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Underwriting FNMA guidelines change due to COVID-19

March 24th, 2020 6:21 PM by Sam Kader

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions In response to the COVID-19 national emergency, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have provided temporary guidance to lenders on several policy areas to support mortgage originations and appraisals. These FAQs provide additional information on the temporary policies. We will be adding more FAQs, therefore we encourage you to check in frequently for updates. Mortgage Origination

Q1. Do Fannie Mae’s existing disaster policies in the Selling Guide and the Servicing Guide apply to the COVID-19 pandemic?

No, Fannie Mae’s existing policies related to disasters do not apply to loans impacted by COVID-19. Instead, lenders and servicers can follow the guidance in Lender Letters LL-2020-02, Impact of COVID-19 on Servicing, LL2020-03, Impact of COVID-19 on Originations and LL-2020-04, Impact of COVID-19 on Appraisals. All guidance specific to COVID-19 will be communicated through Lender Letters and FAQ documents such as this.

Q2. Given the unprecedented and rapid instances of voluntary and mandated business closures, and the concerns over whether employees will continue to be paid, is updated income documentation required prior to closing?

Not at this time; however, it is recommended that lenders perform additional due diligence which may include actions such as obtaining updated YTD paystubs for the pay period that immediately precedes the note date and ensuring the employer is open for business.

Q3. If a recent paystub or bank statement is obtained in lieu of the verbal verification of employment (VOE), and the documentation evidences reduced hours and/or pay due to the pandemic, what are the next steps?

Continue to follow the requirements and guidance in the Selling Guide Chapter B3-3 related to income stability and calculation. For example, for declining variable income, the requirements and guidance for declining income trends in the Selling Guide B3-3.1-01, General Income Information are applicable. In those cases, the reduced amount of declining variable income can only be used for qualifying if it has since stabilized and there is no reason to believe the borrower will not continue to be employed at the current level. In no instance may income be averaged over the period of declination.

Q4. Are there acceptable alternatives if a lender is unable to obtain a verbal verification of employment (VOE)?

Yes, please reference the guidelines and flexibilities announced in Lender Letter LL-2020-03, Impact of COVID-19 on Originations.

Q5. Does the lender remain responsible for the representations and warranties related to the borrower’s employment status when using one of the verbal VOE flexibilities?

Yes. The lender’s representations and warranties related to the borrower’s employment status do not change. We are allowing certain documentation flexibilities due to the unique circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to address the issue lenders have raised due to disruption of employer operations and their inability to be reached by phone. Lenders are not required to use these flexibilities if they are not comfortable with them. © 2020 Fannie Mae 3.23.2020

Q6. The borrower is self-employed and owns a business that is closed due to the pandemic. Can the income be used to qualify?

No, if the business is not operating, the income may not be used to qualify.

Q7. Can I use the requirements for income while on temporary leave?

Yes, refer to the requirements in the Selling Guide B3-3.1-09, Other Sources of Income.

Q8. Does the tax deadline extension issued as a result of the COVID-19 emergency affect documentation requirements?

Lenders should continue to obtain the most recent year’s tax return filed by the borrower as indicated in Selling Guide B1-1-03, Allowable Age of Credit Documents and Federal Income Tax Returns. However, lenders are not required to obtain a copy of the IRS Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) filed with the IRS, until the point at which the tax deadline extension has expired. Accordingly, lenders are not required to review the total tax liability reported on IRS Form 4868 and compare it with the borrower’s tax liability from the previous two years as a measure of income source stability and continuance.

Q9. Is there any impact to the DU validation service for loans with income or employment validation?

If income or employment has been validated by the Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) validation service, the validation will remain eligible for representation and warranty relief on income and employment provided the lender complies with the terms of the DU messages. For employment validation, the lender must comply with the “close by” date in the DU message. Otherwise, the guidance in LL-2020-03, Impact of COVID-19 on Originations related to obtaining a verbal VOE (or allowable alternative) would apply.

Q10. Can a closing agent or other affiliated party sign loan documents on the borrower’s behalf using a power of attorney (POA)?

