Layman's Terms to the New Dodd Frank Regulations for Seller and Private Financing

This is very Important if you are considering any Owner Financing when Selling your home.

Quick Reference Guide for Dodd-Frank Regulations Effecting

Seller and Private Financing (Effective 01/10/2014)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was initially passed in 2010 in response to predatory lending practices and the global mortgage crisis.  The following regulations were part of the 2013 Truth in Lending Act and were enacted effective January 10, 2014, in an effort to restrict unfair and predatory lending practices and to promote loans where the Borrower has a qualified ability to re-pay the loan.  To that extent, all Creditor/Loan Originators will be required to register as such with the appropriate banking authorities and comply with all RESPA/TILA/DODD-FRANK requirements, unless they qualify for one of the following exemptions:

1. Seller Financing:

1. A Natural Person, Trust or Estate selling only one residential property a year will not be categorized as a Creditor/Loan Originator;

1. However, for the exemption to apply the following must be true:

1. Seller-Financier must have owned the property he/she is financing;

1. Seller-Financier must not have constructed the property or acted as Contractor on the property;

                                                            iii.      The financing cannot include a negative amortization;

2. The financing must have a FIXED RATE for the first FIVE YEARS of any loan (they also recommend that the interest rate be “in line” with prevailing rates) and it can switch to a variable rate after that, but it too must be “in line” with prevailing variable rates.  Variable Rate increases are capped at 2.00% per year with a maximum of 6.00% over the life of the loan.

2. Non-Seller Private Financing:

1. Any Private Financier (not limited to a Natural Person, Trust or Estate) not lending more than THREE times in any one calendar year will not be considered a CREDITOR/LOAN ORIGINATOR and will be exempt from Dodd-Frank, however YOU MUST STILL ABIDE BY THE FOLOWING:

1. No Balloon Financing (MUST be fully amortizing); no Negative Amortizations;   and, no Pre-Payment Penalties;

2. Must use a FIXED RATE for the first FIVE YEARS of any loan (they also recommend that the interest rate be “in line” with prevailing rates) and it can switch to a variable rate after that, but it too must be “in line” with prevailing Variable Rates. Variable Rate increases are capped at 2.00% per year with a maximum of 6.00% over the life of the loan;

                                                            iii.      The Loan term must be for a term of 30 years or less;  and,

1. The Financier must, in good faith, determine that the Homebuyer can repay the Loan with reasonable ability by verifying the following:

1. Income;

2. Employment;

3. Monthly obligation of the proposed loan;

4. Monthly obligation of any simultaneous loans;

5. Monthly obligations of any mortgage-related expenses (MIP/HOI/RE Taxes);

6. Monthly obligations for other current debt;

7. Debt-to-Income ratio; and,

8. Credit history.

3. Additional Exemptions:

The Dodd-Frank requirements do not apply to:

1. Non-owner occupied properties (i.e. not going to be occupied by the Buyer/Borrower);

1. Commercial transactions (defined as any property not defined as residential);and,

1. Transactions wherein both the Borrower AND Lender are entities (i.e. corporation/limited liability companies, etc…).Please note that a Borrower entity would not be afforded the homestead creditors protection.

4. Delinquencies: The Loan must be delinquent for AT LEAST 120 DAYS prior to instituting a Foreclosure Action. They also stated that you must “engage” in loss mitigation measures, if requested by the Borrower (this, however, has not yet been defined).

5. Penalties for Non-Compliance:

1. Any Borrower can bring a suit for non-compliance within the first three years after the date of the loan;and,

1. If successful, the Borrower is entitled to EVERYTHING paid to Lender over the previous three years.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is based on independent research and is not to be relied on for any transactions occurring anywhere without consulting your own attorney. 

There is no guarantee that relying on this analysis will prevent governmental or civil actions against any party and nothing in this analysis should be construed as legal advice and relied upon, as each transaction must be separately analyzed.