Regulation Z
Truth in Lending Act

Subpart E--Special Rules for Certain Home Mortgage Transactions

Section 226.31 - General rules.
Section 226.32 - Requirements for certain closed-end home mortgages.
Section 226.33 - Requirements for reverse mortgages.

Subpart E--Special Rules for Certain Home Mortgage Transactions

Sec. 226.31 General rules.

     (a) Relation to other subparts in this part. The requirements and limitations of this subpart are in addition to and not in lieu of those contained in other subparts of this part.
     (b) Form of disclosures. The creditor shall make the disclosures required by this subpart clearly and conspicuously in writing, in a form that the consumer may keep.
     (c) Timing of disclosure--(1) Disclosures for certain closed-end home mortgages. The creditor shall furnish the disclosures required by Sec. 226.32 at least three business days prior to consummation of a mortgage transaction covered by Sec. 226.32.
     (i) Change in terms. After complying with paragraph (c)(1) of this section and prior to consummation, if the creditor changes any term that makes the disclosures inaccurate, new disclosures shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this subpart.
     (ii) Telephone disclosures. A creditor may provide new disclosures by telephone if the consumer initiates the change and if, at consummation:
     (A) The creditor provides new written disclosures; and
     (B) The consumer and creditor sign a statement that the new disclosures were provided by telephone at least three days prior to consummation.
     (iii) Consumer's waiver of waiting period before consummation. The consumer may, after receiving the disclosures required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section, modify or waive the three-day waiting period between delivery of those disclosures and consummation if the consumer determines that the extension of credit is needed to meet a bona fide personal financial emergency. To modify or waive the right, the consumer shall give the creditor a dated written statement that describes the emergency, specifically modifies or waives the waiting period, and bears the signature of all the consumers entitled to the waiting period. Printed forms for this purpose are prohibited, except when creditors are permitted to use printed forms pursuant to Sec. 226.23(e)(2).
     (2) Disclosures for reverse mortgages. The creditor shall furnish the disclosures required by Sec. 226.33 at least three business days prior to:
     (i) Consummation of a closed-end credit transaction; or
     (ii) The first transaction under an open-end credit plan.
     (d) Basis of disclosures and use of estimates--(1) Legal Obligation. Disclosures shall reflect the terms of the legal obligation between the parties.
     (2) Estimates. If any information necessary for an accurate disclosure is unknown to the creditor, the creditor shall make the disclosure based on the best information reasonably available at the time the disclosure is provided, and shall state clearly that the disclosure is an estimate.
     (3) Per-diem interest. For a transaction in which a portion of the interest is determined on a per-diem basis and collected at consummation, any disclosure affected by the per-diem interest shall be considered accurate if the disclosure is based on the information known to the creditor at the time that the disclosure documents are prepared.
     (e) Multiple creditors; multiple consumers. If a transaction involves more than one creditor, only one set of disclosures shall be given and the creditors shall agree among themselves which creditor must comply with the requirements that this part imposes on any or all of them. If there is more than one consumer, the disclosures may be made to any consumer who is primarily liable on the obligation. If the transaction is rescindable under Sec. 226.15 or Sec. 226.23, however, the disclosures shall be made to each consumer who has the right to rescind.
     (f) Effect of subsequent events. If a disclosure becomes inaccurate because of an event that occurs after the creditor delivers the required disclosures, the inaccuracy is not a violation of Regulation Z (12 CFR part 226), although new disclosures may be required for mortgages covered by Sec. 226.32 under paragraph (c) of this section, Sec. 226.9(c), Sec. 226.19, or Sec. 226.20.
     (g) Accuracy of annual percentage rate. For purposes of Sec. 226.32, the annual percentage rate shall be considered accurate, and may be used in determining whether a transaction is covered by Sec. 226.32, if it is accurate according to the requirements and within the tolerances under Sec. 226.22. The finance charge tolerances for rescission under Sec. 226.23(g) or (h) shall not apply for this purpose.
 

Sec. 226.32 Requirements for certain closed-end home mortgages.

