate after the GFE has been provided. This
may include information about the credit quality of the borrower,
the amount of the loan, the estimated value of the property, or any
other information that was used in providing the GFE;
(iii) New information particular to
the borrower or transaction that was not relied on in providing the
GFE; or
(iv) Other
circumstances that are particular to the borrower or transaction,
including boundary disputes, the need for flood insurance, or environmental
problems.
(2) Changed circumstances do not include:
(i) The borrower’s name,
the borrower’s monthly income, the property address, an estimate of
the value of the property, the mortgage loan amount sought, and any
information contained in any credit report obtained by the loan originator
prior to providing the GFE, unless the information changes or is found
to be inaccurate after the GFE has been provided; or
(ii) Market price fluctuations by themselves.
Dealer means, in the case of property improvement loans, a seller, contractor,
or supplier of goods or services. In the case of manufactured home
loans, “dealer” means one who engages in the business of manufactured
home retail sales.
Dealer loan
or dealer consumer credit contract means, generally, any arrangement
in which a dealer assists the borrower in obtaining a federally related
mortgage loan from the funding lender and then assigns the dealer’s
legal interests to the funding lender and receives the net proceeds
of the loan. The funding lender is the lender for the purposes of
the disclosure requirements of this part. If a dealer is a “creditor”
as defined under the definition of “federally related mortgage loan”
in this part, the dealer is the lender for purposes of this part.
Effective date of transfer is defined in section 6(i)(1) of RESPA (12 U.S.C. 2605(i)(1)). In the case of
a home equity conversion mortgage or reverse mortgage as referenced
in this section, the effective date of transfer is the transfer date
agreed upon by the transferee servicer and the transferor servicer.
6-1371
Federally related mortgage loan means:
(1) Any loan (other than temporary financing,
such as a construction loan):
(i) That is secured by a
first or subordinate lien on residential real property, including
a refinancing of any secured loan on residential real property, upon
which there is either:
(A) Located or, following settlement, will
be constructed using proceeds of the loan, a structure or structures
designed principally for occupancy of from one to four families (including
individual units of condominiums and cooperatives and including any
related interests, such as a share in the cooperative or right to
occupancy of the unit); or
(B) Located or, following settlement, will be placed using proceeds
of the loan, a manufactured home; and
(ii) For which one of the following
paragraphs applies. The loan:
(A) Is made in whole or in part
by any lender that is either regulated by or whose deposits or accounts
are insured by any agency of the Federal Government;
(B) Is made in whole or in part, or is insured,
guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way:
(1) By the Secretary of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or any other officer or agency
of the Federal Government; or
(2) Under or in connection with a
housing or urban development program administered by the Secretary
of HUD or a housing or related program administered by any other officer
or agency of the Federal Government;
(C) Is intended to be sold by the originating
lender to the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government
National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(or its successors), or a financial institution from which the loan
is to be purchased by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (or
its successors);
(D)
Is made in whole or in part by a “creditor,” as defined in section
103(g) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1602(g)),
that makes or invests in residential real estate loans aggregating
more than $1,000,000 per year. For purposes of this definition, the
term “creditor” does not include any agency or instrumentality of
any State, and the term “residential real estate loan” means any loan
secured by residential real property, including single-family and
multifamily residential property;
(E) Is originated either by a dealer or,
if the obligation is to be assigned to any maker of mortgage loans
specified in paragraphs (1)(ii)(A) through (D) of this definition,
by a mortgage broker; or
(F) Is the subject of a home equity conversion mortgage, also frequently
called a “reverse mortgage,” issued by any maker of mortgage loans
specified in paragraphs (1)(ii)(A) through (D) of this definition.
(2) Any installment sales contract, land contract, or contract for
deed on otherwise qualifying residential property is a federally related
mortgage loan if the contract is funded in whole or in part by proceeds
of a loan made by any maker of mortgage loans specified in paragraphs
(1)(ii)(A) through (D) of this definition.
(3) If the residential real property securing
a mortgage loan is not located in a State, the loan is not a federally
related mortgage loan.
6-1372
Good faith
estimate or GFE means an estimate of settlement charges a borrower
is likely to incur, as a dollar amount, and related loan information,
based upon common practice and experience in the locality of the mortgaged
property, as provided on the form prescribed in section 1024.7 and
prepared in accordance with the Instructions in Appendix C to this
part.
