Page 209 – Safeguard Properties

Black Knight will be implementing the use of Multi-factor authentication using RSA Adaptive Authentication on March 29th, 2020 that will require users to complete a one-time successful answer of their stored “Challenge Question” before accessing the HAMP Reporting Tool. To ensure continued access to the HAMP Reporting Tool, all users should confirm knowledge of their Challenge Answer prior to this date. The Challenge Question and Challenge Answer were set up by all users during registration and are also accessible in the Manage Profile page on the HAMP Reporting Tool, once logged in.

For full update, please click the source link above.

OCC: Coronavirus COVID-19 Information Page Released

Posted on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by Safeguard

Investor Update
March 16, 2020

Source: OCC

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

The OCC is working cooperatively with all state and federal banking agencies and other organizations to regulated institutions and their customers in managing the impact of the outbreak. If you have questions concerning the operations of your financial institution, please call your financial institution or visit your financial institution’s website. The following is additional information for use by national banks, federal savings associations, federal branches of foreign banks operating in the United States, and their customers.

To access full resource, please click the source link above.

HUD: FHA INFO #20-20: Continuation of FHA Single Family Business Operations Related to COVID-19

Posted on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by Safeguard

Investor Update
March 13, 2020

Source: HUD

Additional Resources:

HUD FHA INFO #20-18 (Loss Mitigation Home Retention Options for Assisting Borrowers)

HUD FHA INFO #20-16 (Coronavirus Information Available)

In this Announcement:
• Continuation of FHA Single Family Business Operations Related to COVID-19
• Temporary Partial Waiver of Servicing Requirements Regarding Face-to-Face Contact with Borrowers

See below for details.

Continuation of FHA Single Family Business Operations Related to COVID-19

As it relates to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) wants to assure its mortgagees and other interested stakeholders of its continued business operations in this evolving environment. Should FHA Single Family be required to close some or all its offices, our business operations will continue as usual; however, with some possible delays.

To help mitigate potential concerns about various aspects of our Single Family business and how they will continue during an office closure, a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document was developed to address stakeholder questions. This Q&A — which is posted on the Single Family main page — will be updated as needed. Stakeholders are advised to regularly access this document for updates.

Quick Links
• Visit the FHA Single Family main page on HUD.gov at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh

Temporary Waivers of Servicing Policy Regarding In-Person Borrower Contact

Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published a regulatory waiver and an accompanying Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (SF Handbook) waiver of its required early default intervention requirements regarding in-person contact with borrowers. These waivers were issued due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and are effective immediately.

These waivers temporarily allow servicers to utilize alternative methods for contacting borrowers — in lieu of face-to-face interviews — to meet the requirements of Section III.A.2.h.xii. of the SF Handbook and the regulation at 24 CFR §203.604. However, the face-to-face requirement for FHA-insured mortgages under the Section 248 – Single Family Mortgage Insurance on Indian Reservations, is still applicable.

Quick Links
• View the regulatory and SF Handbook waivers on the Waivers web page at:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/administration/hudclips/waivers/
• Access the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 in online or portable document format from HUD’s Client Information Policy Systems (HUDCLIPS) Handbooks web page at:
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh

Resources
Contact the FHA Resource Center:
• Visit our online knowledge base to obtain answers to frequently asked questions 24/7 at: www.hud.gov/answers.
• E-mail the FHA Resource Center at: answers@hud.gov. Emails and phone messages will be responded to during normal hours of operation, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Eastern), Monday through Friday on all non-Federal holidays.
• Call 1-800-CALLFHA (1-800-225-5342). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may reach this number by calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

FEMA Declared Disaster Mississippi

Posted on March 13, 2020April 14, 2020 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert Update
April 8, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that took place January 10-11, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

Chickasaw
Quitman
Tallahatchie

Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding (DR-4478 Amendment 1)

FEMA Declared Disaster Mississippi: ZIP Code List

FEMA Alert
March 12, 2020

FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that took place January 10-11, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

Bolivar
Choctaw
Clay
DeSoto
Oktibbeha
Panola
Prentiss
Sunflower
Tishomingo
Washington

Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding (DR-4478)

FEMA Declared Disaster Mississippi: ZIP Code List

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

FEMA Declared Disaster Wisconsin

Posted on March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
March 11, 2020

FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Wisconsin affected by a severe winter storm and flooding that took place January 10-12, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

Kenosha
Milwaukee
Racine

Wisconsin Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (DR-4477)

FEMA Declared Disaster Wisconsin: ZIP Code List

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

Miami-Dade County to Suspend Eviction Notices

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 12, 2020

Source: The Miami Herald

Additional Resources:

The Miami Herald (Twitter)

HousingWire: (U.S. Cities Are Taking Action on Halting Evictions)

Miami-Dade County Police Department

Miami-Dade police announced Thursday that officers would not assist with evictions during the emergency declared by Mayor Carlos Gimenez for the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency said it “has temporarily suspended all eviction activities until further notice” in a release sent Thursday morning. The action means officers won’t assist landlords in removing tenants or serving court papers, freezing evictions until further notice.