Yes, but only for refinance transactions subject to the restrictions in Selling Guide B8-5-05 Requirements for Use of a Power of Attorney. For refinance transactions, an individual who would otherwise be prohibited from serving as an attorney-in-fact or agent may execute the required loan documents on behalf of the borrower(s), provided all the following conditions are met: 1. The attorney-in-fact or agent is not an employee of the lender. 2. The power of attorney expressly states an intention to secure a loan not to exceed a stated amount from a named lender on a specific property. 3. The power of attorney expressly authorizes the attorney-in-fact or agent to execute the required loan documents on behalf of a borrower only if the borrower has, to the satisfaction of the attorney-in fact or agent in a recorded, interactive session conducted via the Internet, both • confirmed his or her identity; and • reaffirmed, after an opportunity to review the required loan documents, his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the required loan documents evidencing such transaction and to the execution of such required loan by such attorney-in-fact or agent. © 2020 Fannie Mae 3.23.2020

Q11. What are Fannie Mae’s requirements concerning “gap coverage” in lenders’ title insurance policies?

The Selling Guide Chapter B7-2 requires a loan title insurance policy, written on the 2006 ALTA loan title insurance form or local equivalent, be obtained by a lender before a mortgage loan is sold to Fannie Mae. The 2006 ALTA form includes “gap coverage” in Covered Risk 14 for matters arising between the date a mortgage loan is closed and when the mortgage is recorded. Similarly, if title insurance is obtained on an alternate form, the Selling Guide requires coverage be provided for the period between the closing date of the loan and the date when the mortgage is recorded. We understand that recording offices are closed in many areas in response to public health directives associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and continue to work on addressing these challenges.

Q12. Are you making any changes to your QC practices with respect to loans impacted by COVID-19, including the flexibilities announced in Lender Letter LL-2020-03?

No, we are not making any changes to our QC practices with respect to these loans at this time. See Selling Guide Chapter D2-1 for a description of our quality control practices. The remedies framework will continue to apply, including the repurchase alternatives and appeal process as indicated in Selling Guide A2-3.2-03. Note that these flexibilities announced in Lender Letter LL-2020-03, Impact of COVID-19 on Originations generally do not change our overall credit standards.

Appraisals Q13. May an appraisal report include photos or other information provided by the borrower/owner?

Yes. Consistent with USPAP, appraisers are permitted to consider and develop any information deemed credible. It is important to note, certification #10 has been removed in recognition that the appraiser may have relied on information from an interested party to the transaction (borrower, realtor, property contact, etc.) and additional verification may not have been possible.

Q14. How will the appraiser be able to obtain subject photos for a desktop appraisal report?

Photos can be obtained from sources such as third-party websites, owners, or listing services, etc. NOTE: Any use restrictions on photos must be honored.

Q15. What if adequate information is not available for the appraisal?

Appraisers may use information in MLS, reach out to the broker, homeowner, public records, and/or other online tools such as satellite imagery and street views to obtain the necessary property information. A good faith effort should be used to provide information that the appraiser believes is reasonable. If adequate information about the subject property is not available, the mortgage will not be eligible for sale to us until the appraiser has sufficient information to complete the desktop appraisal or an appraisal with an exterior-only inspection. © 2020 Fannie Mae 3.23.2020

Q.16 What form should be used for a desktop appraisal obtained in accordance with the temporary COVID-19 flexibilities announced in Lender Letter LL-2020-04?

As noted in LL-2020-04, the following formscan be used to complete a desktop appraisal: ? Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (Form 1004) ? Individual Condominium Unit Appraisal Report (Form 1073) ? Individual Cooperative Interest Appraisal Report (Form 2090) ? Small Residential Income Property Appraisal Report (Form 1025) ? Manufactured Home Appraisal Report (Form 1004C) Other desktop appraisal forms are not allowed for a Fannie Mae-eligible loan.

Q.17 What form should be used for an exterior-only inspection appraisal obtained in accordance with the temporary COVID-19 flexibilities announced in Lender Letter LL-2020-04?

As noted in LL-2020-04, the following forms can be used to complete an exterior-only appraisal: • Exterior-Only Inspection Residential Appraisal Report (Form 2055) • Exterior-Only Inspection Individual Condominium Unit Appraisal Report (Form 1075) • Exterior Only Individual Cooperative Interest Appraisal Report (Form 2095) • Small Residential Income Property Appraisal Report (Form 1025) • Manufactured Home Appraisal Report (Form 1004C) Other exterior-only or drive-by appraisal forms are not allowed for a Fannie Mae-eligible mortgage.

