With the degree to which the Qualified Mortgage and Ability to Repay rules have affected the outlook for the mortgage industry, it comes as a surprise that an "Ability to Repay" policy does not represent a bulky and expansive document. What should it say? Something fairly simple and straightforward. As with many policies the devil is in the details. Saying you will comply is a policy. What is the PROCEDURE for complying? HOW will you comply? THAT is an effective policy.Sadly, regulators and investors focus their interest in seeing the policy as opposed to the procedure used to effect the policy.
Here is a sample Ability to Repay POLICY:
2.37 Ability to Repay
For any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling, Company Name must ensure that the borrower has the ability to repay the transaction. Failure to do so could allow the borrower to challenge the validity of the loan. Some transactions are exempt from Qualified Mortgage Ability to Repay requirements, however, even with loans which are exempt from a rebuttal presumption of repayment ability, we will strive to only make loans which the borrower can repay..
Exempt Transactions
- HELOCs
- Timeshares
- Bridge Loans
- Construction/Construction Perm
- Reverse Mortgages
In addition, some transactions receive an automatic “presumption” of compliance
- Eligible for purchase by Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) (until sunset provision)
- Insured by the Federal Housing Administration
- Eligible for Guarantee by the USDA
- Guaranteed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Originated by or for, or Approved for purchase by any state Housing Finance Agency (HFA)
- Has been found eligible as evidenced by a written letter or certificate from a Department of Housing and Urban Development counseling agency that there is a reasonable expectation of repayment
On all other cases we will follow our normal “full documentation” methods of verifying customer information and qualifying the borrower. Rather than list all documentation which we could potentially require, we refer you to our checklist of documents that we do require for all applicants, as applicable to their situation. (See Complete Application Checklist and Pre-Underwriting Document Review Checklist which are updated regularly to reflect changing circumstances and requirements.)
The following sections of our operating policies and procedures thoroughly identify the process for complying with “Ability to Repay.” We believe it is not enough to meet the letter of the law, but to fully implement procedures that allow us to ensure compliance. These operating procedures are incorporated by reference.
Origination Policies and Procedures
- Loan Qualification/Pre-Qualification Process – we qualify all borrowers based on their ability to repay
- Complete Application Process – identifies ALL potential documentation needed to substantiate a borrower’s ability to repay
- Borrower Checklist of Required Documentation – Allows the borrower to identify all documentation required for qualification and verification of ability to repay
- Points and Fees – identifies our points and fees structures for the purposes of calculating maximum allowable fees.
Processing Policies and Procedures
- Pre-Underwriting Review Process – loan processing is the second stage of loan level ability to repay evaluation. Processing completes the Pre-underwriting review checklist to ensure all documentation to substantiate the borrower’s ability to repay is included in the loan file prior to underwriting evaluation. Items identified as missing or incomplete are forwarded to the borrower and lender staff prior to proceeding.
Underwriting Policies and Procedures
- Qualified Mortgage Guidelines – Underwriting maintains guidelines and credit policy for reviewing all loans, including the evaluation of whether a loan meets qualified mortgage requirements or not. In the event that a loan is not a qualified mortgage, underwriters will still establish the borrower's ability to repay.
- Credit Policy for Non-Qualified Mortgages – We and our investors and purchasers of loans determine whether, and under what conditions, loans which do not meet Qualified Mortgage Guidelines will be available and how they are underwritten.
Quality Control
- Production Quality Control Process – The Audit Process reinforces the production quality control process be re-reviewing a sampling of loans to ensure that appropriate documentation and qualification calculations are retained in loan files
Secondary Marketing
The determination of whether a loan is a qualified mortgage falls initially on secondary marketing when the loan is registered and priced. Loan Level Price Adjustments and net pricing is presented on a daily basis. As a loan is identified as a non-QM mortgage, secondary marketing must establish that there is a market for the loan, or that the loan will be held in portfolio as non-salable. Non-salable loans must STILL document ability to repay pursuant to standard practice.
Determining Ability to Repay – Appendix Q
Property Collateral Not Primary Method of Repayment
Company Name will not rely primarily on the sale or refinance of the collateral in determining the borrower’s ability to repay the offered loan.Calculation of Ability to Repay
In order to ascertain ability to repay we will always utilize industry standard ratio or residual income calculations:- Interest Rate - Fixed Rate or Fully Indexed Rate for a maximum amortization period of 30 years.
- All debts, including housing expenses and liabilities, will be included in the calculation as required by Appendix Q of the Ability to Repay rule.
