The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced it will revise the treatment of active single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the enterprises) for which borrowers elected a COVID-19 forbearance under the enterprises’ representations and warranties (rep and warrant) framework.
Under the updated rep and warrant policies, loans for which borrowers elected a COVID-19 forbearance will be treated similarly to loans for which borrowers obtained forbearance due to a natural disaster. As a result, loans with a COVID-19 forbearance will remain eligible for certain rep and warrant relief based on the borrower’s payment history over the first 36 months following origination.
The enterprises’ existing rep and warrant policies with respect to natural disasters allow the time the borrower is in forbearance to be included when demonstrating a satisfactory payment history in the first 36 months following origination. These policies will now extend to loans for which borrowers elected a COVID-19 forbearance.
These updates will be implemented beginning October 31, 2023.
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Using the above phone number and email address, you can gain access to a knowledgeable team that’s ready to address all your credit union’s compliance inquiries — promptly and efficiently. With the Compliance Hotline, you can proactively respond to impromptu questions and issues by getting clarity and insight on technical topics that normally slow you down. We want to help you unlock the full potential of your League membership by leveraging the resources and support you need to navigate the complex world of compliance effortlessly. We’re ALWAYS just a phone call or email away!
Additionally, other League-member compliance resources include:
For more information, email Lisa Quaranta.
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