Section 49.3. Reverse mortgage practices

(a) Financial strength.

(1) A licensee lender should not offer reverse mortgage loans unless it has the financial ability to make disbursements and service the reverse mortgage loans as required. By their nature, reverse mortgage loans present risks to licensee lenders and borrowers that are unique to the reverse mortgage industry. Unlike standard mortgage loans, reverse mortgage loans create a stream of payments to the borrower that the borrower relies on to pay other obligations and may require extended periods of cash outlay with no cash return for licensees. Reverse mortgage loans also present ‘‘crossover risk,’’ when the outstanding balance of the loan exceeds the value of the property held as collateral. In those cases, proprietary reverse mortgage loans do not have Federal insurance to protect lenders against the risk of not being able to recover the value of their reverse mortgage loan at maturity. The risks endanger the financial solvency of the licensee and disbursements to borrowers. Therefore, a licensee’s financial strength and solvency is both a matter of concern to the licensee and the borrower.

(2) If a licensee knows or suspects that its financial situation or ability to service disbursements is at risk, the licensee should notify the Department immediately to discuss possible solutions that will protect consumers as well as the financial health of the licensee. To evaluate whether a licensee lender has sufficient financial capability to offer reverse mortgage loans, the Department will review the overall financial condition of the licensee and in particular, the ability to make disbursements and service its reverse mortgage loan portfolio. For example, although a mortgage lender licensee under the MLA is required to have a minimum net worth of $250,000, the Department believes that it may be necessary for such a licensee who makes reverse mortgage loans to take additional precautions to ensure that it has the ability to make disbursements and service its reverse mortgage loans. Additional precautions could include additional capital and funding sources. The Department will review a licensee’s capital, liquidity and other factors, such as the licensee’s business model and available financial resources to replenish capital, that affect the licensee’s ability to service its reverse mortgage loans, particularly with respect to licensees that make or service proprietary reverse mortgage loans. Proprietary reverse mortgage loan lenders should also seek measures that act as insurance against crossover risk. The measures could include obtaining private insurance products to mitigate the risk.

(b) Reverse mortgage loan agreements.

(1) A licensee lender that makes proprietary reverse mortgage loans should consider the negative effects on borrowers if the licensee fails to make disbursements and service the loans. A licensee should consider inserting consumer protections in its reverse mortgage loan agreements that would allow borrowers to be released from their reverse mortgage loan obligations if the licensee or any assignee should fail to make disbursements or service the reverse mortgage loan. Additionally, a licensee should provide procedures for the release or satisfaction of liens on collateral in the event that a licensee or assignee is unable to make required disbursements, so that affected borrowers may obtain other financing. Lastly, a licensee should consider protections for borrowers such as not including in reverse mortgage loan agreements provisions which would allow a licensee or an assignee to discontinue disbursements or otherwise alter the terms of the reverse mortgage loan agreement because of the declining equity in a borrower’s collateral.

(2) In the event that property charges are not escrowed as part of a reverse mortgage loan, and a borrower fails to pay the property charges as agreed, a licensee lender should consider and discuss with the borrower any available options the borrower may have to cure the default prior to foreclosing and explore alternatives to foreclosure to permit the borrower to remain in the property.

(c) Reverse mortgage loan origination. When offering reverse mortgage loans, a licensee should:

(1) Ensure that the licensee’s mortgage originators offering reverse mortgage loans are knowledgeable about reverse mortgage loans in general and, specifically, with the reverse mortgage loans they are offering to applicants.

(2) Ensure that an applicant understands that the applicant’s family or other beneficiaries may not inherit the property serving as collateral at the time of the applicant’s death unless the reverse mortgage loan is paid in full.

(3) Encourage an applicant to discuss a proposed reverse mortgage loan transaction with the applicant’s family members or beneficiaries.

(4) Require a reverse mortgage loan applicant to seek counseling from a HUD-approved reverse mortgage loan counselor.

(5) Discuss with a reverse mortgage loan applicant alternatives to a reverse mortgage loan that may serve an applicant’s needs and goals.

(6) Under subsection (f), consider an applicant’s circumstances and offer the reverse mortgage loan available to the licensee that best meets the applicant’s needs and goals.

(7) For a term reverse mortgage loan, consider the projected financial condition of the applicant once the time period for making loan advances has expired and disclose to the applicant the adverse implications of a term reverse mortgage loan if the applicant does not have alternate sources of funds to meet the applicant’s financial needs following the lapse of advances under a term reverse mortgage loan.