     (a) Coverage. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the requirements of this section apply to a consumer credit transaction that is secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, and in which either:
     (i) The annual percentage rate at consummation will exceed by more than 10 percentage points the yield on Treasury securities having comparable periods of maturity to the loan maturity as of the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the application for the extension of credit is received by the creditor; or
     (ii) The total points and fees payable by the consumer at or before loan closing will exceed the greater of 8 percent of the total loan amount, or $400; the $400 figure shall be adjusted annually on January 1 by the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index that was reported on the preceding June 1.
[The dollar amount, as adjusted by the Federal Reserve Board for January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999 is $441.]

     (2) This section does not apply to the following:
     (i) A residential mortgage transaction.
     (ii) A reverse mortgage transaction subject to Sec. 226.33.
     (iii) An open-end credit plan subject to subpart B of this part.
     (b) Definitions. For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions apply:
     (1) For purposes of paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, points and fees mean:
     (i) All items required to be disclosed under Sec. 226.4(a) and 226.4(b), except interest or the time-price differential;
     (ii) All compensation paid to mortgage brokers; and
     (iii) All items listed in Sec. 226.4(c)(7) (other than amounts held for future payment of taxes) unless the charge is reasonable, the creditor receives no direct or indirect compensation in connection with the charge, and the charge is not paid to an affiliate of the creditor.
     (2) Affiliate means any company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another company, as set forth in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.).
     (c) Disclosures. In addition to other disclosures required by this part, in a mortgage subject to this section the creditor shall disclose the following:
     (1) Notices. The following statement: ``You are not required to complete this agreement merely because you have received these disclosures or have signed a loan application. If you obtain this loan, the lender will have a mortgage on your home. You could lose your home, and any money you have put into it, if you do not meet your obligations under the loan.''
     (2) Annual percentage rate. The annual percentage rate.
     (3) Regular payment. The amount of the regular monthly (or other periodic) payment.
     (4) Variable-rate. For variable-rate transactions, a statement that the interest rate and monthly payment may increase, and the amount of the single maximum monthly payment, based on the maximum interest rate required to be disclosed under Sec. 226.30.
     (d) Limitations. A mortgage transaction subject to this section may not provide for the following terms:
     (1)(i) Balloon payment. For a loan with a term of less than five years, a payment schedule with regular periodic payments that when aggregated do not fully amortize the outstanding principal balance.
     (ii) Exception. The limitations in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section do not apply to loans with maturities of less than one year, if the purpose of the loan is a ``bridge'' loan connected with the acquisition or construction of a dwelling intended to become the consumer's principal dwelling.
     (2) Negative amortization. A payment schedule with regular periodic payments that cause the principal balance to increase.
     (3) Advance payments. A payment schedule that consolidates more than two periodic payments and pays them in advance from the proceeds.
     (4) Increased interest rate. An increase in the interest rate after default.
     (5) Rebates. A refund calculated by a method less favorable than the actuarial method (as defined by section 933(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, 15 U.S.C. 1615(d)), for rebates of interest arising from a loan acceleration due to default.
     (6) Prepayment penalties. Except as allowed under paragraph (d)(7) of this section, a penalty for paying all or part of the principal before the date on which the principal is due. A prepayment penalty includes computing a refund of unearned interest by a method that is less favorable to the consumer than the actuarial method, as defined by section 933(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.
     (7) Prepayment penalty exception. A mortgage transaction subject to this section may provide for a prepayment penalty otherwise permitted by law (including a refund calculated according to the rule of 78s) if:
     (i) The penalty can be exercised only for the first five years following consummation;
     (ii) The source of the prepayment funds is not a refinancing by the creditor or an affiliate of the creditor; and
     (iii) At consummation, the consumer's total monthly debts (including amounts owed under the mortgage) do not exceed 50 percent of the consumer's monthly gross income, as verified by the consumer's signed financial statement, a credit report, and payment records for employment income.
     (e) Prohibited acts and practices. A creditor extending mortgage credit subject to this section may not:
     (1) Repayment ability. Engage in a pattern or practice of extending such credit to a consumer based on the consumer's collateral if, considering the consumer's current and expected income, current obligations, and employment status, the consumer will be unable to make the scheduled payments to repay the obligation.
     (2) Home improvement contracts. Pay a contractor under a home improvement contract from the proceeds of a mortgage covered by this section, other than:
     (i) By an instrument payable to the consumer or jointly to the consumer and the contractor; or
     (ii) At the election of the consumer, through a third-party escrow agent in accordance with terms established in a written agreement signed by the consumer, the creditor, and the contractor prior to the disbursement.
     (3) Notice to assignee. Sell or otherwise assign a mortgage subject to this section without furnishing the following statement to the purchaser or assignee: ``Notice: This is a mortgage subject to special rules under the federal Truth in Lending Act. Purchasers or assignees of this mortgage could be liable for all claims and defenses with respect to the mortgage that the borrower could assert against the creditor.''
 

