Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=pt7.12.1927&rgn=div5
Timestamp: 2020-02-18 20:40:09
Document Index: 530986020

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1927', '§1955', 'art 1955', 'art 1965', 'art 3550']

Title 7 → Subtitle B → Chapter XVIII → Subchapter H → Part 1927
§1927.53 Costs of title clearance and closing of transactions.
§1927.56 Scheduling loan closing.
§1927.57 Preparation of closing documents.
§1927.58 Closing the transaction.
§1927.59 Subsequent loans and transfers with assumptions.
§§1927.60-1927.99 [Reserved]
§1927.100 OMB control number.
Source: 61 FR 11711, Mar. 22, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
(a) Types of loans covered by this subpart. This subpart sets forth the authorities, policies, and procedures for real estate title clearance and closing of loans, assumptions, voluntary conveyances and credit sales in connection with the following types of Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Housing (RH), Farm Labor Housing (LH), Rural Rental Housing (RRH), Rural Cooperative Housing (RCH), and NonProgram (NP) loans. This subpart does not apply to guaranteed loans. This subpart is inapplicable to Farm Service Agency, Farm Loan Programs.
(d) Copies of all agency forms referenced in this regulation and the agency's internal administrative procedures for title clearance and loan closing are available upon request from the agency's State Office. Forms and title clearance and loan closing requirements which are specific for any individual state must be obtained from the agency State Office for that state.
[61 FR 11711, Mar. 22, 1996, as amended at 72 FR 64122, Nov. 15, 2007]
Agency. The Rural Housing Service (RHS) or its successor agencies.
Approval official. The agency employee who has been delegated the authority to approve, close, and service the particular kind of loan, will approve an attorney or title company as closing agent for the loans. If a loan must be approved at a higher level, the initiating office may approve the closing agent.
Closing agent. The approved attorney or title company selected by the applicant and approved by the agency to provide closing services for the proposed loan. Unless a title insurance company also provides loan closing services, the term “title company” does not include “title insurance company.”
Closing protection letter. An agreement issued by an approved title insurance company which is an American Land Title Association (ALTA) form closing protection letter or which is otherwise acceptable to the agency and which protects the agency against damage, loss, fraud, theft, or injury as a result of negligence by the issuing agent, approved attorney, or title company when title clearance is done by means of a policy of title insurance. Depending on the area, closing protection letters may also be known as “Insured Closing Letters,” “Indemnification Agreements,” “Insured Closing Service Agreements,” or “Statements of Settlement Service Responsibilities.”
Credit sale. A sale in which the agency provides credit to the purchasers of agency inventory property. Title clearance and closing of a credit sale are the same as for an initial loan except the property is conveyed by quitclaim deed.
Indemnification agreement. An agreement that protects the agency against damage, loss, fraud, theft, or injury as a result of useful conduct or negligence on behalf of the issuing agent, approved attorney, or title company. This agreement may also be entitled closing protection letter, insured closing letter, insured closing service agreement, statement of settlement service responsibilities, or letters which provide similar protection.
Mortgage. Real estate security instrument which pledges land as security for the performance of an obligation such as repayment of a loan. For the purpose of this regulation the term “mortgage” includes deed of trust and deed to secure debt. A real estate mortgage or deed of trust form for the state in which the land to be taken as security is available in any agency office, and will be used to secure a mortgage to the agency.
Quitclaim deed. A transfer of the seller's interest in the title, without warranties or covenants. This type of deed is used by the agency to convey title to purchasers of inventory property.
[61 FR 11711, Mar. 22, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 78327, Dec. 24, 2002; 80 FR 9876, Feb. 24, 2015]
The borrower or the seller, or both, in compliance with the terms of the sales contract or option will be responsible for payment of all costs of title clearance and closing of the transaction and will arrange for payment before the transaction is closed. These costs will include any costs of abstracts of title, land surveys, attorney's fees, owner's and lender's policies of title insurance, obtaining curative material, notary fees, documentary stamps, recording costs, tax monitoring service, and other expenses necessary to complete the transaction.