(8) If available, consider whether establishing an escrow account for property charges is appropriate for the applicant and, if such an option is not available, discuss with the applicant the utility of establishing a property charge set aside account.

(9) Limit fees and charges to what is reasonable for the reverse mortgage loan. For proprietary reverse mortgage loans, the permissible fees and costs on insured reverse mortgage loans should be considered a guide as to what is reasonable.

(10) When offering a proprietary reverse mortgage loan, confirm that the applicant understands that the reverse mortgage loan being offered is not a government-sponsored or insured reverse mortgage loan and explain the differences between a proprietary reverse mortgage loan and government-sponsored or insured reverse mortgage loan.

(11) Disclose and ensure that the applicant understands the amount of, and service provided for, each fee and charge imposed in connection with a reverse mortgage loan.

(d) Nonborrower spouse. A licensee is strongly cautioned to consider the appropriateness of, and fully disclose the possible consequences of, a reverse mortgage loan for a nonborrower spouse living in the mortgaged property. Consequences include the nonborrower spouse being unable to keep the property if the applicant ceases to live in the property because of the applicant’s death or other circumstances which cause the applicant to vacate the premises.

(e) Conflicts of interest. A licensee should not:

(1) Offer ancillary or third-party products or services funded by the proceeds of a reverse mortgage loan if the licensee or an affiliated person would receive a financial benefit from the proceeds or services, excluding affiliated business arrangements as provided for and in accordance with 24 CFR 3500.15 (relating to affiliated business arrangements).

(2) Offer, solicit or make a reverse mortgage loan for the purpose of financing the sale of a product or service by the licensee or any affiliated person.

(3) Accept or receive any fee, compensation or other benefit for referring applicants to other individuals or entities for the purpose of applicants obtaining products or services to be financed with the reverse mortgage loan proceeds.

(f) Unsuitability. A licensee should not offer reverse mortgage loans that the licensee knows, or reasonably should have known, is unsuitable for, or contrary to the wishes or expectation of, an applicant. A licensee should ask an applicant about the purpose for the proposed reverse mortgage loan and, if the reverse mortgage loan is unsuitable for the applicant, should fully disclose to the applicant why the reverse mortgage loan is not suitable. Examples of circumstances which might indicate that an offered reverse mortgage loan is unsuitable include reverse mortgage loans when the applicant:

(1) Does not intend to reside in the property on a long term basis.

(2) Does not want nonborrower residents of the property to be displaced at the maturity of the loan because they will not be able to pay off the reverse mortgage loan.

(3) Will use the proceeds of the reverse mortgage loan to purchase a product, such as annuities or other investments, which are not appropriate for the borrower.

(4) Does not understand the terms and conditions of a reverse mortgage loan or what happens to the collateral when the reverse mortgage loan matures.

(5) Would receive disbursements from the reverse mortgage loan that are insufficient to meet the applicant’s stated needs or is not enough to justify the initial cost of a reverse mortgage loan.

(g) Servicing. Licensee lenders should perform their servicing obligation in a timely manner and in accordance with agreements with borrowers.

(h) Mental capacity. A licensee should take steps to confirm the applicant understands the reverse mortgage loan transaction. When a licensee has reason or should have reason to believe that an applicant is not able to understand or comprehend a reverse mortgage loan transaction due to reduced or diminished mental capacity, a licensee should take steps to determine if the consumer has the ability to understand the transaction. These steps should be documented by the licensee and could include asking appropriate additional questions, contacting appropriate family members or a known guardian, or requesting a physician’s note. If the licensee concludes that the customer is unable to understand the transaction due to diminished or reduced mental capacity, the licensee should not proceed with offering or making a reverse mortgage loan.

(i) Powers of attorney. When a person seeks to enter into a reverse mortgage loan transaction on behalf of an applicant pursuant to a power of attorney or other similar document, the licensee should not continue with the loan transaction without obtaining and reviewing the documents granting the power of attorney and confirming that the power of attorney documents are current and authorize the applicant’s representative to enter into and consummate the proposed reverse mortgage loan. In those cases, licensees should recommend that the person acting with the power of attorney consult with the family members, if any, of the applicant regarding the consequences of a reverse mortgage loan, including the possible loss of the collateral.