Mortgage Servicing Transfer Rules and Regulations

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Mortgage servicing transfer rules and regulations can be complex, but understanding them is crucial for both lenders and borrowers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) oversees mortgage servicing transfers, ensuring they are done in a way that protects consumers.

Lenders are required to provide borrowers with a 15-day notice before transferring servicing. This notice must be sent via first-class mail and include the name and contact information of the new servicer. Borrowers can also request a copy of the transfer agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of the transfer.

Borrowers have the right to request that their mortgage servicing not be transferred to a new servicer, but this is typically only allowed in cases where the transfer would cause the borrower financial harm.

Mortgage Servicing Basics

A mortgage servicer handles the day-to-day tasks associated with mortgage loans, like collecting and processing payments, responding to borrower inquiries, and managing escrow accounts.

The servicer might be the lender that gave you the loan or a subsequent owner of the loan, or it could be a separate company that acts on behalf of the loan owner.

In some cases, the servicer might hire a vendor, called a subservicer, to take on the servicing duties rather than servicing the loan itself.

What Is a Servicer?

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A servicer handles the day-to-day tasks associated with mortgage loans, like collecting and processing payments, responding to borrower inquiries, and managing escrow accounts.

The servicer might be the lender that gave you the loan, a subsequent owner of the loan, or a separate company that acts on behalf of the loan owner.

A servicer might then hire a vendor, called a subservicer, to take on the servicing duties rather than servicing the loan itself.

Who Is an Investor in Loans?

When you hear the term "investor" in the context of mortgage loans, it's easy to think of someone who's just throwing money around. However, a mortgage "investor" is actually the party that purchases home loans that lenders originate.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two examples of mortgage investors that buy loans from lenders on the secondary market. They're essentially like middlemen, buying up loans and then selling them to other investors or holding onto them as investments.

Notice

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You'll receive a notice if your mortgage debt is sold or you're transferred to a new servicer. This notice is required by law.

Your old servicer must provide you with a notice of servicing transfer not less than 15 days before the transfer date. The new servicer must provide a separate notice not more than 15 days after the transfer date.

You can still send your mortgage payments to the old servicer for 60 days after the transfer date. During this time, you won't be assessed a late fee or have your payment reported late to the credit bureaus if the old servicer receives it on or before the payment due date.

It's best to start sending your payments directly to the new servicer once the transfer date occurs. This will help ensure your payments are applied correctly to your account.

You should monitor at least two payments to the new servicer to make sure they're correctly applying them to your account.

Regulatory Framework

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The regulatory framework for mortgage servicing transfer rules is governed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFP) under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X).

The CFPB issued a rule on February 14, 2013, which was published in the Federal Register. The document is 204 pages long and can be found in its official electronic format through the PDF linked in the document sidebar.

The rule is identified by the following details: Docket No. CFPB-2012-0034, 12 CFR Part 1024, and RIN 3170-AA14.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Reg X)

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or Reg X, is a set of rules that govern the mortgage servicing industry. It was published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on February 14, 2013.

Reg X is a rule that amends 12 CFR Part 1024, which deals with mortgage servicing. The document is 204 pages long and was published in the Federal Register.

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The rule is identified by the document number 2013-01248 and the RIN 3170-AA14. These numbers are used to track the regulatory action and provide a way to locate the document in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.

Here are the details of the rule:

  • Agency: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
  • Agency/Docket Number: Docket No. CFPB-2012-0034
  • CFR: 12 CFR 1024
  • Document Citation: 78 FR 10696

Notices

You'll receive a notice of servicing transfer if your mortgage debt is sold, but this doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a new servicer.

The old servicer must provide you with a notice of servicing transfer not less than 15 days before the transfer date, and the new servicer must provide a notice not more than 15 days after the transfer date.

You have 60 days to send your mortgage payments to the old servicer after the transfer date, without being assessed a late fee or having your payment reported late to the credit bureaus.

The old servicer is supposed to forward the payment to the new servicer or return it to you, but in rare cases, they might lose track of the money.

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It's best to take careful note of any changes in your loan servicer and start sending your payments directly to the new servicer once the transfer date occurs.

After you send your mortgage payments to the new servicer, monitor at least two payments to ensure they're correctly applying them to your account.

Transfer Process

The transfer process can be a complex and time-consuming task, but understanding the rules can help make it smoother.

Servicers must provide the borrower with a 15-day notice before the transfer date.

This notice must include the name, address, and contact information of the new servicer, as well as the date of the transfer.

Borrowers can request to cancel the transfer if they receive the notice less than 15 days before the transfer date.

In such cases, the original servicer is required to continue servicing the loan.

The transfer must be completed within 60 days of the notice date.

Servicers are also required to notify the borrower of any changes to the loan terms or payments after the transfer.

Post-Transfer Procedures

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If your mortgage loan is sold, your loan's terms, including the interest rate, monthly payment, and outstanding balance, won't change.

You might need to mail your payment check to a new address or redirect your automatic bank withdrawal to a different entity, depending on if the servicer also changes.

You'll want to make sure to update your records with the new contact information to avoid any missed payments or confusion.

What to Do After Property Sale

If you receive a notice that your mortgage has been sold, don't worry. Your loan's terms, including the interest rate, monthly payment, and outstanding balance, won't change. You might need to mail your payment check to a new address or redirect your automatic bank withdrawal to a different entity, depending on if the servicer also changes.

You'll need to update your records with the new loan servicer's contact information. This will ensure you continue to receive important notices and statements about your loan.

Getting Help When the Servicer Refuses to Credit Your Account

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If the servicer refuses to credit your account, it's essential to act quickly to resolve the issue. You should call your new servicer to clear up the problem.

If you're unable to resolve the issue with the new servicer, you'll need to send a notice of error to both the new and old servicer, along with copies of any relevant supporting documents. This is a requirement under federal law.

The notice of error must be sent within a certain timeframe, but the exact timeframe isn't specified in the provided text.

Both the new and old servicer must then investigate and respond to your notice of error as long as the servicing transfer occurred less than a year ago. This is a key detail to keep in mind.

In the meantime, you should continue making regular payments to the new servicer to avoid going into default and facing a possible foreclosure. This is crucial to preventing further complications.

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If the new servicer still refuses to credit your account or starts a foreclosure, talking to an attorney can provide you with additional guidance and support. They can help you navigate the situation and find a resolution.

Here are some additional details that may be helpful in your situation:

  • Who's Who In the Mortgage Lending Industry: This resource may provide insight into the parties involved in the mortgage lending process.
  • Notice of Transfer of Mortgage Loan Ownership: This document may be relevant to understanding the transfer of ownership of your mortgage loan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 60-day grace period after a transfer to a new servicer?

You have a 60-day grace period after a transfer to a new servicer, allowing you to make on-time payments to the old servicer without incurring late fees or credit damage.

Danielle Hamill

Senior Writer

Danielle Hamill is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in finance, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, tackling complex topics with clarity and precision. Her work has been featured in various publications, covering a range of topics including cryptocurrency regulatory alerts.

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