(a) Form of title certification. State Offices are directed to require title insurance for all loan closings unless the agency determines that the use of title insurance is not available or is economically not feasible for the type of loan involved or the area of the state where the loan will be closed. If title insurance is used, State Offices are authorized to require a closing protection letter issued by an approved title insurance company to cover the closing agent, if available. A closing protection letter need not be furnished when the closing is conducted by the title insurance company.
(b) Approval of closing agent. An attorney or title company may act as a closing agent and close agency real estate loans, provide necessary title clearance, and perform such other duties as required in this subpart. A closing agent will be responsible for closing agency loans and disbursing both agency loan funds and funds provided by the borrower in connection with the agency loan so as to obtain title and security position as required by the agency. The closing agent must be covered by a fidelity bond which will protect the agency unless a closing protection letter is provided to the agency. The borrower will select the approved closing agent. If title clearance is by an attorney's opinion, the agency will approve the attorney who will perform the closing in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section. The attorney will be approved after submitting a certification acceptable to the agency. If title certification is by means of a policy of title insurance, the title company which will issue the policy must have been approved in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. A closing agent's delay in providing services without justification in connection with agency loans may be a basis for not approving the closing agent in future cases.
(c) Approval of attorneys. Any attorney selected by an applicant, who will be providing title clearance where the certificate of title will be an attorney's opinion, must submit an agency form certifying to professional liability insurance coverage. If the attorney is also the closing agent, fidelity coverage for the attorney and any employee having access to the funds must be provided. The agency will determine the appropriate level of such insurance. Required insurance will, as a minimum, cover the amount of the loan to be closed. The agency will approve the form stipulating the bond coverage. The agency will approve any attorney who is duly licensed to practice law in the state where the real estate security is located and who complies with the bonding and insurance requirements in this section. If the certification of title will be by means of title insurance, any attorney or closing agent designated as an approved attorney or closing agent by the approved title insurance company which will issue the policy of title insurance will be acceptable, and when covered by a closing protection letter, will not be required to obtain professional liability insurance or a fidelity bond. Each approved title insurance company may provide a master list of their approved attorneys that are covered by its closing protection letters to the State Office and, in such cases the attorneys are approved for closings for that title insurance company. Delay in providing closing services without justification may be a basis for not approving the attorney in future cases.
(d) Approval of title companies. A title company acting as a closing agent, or as an issuing agent for a title insurance company, must be covered by a title insurance company closing protection letter or submit an agency form certifying to fidelity coverage to cover all employees having access to the loan funds. The agency will determine the appropriate level of such coverage and will approve the form stipulating the bond coverage. Delay in providing closing services without justification may be a basis for not approving the company in future cases. Each approved title insurance company may provide a master list of their approved title companies that are covered by its closing protection letter to the State Office and, in such cases the title companies on the list are approved for closings for that title insurance company.
(e) Approval of title insurance companies. The agency will approve any title insurance company which issues policies of title insurance in the State where the security property is located if:
(1) The form of the owner's and lender's policies of title insurance (including required endorsements) to be used in closing agency loans are acceptable to the agency, and will contain only standard types of exceptions and exclusions approved in advance by the agency;
(2) The title insurance company is licensed to do business in the state (if a license is required); and
(3) The title insurance company is regulated by a State Insurance Commission, or similar regulator, or if not, the title insurance company submits copies of audited financial statements, or other approved financial statements satisfactory to the agency, which show that the company has the financial ability to cover losses arising out of its activities as a title insurance company and under any closing protection letters issued by the title insurance company.
(h) Debarment or suspension. No attorney, title company, title insurance company, or closing agent, currently debarred or suspended from participating in Federal programs, may participate in any aspect of the agency loan closing and title clearance process.
(i) Special provisions. Closing agents are responsible for having current knowledge of the requirements of State law in connection with loan closing and title clearance and should advise the agency of any changes in State law which necessitate changes in the agency's State mortgage forms and State Supplements.
(c) Ordering title services. Application for title examination or insurance will be made by the borrower to a title company or attorney. The lender's policy will be for at least the amount of the loan. The United States of America will be named as the insured lender.
