§ 203.18 Maximum mortgage amounts. ( a ) *Mortgagors of principal or secondary residences.* The principal amount of the mortgage must not exceed the lesser of the following amounts that apply: ( 1 ) The dollar amount limitation that applies for the area under section 203(b)(2)(A) of the National Housing Act including any increase in the dollar limitation under § 203.29, as announced in accordance with § 203.18(h);
( 2 ) ( i ) The amount based on appraised value that is permitted by section 203(b)(10) of the National Housing Act, if that provision is in effect and applies to the mortgage; or
( ii ) If section 203(b)(10) is not in effect or otherwise does not apply to the mortgage, the lesser of the amounts based on appraised value that are permitted by section 203(b)(2)(B) of the National Housing Act and paragraph (g) of this section;
( 3 ) An amount equal to 85 percent of the appraised value if the mortgage covers a dwelling that is to be occupied as a secondary residence (as defined in paragraph (f)(2) of this section).
( b ) *Veteran qualifications.* The special veteran terms provided in section 203(b)(2) of the National Housing Act shall apply only if the mortgagor submits one of the following certifications: ( 1 ) A certification issued by the Secretary of Defense establishing that the veteran performed extra hazardous service while serving in the armed forces for a period of less than 90 days; or
( 2 ) A Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs establishing that the person served 90 days or more on active duty in the armed forces (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, the Army Reserve, the Naval Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Coast Guard Reserve, the National Guard of the United States, or the Air National Guard of the United States); that he or she enlisted before September 8, 1980; and that he or she was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable (a copy of the veteran's discharge papers or Form DD-214 shall be submitted with the certificate); or
( 3 ) A Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs establishing that the person: ( i ) ( A ) Originally enlisted in a regular component of the armed forces after September 7, 1980; or entered on active duty after October 16, 1981, and he or she had not previously completed a period of active duty of at least 24 months or been discharged or released from active duty under 10 U.S.C. 1171; and
( B ) Has completed, since enlistment or entering on active duty, either: ( 1 ) Twenty-four months of continuous active duty, or the full period for which he or she was called or ordered to active duty, whichever is shorter; or
( 2 ) Any other period of active duty if he or she was discharged or released from duty under 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173; was discharged or released from duty for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; or has a disability which the Department of Veterans Affairs has determined to be compensable under 38 U.S.C. chap. 11; and
( ii ) Was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable (a copy of the veteran's discharge papers or Form DD-214 shall be submitted with the certification).
( c ) *Eligible non-occupant mortgagors.* A mortgage may be executed by an eligible non-occupant mortgagor (as that term is defined in paragraph (f)(3) of this section) for up to an amount authorized for the appropriate loan type in paragraph (a) of this section except where a lesser amount is expressly provided for in this part.
( d ) *Outlying area properties.* A mortgage covering a single family residence located in an area in which the Commissioner finds that it is not practicable to obtain conformity with many of the requirements essential to the insurance of mortgages in built-up, urban areas; or a mortgage covering a single family dwelling that is to be used as a farm home on a plot of land that is two and one-half or more acres in size and adjacent to an all-weather public road, may not exceed: ( 1 ) In the case of a mortgagor who is to occupy the dwelling as a principal residence (as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this section): ( i ) 75 percent of the dollar limitation under (a)(1).
( ii ) 97 percent of the appraised value of the property as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance, if: ( A ) The Commissioner approved the dwelling for insurance before the beginning of construction; or
( B ) Construction was completed more than one year before the date of the application for insurance; or
( C ) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs approved the dwelling for guaranty, insurance, or direct loan before the beginning of construction.
( iii ) If the property does not meet the requirements of paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, 90 percent of the appraised value of the property as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance.
( 2 ) In the case of a mortgagor who is to occupy the dwelling as a secondary residence (as defined in paragraph (f)(2) of this section): ( i ) The amount permitted in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section, or
( ii ) 85 percent of the appraised value of the property as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance.