HUD means the Department
of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD-1 or HUD-1A settlement statement (also HUD-1 or HUD-1A) means the statement that is prescribed in this part for setting
forth settlement charges in connection with either the purchase or
the refinancing (or other subordinate lien transaction) of 1- to 4-family
residential property.
Lender means, generally, the secured creditor or creditors named in the
debt obligation and document creating the lien. For loans originated
by a mortgage broker that closes a federally related mortgage loan
in its own name in a table funding transaction, the lender is the
person to whom the obligation is initially assigned at or after settlement.
A lender, in connection with dealer loans, is the lender to whom the
loan is assigned, unless the dealer meets the definition of creditor
as defined under “federally related mortgage loan” in this section.
See also section 1024.5(b)(7), secondary market transactions.
Loan originator means a lender or mortgage broker.
Manufactured home is defined
in HUD regulation 24 CFR 3280.2.
Mortgage broker means a person (other than an employee of
a lender) that renders origination services and serves as an intermediary
between a borrower and a lender in a transaction involving a federally
related mortgage loan, including such a person that closes the loan
in its own name in a table-funded transaction.
6-1373
Mortgaged property means the real property that is security
for the federally related mortgage loan.
Origination service means any service involved
in the creation of a federally related mortgage loan, including but
not limited to the taking of the loan application, loan processing,
the underwriting and funding of the loan, and the processing and administrative
services required to perform these functions.
Person is defined in section 3(5) of RESPA (12
U.S.C. 2602(5)).
Prepayment penalty has the same meaning as “prepayment penalty”
under Regulation Z (12 CFR part 1026).
Public Guidance Documents means Federal Register documents adopted or published, that the Bureau may amend from time-to-time
by publication in the Federal Register. These documents are
also available from the Bureau. Requests for copies of Public Guidance
Documents should be directed to the Assistant Director, Office of
Regulations, Division of Research, Monitoring, and Regulations, Bureau
of Consumer Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC
20552.
Refinancing means
a transaction in which an existing obligation that was subject to
a secured lien on residential real property is satisfied and replaced
by a new obligation undertaken by the same borrower and with the same
or a new lender. The following shall not be treated as a refinancing,
even when the existing obligation is satisfied and replaced by a new
obligation with the same lender (this definition of “refinancing”
as to transactions with the same lender is similar to Regulation Z,
12 CFR 1026.20(a)):
(1) A renewal of a single payment obligation
with no change in the original terms;
(2) A reduction in the annual percentage
rate as computed under the Truth in Lending Act with a corresponding
change in the payment schedule;
(3) An agreement involving a court proceeding;
(4) A workout agreement,
in which a change in the payment schedule or change in collateral
requirements is agreed to as a result of the consumer’s default or
delinquency, unless the rate is increased or the new amount financed
exceeds the unpaid balance plus earned finance charges and premiums for continuation
of allowable insurance; and
(5) The renewal of optional insurance purchased
by the consumer that is added to an existing transaction, if disclosures
relating to the initial purchase were provided.
6-1374
Regulation Z means the regulations issued by the Bureau (12
CFR part 1026) to implement the Federal Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.), and includes the Commentary on Regulation Z.
Required use means a situation
in which a person must use a particular provider of a settlement service
in order to have access to some distinct service or property, and
the person will pay for the settlement service of the particular provider
or will pay a charge attributable, in whole or in part, to the settlement
service. However, the offering of a package (or combination of settlement
services) or the offering of discounts or rebates to consumers for
the purchase of multiple settlement services does not constitute a
required use. Any package or discount must be optional to the purchaser.
The discount must be a true discount below the prices that are otherwise
generally available, and must not be made up by higher costs elsewhere
in the settlement process.
RESPA means the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974
(12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.).