(d) Use of title opinion. If a title opinion will be issued, a title examination will include searches of all relevant land title and other records, so as to express an opinion as to the title of the property and the steps necessary to obtain the appropriate title and security position to issue a title opinion as required by this subpart. The closing agent or approved attorney will determine:
(3) Whether there are outstanding Federal, State, or local tax claims (including taxes which under State law may become a lien superior to a previously attaching mortgage lien) or homeowner's association assessment liens;
(6) In addition to paragraph (d)(2) of this section, if wetlands easements or other conservation easements have been placed on the property;
(e) Use of title insurance. When title insurance is to be obtained, the approval official will be furnished with a title insurance binder disclosing any defects in, exceptions to, and encumbrances against, the title, the conditions to be met to make the title insurable and in the condition required by the agency, and the curative or other actions to be taken before closing of the transaction. The binder must include a commitment to issue a lender policy in an amount at least equal the amount of the loan, except in instances where there may be an outstanding owner's policy in favor of the borrower. Not withstanding the provisions of this section, the instance of an assumption without a subsequent loan, the existing policy may be continued if the coverage meets or exceeds the assumption balance and the title company agrees in writing to extend coverage in full force and effect.
The agency, in coordination with the closing agent, will arrange a loan closing and send loan closing instructions, on an agency form to the closing agent when the agency determines that the exceptions shown on the preliminary title opinion or title insurance binder will not adversely affect the suitability, security value, or successful operation of the property and all other agency conditions to closing have been satisfied.
(a) Preparation of deeds. The closing agent, unless prohibited by law, will prepare, complete, or approve documents, including deeds, necessary for title clearance and closing of the transaction and provide the agency with the policy of title insurance or title opinion providing the lien priority required by the agency and subject only to exceptions approved by the agency. Agency forms will be used when required by this part.
(b) Preparation of mortgages. The closing agent will insure that all mortgages are properly prepared, completed, executed, and filed for record. Where applicable, the mortgages should recite that it is a purchase money mortgage. The following requirements will be observed in preparing agency morgages:
(1)-(8) [Reserved]
(11) Mortgages on leasehold estates. When the agency security interest is a leasehold estate, unless State law or State Supplement otherwise provides, the real estate mortgage or deed of trust form, available in any agency office, will be modified as follows:
All of borrower's right, title, and interest in and to a leasehold estate for an original term of __ years, commencing on ___, 19 __, created and established by and between ___ as lessor and owner and __ as lessee, including any extensions and renewals thereof, a copy of which lease was recorded or filed in book __, page __, as instrument number __, in the Office of the (e.g., County Clerk), for the aforesaid county and State and covering the following real property: ___.
(ii) Immediately preceding the covenant starting with the words “should default,” the following covenant will be added:
( ) Borrower covenants and agrees to pay when due all rents and any and all other charges required by said lease, to comply with all other requirements of said lease, and not to surrender or relinquish, without the Government's prior written consent, any of borrower's right, title, or interest in or to said leasehold estate or under said lease while this mortgage remains of record.
(12) Mortgages on land purchase contract. When the agency security interest is on a borrower's interest in a land purchase contract, OGC will provide language used to modify agency forms.
(1) Prior lienholder's agreement. If any liens (other than agency liens or tax liens to local governmental authorities) or security agreements (hereafter called “liens”), with priority over the agency mortgage will remain against the real property securing the loan, the lienholders must execute, in recordable form, agreements containing all of the following provisions unless prior approval for different provisions has been obtained from the National Office:
(ii) When the prior lien secures future advances, including the lienholder's costs for borrower liquidation or bankruptcy, which under State law have priority over the mortgage being taken (or an agency mortgage already held), the prior lienholder shall agree not to make advances for purposes other than taxes, insurance or payments on other prior liens without written consent of the agency.
(iii) The prior lienholder shall consent to the agency making (or transferring) the loan and taking (or retaining) the related mortgage if the prior lien instrument prohibits a loan or mortgage (or transfer) without the prior lienholder's consent.
(iv) The prior lienholder shall consent to the agency transferring the property subject to the prior lien after the agency has obtained title to the property either by foreclosure or voluntary conveyance if the prior lien instrument prohibits such transfer without the prior lienholder's consent.
(4) Agreement by holder of seller's interest under land purchase contract. If the buyer's interest in the security property is that of a buyer under a land purchase contract, it will be necessary for the seller to execute, in recordable form, an agreement containing all of the following provisions:
(i) The seller shall agree not to sell or voluntarily transfer the seller's interest under the land purchase contract without the prior written consent of the State Office.