Sec. 226.33 Requirements for reverse mortgages.

     (a) Definition. For purposes of this subpart, reverse mortgage transaction means a nonrecourse consumer credit obligation in which:
     (1) A mortgage, deed of trust, or equivalent consensual security interest securing one or more advances is created in the consumer's principal dwelling; and
     (2) Any principal, interest, or shared appreciation or equity is due and payable (other than in the case of default) only after:
     (i) The consumer dies;
     (ii) The dwelling is transferred; or
     (iii) The consumer ceases to occupy the dwelling as a principal dwelling.
     (b) Content of disclosures. In addition to other disclosures required by this part, in a reverse mortgage transaction the creditor shall provide the following disclosures in a form substantially similar to the model form found in paragraph (d) of Appendix K of this part:
     (1) Notice. A statement that the consumer is not obligated to complete the reverse mortgage transaction merely because the consumer has received the disclosures required by this section or has signed an application for a reverse mortgage loan.
     (2) Total annual loan cost rates. A good-faith projection of the total cost of the credit, determined in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section and expressed as a table of ``total annual loan cost rates,'' using that term, in accordance with Appendix K of this part.
     (3) Itemization of pertinent information. An itemization of loan terms, charges, the age of the youngest borrower and the appraised property value.
     (4) Explanation of table. An explanation of the table of total annual loan cost rates as provided in the model form found in paragraph (d) of Appendix K of this part.
     (c) Projected total cost of credit. The projected total cost of credit shall reflect the following factors, as applicable:
     (1) Costs to consumer. All costs and charges to the consumer, including the costs of any annuity the consumer purchases as part of the reverse mortgage transaction.
     (2) Payments to consumer. All advances to and for the benefit of the consumer, including annuity payments that the consumer will receive from an annuity that the consumer purchases as part of the reverse mortgage transaction.
     (3) Additional creditor compensation. Any shared appreciation or equity in the dwelling that the creditor is entitled by contract to receive.
     (4) Limitations on consumer liability. Any limitation on the consumer's liability (such as nonrecourse limits and equity conservation agreements).
     (5) Assumed annual appreciation rates. Each of the following assumed annual appreciation rates for the dwelling:
     (i) 0 percent.
     (ii) 4 percent.
     (iii) 8 percent.
     (6) Assumed loan period. (i) Each of the following assumed loan periods, as provided in Appendix L of this part:
     (A) Two years.
     (B) The actuarial life expectancy of the consumer to become obligated on the reverse mortgage transaction (as of that consumer's most recent birthday). In the case of multiple consumers, the period shall be the actuarial life expectancy of the youngest consumer (as of that consumer's most recent birthday).
     (C) The actuarial life expectancy specified by paragraph (c)(6)(i)(B) of this section, multiplied by a factor of 1.4 and rounded to the nearest full year.
     (ii) At the creditor's option, the actuarial life expectancy specified by paragraph (c)(6)(i)(B) of this section, multiplied by a factor of .5 and rounded to the nearest full year.
 

SubPart A - General

SubPart B - Open-End Credit - (Large File - May Load Slowly)

SubPart C - Closed-End Credit

SubPart D - Miscellaneous

Appendices A - L

Credit And Banking Laws Menu

    Top Of Page