( e ) *Disaster victims.* A mortgage covering a single family dwelling, in an amount not in excess of the maximum dollar limitation specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section (unless a higher maximum mortgage amount is authorized under § 203.29), and not in excess of the lesser of 100 percent of the appraised value of the property or the cost of acquisition as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance, shall be eligible for insurance if: ( 1 ) The mortgage is executed by a mortgagor who is to occupy the dwelling as a principal residence (as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this section);
( 2 ) The mortgagor establishes that the home which he or she previously occupied as owner or tenant was destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is required as a result of a flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake, storm, riot or civil disorder or other catastrophe which the President has determined to be a major disaster; and
( 3 ) The application for insurance is filed within one year from the date of such presidential determination, or within such additional period of time as the period of federal assistance with respect to such disaster may be extended.
( f ) *Definitions.* As used in this section: ( 1 ) *Principal residence* means the dwelling where the mortgagor maintains (or will maintain) his or her permanent place of abode, and typically spends (or will spend) the majority of the calendar year. A person may have only one principal residence at any one time.
( 2 ) Secondary residence means a dwelling: ( i ) Where the mortgagor maintains or will maintain a part-time place of abode and typically spends (or will spend) less than a majority of the calendar year;
( ii ) which is not a vacation home; and
( iii ) which the Commissioner has determined to be eligible for insurance in order to avoid undue hardship to the mortgagor. A person may have only one secondary residence at a time.
( 3 ) *Eligible non-occupant mortgagor* means a mortgagor (or co-mortgagor, as appropriate) who is not to occupy the dwelling as a principal residence or a secondary residence and who is— ( i ) A public entity, as provided in section 214 or 247 of the National Housing Act, or any other State or local government or agency thereof;
( ii ) A private nonprofit or public entity, as provided in section 221(h) or 235(j) of the National Housing Act, or other private nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and intends to sell or lease the mortgaged property to low or moderate income persons, as determined by the Secretary;
( iii ) An Indian tribe, as provided in section 248 of the National Housing Act;
( iv ) A serviceperson who is unable to meet the occupancy requirement because of his or her duty assignment, as provided in section 216 of the National Housing Act or subsection (b)(4) or (f) of section 222 of the National Housing Act;
( v ) A mortgagor or co-mortgagor under subsection 203(k) of the National Housing Act; or
( vi ) A mortgagor who, pursuant to § 203.43(c) of this part, is refinancing an existing mortgage insured under the National Housing Act for not more than the outstanding balance of the existing mortgage, if the amount of the monthly payment due under the refinancing mortgage is less than the amount due under the existing mortgage for the month in which the refinancing mortgage is executed.
( 4 ) *Appraised value* means the sum of: ( i ) The lesser of sales price (with any adjustments required by the Secretary) or the amount set forth in the written statement required under § 203.15; and
( ii ) Borrower-paid closing costs allowed under § 203.27(a)(1)-(3), except that closing costs do not apply if section 203(b)(10) of the National Housing Act is in effect and neither sales price nor closing costs apply for purposes of paragraph (g) of this section.
( 5 ) *Undue hardship* means that affordable housing which meets the needs of the mortgagor is not available for lease, or within reasonable commuting distance from the mortgagor's home to his or her work place.
( 6 ) *Vacation home* means a dwelling that is used primarily for recreational purposes and enjoyment, and that is not a primary or secondary residence.
( g ) *Maximum principal obligation.* Except for mortgages meeting the requirements of § 203.18(b), § 203.18(e) or § 203.50(f), and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a mortgage may not involve a principal obligation in excess of 98.75 percent of the appraised value of the property (97.75 percent, in the case of a mortgage with an appraised value in excess of $50,000), plus the amount of the mortgage insurance premium paid at the time the mortgage is insured.
( h ) *Notice of maximum mortgage amount.* A maximum mortgage amount based on the 1-family median house price for an area under paragraph (a)(1) of this section may be made effective by: ( 1 ) Providing direct notice to affected mortgagees through an administrative issuance; or
( 2 ) Publishing a notice in the Federal Register.
( i ) *Energy efficient mortgages.* The principal amount of energy efficient mortgages may exceed the maximum amounts determined under paragraph (a)(1) of this section under conditions prescribed by the Secretary in accordance with section 106 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
[36 FR 24508, Dec. 22, 1971] Editorial Note
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 203.18, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at *www.govinfo.gov .*