(ii) The seller shall agree not to encumber or cause any liens to be levied against the property.
(iii) The seller shall agree not to commence or take any action to accelerate, forfeit, or foreclose the buyer's interest in the security property until a specified period of time after notifying the State Office of intent to do so. This period of time will be 90 days unless a State Supplement provides otherwise. The agreement shall give the agency the option to cure any monetary default by paying the amount of the buyer's delinquent payments to the seller, or paying the seller in full and having the contract assigned to the agency.
(iv) The seller shall consent to the agency making the loan and taking a security interest in the borrower's interest under the land purchase contract as security for the agency loan.
(v) The seller shall agree not to take any actions to foreclose or forfeit the interest of the buyer under the land purchase contract because the agency has acquired the buyer's interest under the land purchase contract by foreclosure or voluntary conveyance, or because the agency has subsequently sold or assigned the buyer's interest to a third party who will assume the buyer's obligations under the land purchase contract.
(vi) When the agency acquires a buyer's interest under a land purchase contract by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, the agency will not be deemed to have assumed any of the buyer's obligations under the contract, provided that the failure of the agency to perform any such obligations while it holds the buyer's interest is a ground to commence an action to terminate the land purchase contract.
The closing agent will cooperate with the approval official, borrower, seller, and other necessary parties to arrange the time and place of closing. The transaction may be closed when the agency determines that the agency requirements for the loan have been satisfied and the closing agent or approved attorney can issue or cause to be issued a policy of title insurance or final title opinion as of the date of closing showing title vested as required by the agency, the lien of the agency's mortgage in the priority required by the agency, and title to the mortgaged property subject only to those exceptions approved in writing by the agency. The loan will be considered closed when the mortgage is filed for record and the required lien is obtained.
(a) Disbursement of loan funds. When the closing agent indicates that the conditions necessary to close the loan have been met, loan funds will be forwarded to the closing agent. Loan funds will not be disbursed prior to filing of the mortgage for record; however, when necessary, loan funds may be placed in escrow before the mortgage is filed for record and disbursed after it is filed. No development funds will be kept in escrow by the closing agent after loan closing, unless approved by the agency. Loan funds for the payment of a lien may be disbursed only upon the recording of a discharge, satisfaction, or release of prior lien interests (or assignment where necessary to protect the interests of the agency).
(b) Title examination and liens or claims against borrowers. If there are exceptions or recorded items which have arisen since the preliminary title opinion, the transaction will not be closed until these entries have been cleared of record or approved by the agency. The closing agent will advise the approval official of the nature of such intervening instruments and the effect they may have on obtaining a valid mortgage of the priority required or the title insurance policy to be issued.
(c) Taxes and assessments. The closing agent will determine if all taxes and assessments against the property which are due and payable are paid at or before the time of loan closing. If the seller and the borrower have agreed to prorate any taxes or assessments which are not yet due and payable for the year in which the closing of the transaction takes place, the seller's proportionate share of the taxes and assessments will be deducted from the proceeds to be paid to seller at closing and will be added to the amount required to be paid by borrower at closing. Appropriate prorations as agreed upon between the borrower and seller may also be made for taxes paid by the seller which are applicable to a period after the closing date, and for common area maintenance fees, prepaid rentals, insurance (unless the borrower is to obtain a new policy of insurance), and growing crops.
(d) Affidavit regarding work of improvement—(1) Execution by borrower. If required by State Supplement, the closing agent will require that an affidavit regarding work of improvement, provided by the agency, be completed and executed when a loan is being made to a borrower who already owns the real estate to be mortgaged. This affidavit will be executed by the borrower at closing.
(2) Execution by seller. If required by State Supplement, the closing agent will require that an affidavit regarding work of improvement, provided by the agency, be completed and executed (including acknowledgment) by the seller when the agency is making a loan to a borrower to enable the borrower to acquire the property (including transfers). This affidavit will be executed by the seller at closing.
(3) Legal insufficiency of affidavit form. If the agency affidavit regarding work of improvement is not legally sufficient in a particular State, a State form approved by OGC will be used. A similar form that may be required by a title insurance company may be substituted for the agency form.