“The only ones that can follow through on eviction orders is us,” said police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta. “From this point forward, those papers and those orders will not be processed.”

The decision to halt evictions over COVID-19 comes on the heels of outrage last year when county police assisted evicting a 75-year-old from her South Beach apartment ahead of Hurricane Dorian. Gimenez said after the incident that the eviction was a mistake and the county would no longer be evicting people during emergencies.

San Jose Moves Forward with Moratorium on Evictions

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 10, 2020

Source: The Mercury News

Additional Resource:

The Mercury News (San Jose Mayor Calls for Moratorium on Evictions During Coronavirus Outbreak)

HousingWire: (U.S. Cities Are Taking Action on Halting Evictions)

Amid growing concerns over the potential economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak on Silicon Valley businesses and residents, San Jose city leaders are moving forward with a temporary moratorium on the evictions of tenants facing significant financial burdens due to the global pandemic.

The moratorium, which is expected to receive final approval from the San Jose City Council in the next week or two, will be in effect for at least 30 days and protect residents who can document that they cannot pay rent due to a substantial loss of income related to the virus. The city will evaluate extending the eviction moratorium in a month after it goes into effect.

The council Tuesday night directed staff to draft the moratorium in the wake of the growing number of canceled events around the Bay and just a day after Santa Clara County issued a mandatory ban of large gatherings and organizations.

“I am very mindful that this is going to be a source of pain for some property owners,” Mayor Sam Liccardo said. “But I think it’s important for us to recognize that this pain is going to be broadly felt and we have to do everything in our power to try and soften the blow.”

For full report, please click the source link above.

Fannie Mae: Reminder of Servicing Policy to Assist Borrowers Impacted by Coronavirus

Posted on March 12, 2020March 18, 2020 by Safeguard

Investor Update
March 5, 2020

Source: Fannie Mae

Additional Resource:

Fannie Mae’s Approach to COVID-19

We are actively monitoring reports about the possible spread of the coronavirus (i.e., COVID-19) in the United States, and understand that you may have concerns about its potential impact on borrowers and your business. We want to remind servicers that you can offer forbearance in accordance with our existing policies to assist borrowers who are unable to make their monthly mortgage loan payment as a result of a temporary hardship (for example, if a borrower is quarantined and unable to work). The servicer should evaluate the borrower for a forbearance plan or other workout assistance in accordance with our existing requirements. We also want to remind servicers that they must have a business continuity plan in place to support their ongoing ability to conduct business operations in the event of an interruption to business operations and processes. The specific requirements regarding a business continuity plan can be found in Selling Guide A4-1-01, Maintaining Seller/Servicer Eligibility. Fannie Mae is working with and following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and local health agency guidance, while adhering to our corporate internal business continuity plans to ensure our ability to continue operations and fulfill our mission.

View our Servicing Workout Hierarchy for details

Freddie Mac: Important Seller/Servicer Information on Potential Impacts of COVID-19

Posted on March 12, 2020March 18, 2020 by Safeguard

Investor Update
March 10, 2020

Source: Freddie Mac

Additional Resource:

Freddie Mac’s COVID-19 Response

With recent reports of the possible spread of COVID19 (i.e. the coronavirus) in the United States, we understand that you may have concerns on how this may affect borrowers and your business.

We are actively tracking news and information about the virus and making decisions based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

We are taking steps to keep our staff safe and have business continuity plans in place to make sure you continue to receive the service and support you need when doing business with Freddie Mac.

Reminders for Servicers

We would like to remind Servicers of the following:

– Borrowers impacted by COVID19 meet the forbearance hardship requirements under the eligible hardship listed in Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide Section 9202.2.

– While we understand that the impact to borrowers may be temporary, it is still a hardship, and Servicers must work with impacted borrowers who are unable to make their mortgage payments to ensure they are evaluated for a forbearance plan or other appropriate assistance.

– We ask that Servicers be responsive to potential requests for assistance from borrowers who may be impacted by COVID19.

We are also reminding all Seller/Servicers that they must have a business continuity plan (BCP) in place to support its ongoing ability to conduct business operations, among other things, in the event of an interruption to business operations and processes. The specific requirements regarding a Seller/Servicers BCP can be found in Guide Section 1302.3.Opens in a new window

Please reach out to your Freddie Mac representative if you have additional questions.