Freddie Mac: Government Shutdown Will Not Impact Operations
Investor Update
December 26, 2018
Source: Freddie Mac
The current federal government shutdown will have no direct impact on Freddie Mac. We will continue normal operations without interruption during the shutdown.
For guidance on how the shutdown may impact your borrowers who work for the federal government, here are a few questions and answers:
- If I’ve made a loan to a government employee and the closing date is during the shutdown period, do I need to obtain employment verification or reverification from a government office prior to closing?
A: All Freddie Mac income and employment documentation requirements of the Seller’s Purchase Documents continue to apply, including the requirement that a 10-day pre-closing verification (10-day PCV) be obtained no more than 10 business days prior to the note date, or after the note date but prior to the delivery date. Our information indicates that verification can often be obtained from third-party service providers that continue to provide verifications of employment for government employees, including those on furlough. - Must form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, be processed by the IRS prior to closing?
A: No. We only require form 4506-T to be signed by the borrower prior to closing. However, we require that form 4506-T be processed as part of the Seller’s in-house QC program. - What if I originate Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Rural Housing Service (RHS) mortgages?
A: Refer to the requirements issued by these federal agencies during the temporary shutdown.
We will be open for business. Please review our 2018 system and customer service hours of operation for Freddie Mac technologies.
If your borrowers are impacted by the shutdown, they’ll be eligible for relief options, including forbearance, as detailed in Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide Chapter 9203.
We’ll inform you immediately if there are changes to our business operations because of the shutdown. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact your Freddie Mac representative.