(4) Recording. The affidavit will not be recorded unless the closing agent deems it necessary and State law permits.
(5) Delay in closing. The loan will not be closed if, at the loan closing, the seller (in a sale transaction) or the borrower (in a nonpurchase money loan situation) indicates that construction, repair, or remodeling has been commenced or completed on the property, or related materials or services have been delivered to or performed on the property within the time limit specified in the affidavit, unless a State Supplement provides otherwise. The closing agent will notify the approval official, who will determine if the work of improvement could result in a lien prior to the agency lien. The State Office will, with the advice and concurrence of OGC, provide in a State Supplement the period of time to be used in completing the affidavit.
(g) Return of loan documents to approval official after loan closing. Within 1 day after loan closing, the closing agent will return completed and executed copies of the loan closing instructions, the executed original promissory note, and all other documents required for loan closing (except the mortgage), to the approval official. If the recorded mortgage is customarily returned to the borrower or closing agent after recording, then it must be forwarded to the approval official immediately.
(h) Final title opinion or title insurance policy. As soon as possible after the transaction has been closed.
(1) Final title opinion. The attorney will issue a final title opinion to the agency and the borrower on a form provided by the agency. Issuance of the final title opinion should not be held up pending the return of recorded instruments. If it is not possible for the final title opinion to show the book and page of recording of the agency security instrument, the words “and is recorded” in the final title opinion form provided by the agency office, may be deleted and the blank space completed to show the filing office and the filing instrument number, if available. Attached to the final title opinion will be required documents then available, including any which the approval official has furnished to the attorney which were not previously returned. The attorney will ensure that all recorded instruments are forwarded or delivered to the proper parties after recording. The certification of title will be forwarded for a voluntary conveyance.
(2) Title insurance policy. The closing agent will send or deliver the title insurance policy, with the United States listed as mortgage holder, to the approval official. The policy will be subject only to standard exceptions and those outstanding encumbrances, and exceptions, approved by the approval official. If an owner's policy of title insurance is requested, the closing agent will send or deliver it to the borrower. The closing agent will ensure that all recorded instruments are delivered or sent to the proper parties after recording.
(i) Other services of the closing agent. (1) The closing agent will assist the approval official in preparing, completing, obtaining execution and acknowledgment, and recording the required documents when necessary. The closing agent will keep the approval official advised as to the progress of title clearance and preparation of material for closing the transaction.
(2) The closing agent will provide services for deeds in lieu of foreclosure as set forth in §1927.62 of this subpart, and §1955.10 of subpart A of part 1955 of this chapter.
Title services and closing for subsequent loans to an existing borrower will be done in accordance with previous instructions in this subpart, except that:
(a) Loans closed using title insurance or title opinions. (1) Title insurance or title opinions will be obtained unless:
(i) The cost of title services is excessive in relationship to the size of the loan,
(ii) The agency currently has a first mortgage security interest,
(iii) The applicant has sufficient income to service the additional loan,
(iv) The borrower is current on the existing agency loan, and
(v) The best mortgage obtainable adequately protects the agency security interests.
(2) Title insurance or a final title opinion will not be obtained for a subsequent Section 504 loan where the previous Section 504 loan was unsecured or secured for less than $7,500 and the outstanding debt amount plus the new loan is less than $7,500.
(3) Loans closed using a new lender title insurance policy:
(i) Will cover the entire real property which is to secure the loan, including the real property already owned and any additional real property being acquired by the borrower with the loan proceeds.
(ii) Will cover the entire amount of any subsequent loan plus the amount of any existing loan being refinanced (if the existing loan is not being refinanced, the new lender policy will insure only the amount of the subsequent loan).
(b) Title services required in connection with assumptions. These regulations are contained in subparts A and B of part 1965 of this chapter and 7 CFR part 3550 as appropriate for the loan type.
[61 FR 11711, Mar. 22, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 78327, Dec. 24, 2002]
The reporting requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget and have been assigned OMB control number 0575-0147. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to vary from 5 minutes to 1.5 hours per response, with an average of .38 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Department of Agriculture, Clearance Officer, OIRM, Ag Box 7630, Washington, DC 20250; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (OMB #0575-0147), Washington, DC 20503. You are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.