6-1374.1
Servicer means a person responsible for the servicing of a federally related
mortgage loan (including the person who makes or holds such loan if
such person also services the loan). The term does not include:
(1) The Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC), in connection with assets acquired, assigned,
sold, or transferred pursuant to section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act or as receiver or conservator of an insured depository
institution;
(2) The
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), in connection with assets
acquired, assigned, sold, or transferred pursuant to section 208 of
the Federal Credit Union Act or as conservator or liquidating agent
of an insured credit union; and
(3) The Federal National Mortgage Corporation
(FNMA); the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac);
the FDIC; HUD, including the Government National Mortgage Association
(GNMA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) (including cases
in which a mortgage insured under the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.) is assigned to HUD); the NCUA; the Farm Service
Agency; and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in any case in
which the assignment, sale, or transfer of the servicing of the federally
related mortgage loan is preceded by termination of the contract for
servicing the loan for cause, commencement of proceedings for bankruptcy
of the servicer, commencement of proceedings by the FDIC for conservatorship
or receivership of the servicer (or an entity by which the servicer
is owned or controlled), or commencement of proceedings by the NCUA
for appointment of a conservator or liquidating agent of the servicer
(or an entity by which the servicer is owned or controlled).
6-1374.2
Servicing means receiving any scheduled periodic
payments from a borrower pursuant to the terms of any federally related
mortgage loan, including amounts for escrow accounts under section
10 of RESPA (12 U.S.C. 2609), and making the payments to the owner
of the loan or other third parties of principal and interest and such
other payments with respect to the amounts received from the borrower
as may be required pursuant to the terms of the mortgage servicing
loan documents or servicing contract. In the case of a home equity
conversion mortgage or reverse mortgage as referenced in this section,
servicing includes making payments to the borrower.
Settlement means the process of executing legally binding
documents regarding a lien on property that is subject to a federally
related mortgage loan. This process may also be called “closing” or
“escrow” in different jurisdictions.
6-1375
Settlement
service means any service provided in connection with a prospective
or actual settlement, including, but not limited to, any one or more
of the following:
(1) Origination of a federally related
mortgage loan (including, but not limited to, the taking of loan applications,
loan processing, and the underwriting and funding of such loans);
(2) Rendering of services
by a mortgage broker (including counseling, taking of applications,
obtaining verifications and appraisals, and other loan processing
and origination services, and communicating with the borrower and
lender);
(3) Provision
of any services related to the origination, processing or funding
of a federally related mortgage loan;
(4) Provision of title services, including
title searches, title examinations, abstract preparation, insurability
determinations, and the issuance of title commitments and title insurance
policies;
(5) Rendering
of services by an attorney;
(6) Preparation of documents, including
notarization, delivery, and recordation;
(7) Rendering of credit reports and appraisals;
(8) Rendering of inspections,
including inspections required by applicable law or any inspections
required by the sales contract or mortgage documents prior to transfer
of title;
(9) Conducting
of settlement by a settlement agent and any related services;
(10) Provision of services
involving mortgage insurance;
(11) Provision of services involving hazard,
flood, or other casualty insurance or homeowner’s warranties;
(12) Provision of services
involving mortgage life, disability, or similar insurance designed
to pay a mortgage loan upon disability or death of a borrower, but
only if such insurance is required by the lender as a condition of
the loan;
(13) Provision
of services involving real property taxes or any other assessments
or charges on the real property;
(14) Rendering of services by a real estate
agent or real estate broker; and
(15) Provision of any other services for
which a settlement service provider requires a borrower or seller
to pay.
6-1376
Special information booklet means the booklet adopted pursuant to section 5 of RESPA (12 U.S.C.
2604) to help persons understand the nature and costs of settlement
services. The Bureau publishes the form of the special information
booklet in the Federal Register or by other public notice.
The Bureau may issue or approve additional booklets or alternative
booklets by publication of a Notice in the Federal Register.
State means any state
of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Table funding means a settlement
at which a loan is funded by a contemporaneous advance of loan funds
and an assignment of the loan to the person advancing the funds. A
table-funded transaction is not a secondary market transaction (see
section 1024.5(b)(7)).
Third
party means a settlement service provider other than a loan originator.
Title company means any institution,
or its duly authorized agent, that is qualified to issue title insurance.
Title service means any service
involved in the provision of title insurance (lender’s or owner’s
policy), including but not limited to: Title examination and evaluation;
preparation and issuance of title commitment; clearance of underwriting
objections; preparation and issuance of a title insurance policy or
policies; and the processing and administrative services required
to perform these functions. The term also includes the service of
conducting a settlement.
Tolerance means the maximum amount by which the charge for a category or categories
of settlement costs may exceed the amount of the estimate for such
category or categories on a GFE.
