2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 32. Financial Institutions › Chapter 9. Residential Mortgage Brokers, Lenders, Servicers, and Loan Originators › Part 1. Montana Mortgage Act › 32-9-148. Disclosure of mortgage costs by mortgage lender

32-9-148. Disclosure of mortgage costs by mortgage lender.
(1) A mortgage lender shall disclose the terms of the loan to the borrower in compliance with the disclosure requirements of the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, 12 U.S.C. 2601, et seq., the federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601, et seq., and any regulations promulgated under those acts.
(2) A mortgage lender shall disclose the terms of any prepayment penalty on the mortgage loan, including the amount of the prepayment penalty or the formula for calculating the prepayment penalty. A mortgage lender shall comply with federal laws and rules regarding prepayment penalties.
(3) A licensed mortgage lender may not require a borrower to pay any fees or charges prior to the mortgage loan closing, except:
(a) charges to be incurred by the mortgage lender on behalf of the borrower for services from third parties necessary to process the application, such as credit reports and appraisals;
(b) an application fee;
(c) an interest rate lock-in fee if the borrower is provided an interest rate lock-in agreement, the terms of which must include but are not limited to:
(i) the expiration date of the interest rate lock-in agreement;
(ii) the principal amount of the mortgage loan, the term of the mortgage loan, and identification of the residential real estate;
(iii) the initial interest rate and the discount points to be paid; and
(iv) the amounts and payment terms of the interest rate lock-in, along with a statement as to whether the fee is refundable and the terms and conditions necessary to obtain a refund; and
(d) a loan commitment fee, upon approval of the mortgage loan application, if the borrower is provided with a loan commitment in writing that is signed by the mortgage lender and the borrower and the terms include the terms and conditions of the mortgage loan as well as the terms and conditions of the loan commitment, including but not limited to:
(i) the time period during which the loan commitment is irrevocable and may be accepted by the borrower, which may not be less than 7 calendar days from the date of the loan commitment or the date of mailing, whichever is later;
(ii) the amount and payment terms of the loan commitment fee, along with a statement as to whether the fee is refundable and the terms and conditions necessary to obtain a refund;
(iii) the expiration date of the loan commitment;
(iv) conditions precedent to closing; and
(v) the terms and conditions, if any, for obtaining a refund of fees for third-party services or arranging for the transfer of third-party service work products to another mortgage lender.
(4) Any amount collected under subsection (3) in excess of the actual costs must be returned to the borrower within 60 days after rejection, withdrawal, or closing.
(5) (a) Except as provided in subsection (5)(b), fees or charges collected pursuant to this section, other than fees for third-party services collected pursuant to subsection (3)(a), must be refunded if a valid loan commitment is not produced or if closing does not occur.
(b) Applicable fees may be retained by the licensee in accordance with the terms of the loan commitment upon the licensee's ability to demonstrate any of the following:
(i) the borrower withdraws the mortgage loan application after the lender has issued a loan commitment on the same terms and conditions disclosed to the borrower on the most recent good faith estimate;
(ii) the borrower has made a material misrepresentation or omission on the mortgage loan application; or
(iii) the borrower has failed to provide documentation necessary to the processing or closing of the mortgage loan application and closing does not occur without fault of the lender. (See part compiler's comment regarding contingent suspension.)
History: En. Sec. 24, Ch. 321, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 317, L. 2011.