Q.18 Why is Fannie Mae requiring the appraisal include the entry “desktop” in the Map Reference # field of the appraisal report?

This helps identify the scope of work completed. Because we are permitting desktop appraisals to be completed on forms that are typically used for interior and exterior inspection appraisals, we will be relying on the text in the Map Reference # field to identify the type of appraisal (desktop) completed. It is critical that the Map Reference # field show “desktop” when applicable.

Q19. Why is Fannie Mae requiring the appraisal include the entry “exterior” in the Map Reference # field of the appraisal report?

This helps identify the scope of work completed. Because we are permitting exterior-only appraisals to be completed on forms that are typically used for interior and exterior inspection appraisals, we will be relying on the text in the Map Reference # field to identify the type of appraisal (exterior-only) completed. It is critical that the Map Reference # field show “exterior” when applicable.

Q.20 Will desktop appraisals still be scored by Collateral Underwriter® the same way?

Yes, desktop appraisals completed on Forms 1004 and 1073 will be scored by Collateral Underwriter just as traditional appraisals are scored when these forms are used.

Q.21 Will mortgages with desktop appraisals be eligible for representation and warranty relief for value?

Yes. When a desktop appraisal is obtained using Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (Form 1004) , or Individual Condominium Unit Appraisal Report (Form 1073) , and submitted to Uniform Collateral Data Portal® (UCDP®), the appraisal will be assessed for valuation representation and warranty relief in Collateral Underwriter. All appraisals with a risk score of 2.5 or less that meet the requirements of the Selling Guide will receive valuation representation and warranty relief.

Q.22 How should an appraiser include the revised scope of work, statements of assumptions and limiting conditions, and appraiser’s certifications in the appraisal report?

The modified scope of work, statements of assumptions and limiting conditions, and appraiser’s certifications addressed in the Lender Letter must be copied and pasted, in its entirety, into a text addendum, with no edits or alterations. This may be done on a separate text addendum form, or as part of a general text addendum.

Q.23 Must a desktop appraisal or exterior-only inspection appraisal report be submitted “subject to” an extraordinary assumption?

The revised scope of work and certification removes the requirement for the appraisal to be submitted “subject to” an extraordinary assumption. If adequate information about the subject property is not available from a credible source, then the desktop or exterior-only inspection appraisal is not acceptable. Appraisers must have data sources they consider reliable. The assumption that data sources are correct is not considered an extraordinary assumption.

Q.24 Lender Letter LL-2020-04 says that reports for desktop appraisals must include subject photos. What photos are required?

At a minimum, there must be a front photo of the subject property. Additionally, in order to pass through automated review systems used by many lenders and AMCs, it may be necessary for the report to include all photos required for an appraisal based on an interior and exterior inspection. In such cases, an appraiser should include all photos that are available. Except for the required front photo, for photos that are not available, an appraiser may include a photo of a statement saying that the photo was not available.

Q25. Does an appraisal report have to include subject property and comparable sales photos when the report is an exterior-only appraisal assignment?

Yes. An exterior-only appraisal must include a subject and comparable sales photo page. The appraiser may use photos obtained from credible and reliable sources to represent the subject and comparables used on the appraisal.

Q26. Are manufactured homes and two- to four-unit properties covered even though there is no exterior-only appraisal form to support them?

We will allow lenders to use Interior/Exterior forms for two- to four-unit and manufactured homes with the appropriate scope of work, statements of assumptions and limiting conditions, and appraiser’s certifications provided with Lender Letter LL- 2020-04.

Q27. Manufactured home appraisals require specific, and detailed information from the HUD Certification Label. How will the appraiser obtain this information for desktop appraisals and exterior-only inspection appraisals?

For exterior-only inspection appraisals, the appraiser may obtain a photo of the HUD HUD Certification Label, provided they are given permission by the property owner to access the site. For a desktop appraisal, the appraiser may request the owner or an individual that has access to the property to provide a photo of the HUD Certification Label,and deliver it via email or other means to the appraiser. With both the desktop and drive-by appraisal, the appraiser may request the borrower, owner, or an individual that has access to the property interior to provide a photo of the HUD Data Plate. The appraiser will need to communicate with the lender or AMC to ensure there is sufficient information available to complete the assignment type ordered.

Posted in:COVID-19 and tagged: COVID-19

Posted by Sam Kader on March 24th, 2020 6:21 PM

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