FNMA SVC-2013-21 Updates to Deed-in-Lieu Requirements

On October 17, Fannie Mae released Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2013-21, subtitled Updates to Mortgage ReleaseTM (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure) Requirements.

Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2013-21
Updates to Mortgage ReleaseTM (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure) Requirements

This Announcement describes the following Mortgage Release policy changes and clarifications:

  • Post-execution property inspection requirements and servicer’s final acceptance of the Mortgage Release,
  • Three-month transition option eligibility, and
  • Twelve-month lease transition option.

Post-Execution Property Inspection Requirements and Servicer’s Final Acceptance of the Mortgage Release

Servicing Guide, Part I, Section 201.11.03: Late Submission of REOgram; Part VIII, Section 116.01: Submitting the REOgram; Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2012-25: Mortgage Release (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure and Deed for Lease) Requirements and Updates to Standard Short Sale/HAFA II Requirements and Announcement SVC-2013-13: Updates to Standard Short Sale/HAFA II and Mortgage ReleaseTM (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure) Requirements

In Announcement SVC-2013-13, Fannie Mae updated several Mortgage Release requirements, including the requirement for a final interior property inspection after the borrower executes a Mortgage Release (to ensure that the subject property is vacant, secure, and in broom swept condition). Announcement SVC-2013-13 also provided that the servicer must submit the REOgram® within 24 hours of the date the servicer accepts the executed Mortgage Release.

Fannie Mae is revising the servicer’s responsibilities in finalizing the Mortgage Release as follows. The servicer must:

  • complete a final interior property inspection no more than two business days following the receipt of the executed deed and all related documents;
  • not complete final acceptance of the executed Mortgage Release until after it has received the results of the final property inspection;
  • submit the case into HomeSaver Solutions® Network (HSSN), regardless of the transition option chosen, to complete its final acceptance of the Mortgage Release; and
  • submit the REOgram within 24 hours of the date the servicer completes final acceptance of the executed Mortgage Release. The servicer must report the HSSN closing date as the foreclosure sale date on the REOgram. This is the date that Fannie Mae will use when determining whether to charge the servicer $100 a day if the REOgram submission is late.

Three-Month Transition Option Eligibility

Servicing Guide, Part VII, Section 606.01.01: Eligibility; and Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2012-25: Mortgage Release (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure and Deed for Lease) Requirements and Updates to Standard Short Sale/HAFA II Requirements

When evaluating a borrower for one of Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Release transition options, servicers must use the eligibility criteria in Part VII, Section 606.01.01: Eligibility. Announcement SVC-2012-25 removed several eligibility criteria from the list in Part VII, Section 606.01.01 for use in screening borrowers for the three-month transition option.

Fannie Mae is updating its current policy to also exclude the following from the three-month transition option program eligibility criteria:

  • At least three payments have been made since origination or since the last modification.
  • The mortgage loan is not 12 or more months delinquent when referred to Fannie Mae for transition option consideration.
  • The borrower is not involved in an active bankruptcy proceeding.

Twelve-Month Lease Transition Option

Servicing Guide, Part VII, Section 606.01.01: Eligibility; and Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2012-25: Mortgage Release (Standard Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure and Deed for Lease) Requirements and Updates to Standard Short Sale/HAFA II Requirements

Announcement SVC-2012-25 provided that the servicer must ensure that the borrower agrees to assign and transfer to Fannie Mae any rents if the property is rented and agrees to collect all rental income.

Effective immediately, servicers are no longer required to ensure that the borrower will assign and transfer any rents to Fannie Mae and will collect rental income. The occupant(s) will be required to execute a new Fannie Mae lease and rent will be due in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement.

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Servicers should contact their Servicing Consultant, Portfolio Manager, or Fannie Mae’s National Servicing Organization’s Servicer Support Center at 1-888-FANNIE5 (1-888-326-6435) with any questions regarding this Announcement.

To view the online announcement, please click here.

About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders,  and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties