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HMDA & Reg B - Temporary Financing?

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Question: 
One of our branches made a multiple advance consumer purpose loan to purchase and renovate an existing home that the borrowers will move into after renovation. At the time the loan was made, the branch had (and still has) a commitment letter for permanent financing from another lender. Per HMDA guidance "The regulation lists as examples of temporary financing construction loans and bridge loans. See 203.4(d)(3). Construction and bridge loans are illustrative, not exclusive, examples of temporary financing. The examples indicate that financing is temporary if it is designed to be replaced by permanent financing of a much longer term. A loan is not temporary financing merely because its term is short. For example, a lender may make a loan with a one year term to enable an investor to purchase a home, renovate it and resell it before the term expires. Such a loan must be reported as a home purchase loan. See 203.2(h)." Therefore, because of that outside commitment letter, we determined that it was not HMDA reportable. However, since it is a loan to purchase an existing dwelling that will be occupied by the applicant as a primary dwelling, is monitoring information required under Reg B? I have been told that for monitoring purposes, we have two tests to fulfill, the HMDA test and the Reg B test. We already know this is temporary under HMDA and not HMDA reportable, but I'm not sure if I need monitoring information under Reg B. Specifically, 12 CFR 202.13 states that a bank must get monitoring information for dwelling purchase loans or refinancing of a purchase money loans. It appears, based on what I have been told before, that only the initial construction of a home is exempt under Reg B for monitoring purposes. From past training, I seem to recall that other temporary loans, such as bridge loans and the loan in question, are still covered by the monitoring information requirements of Reg B since they are to purchase an existing dwelling. Is that correct or can I use the same temporary financing test for HMDA and Reg B?
Answer: 

The only temporary financing exempt under Reg B is a construction only loan. Your loan is not a construction loan, but a purchase and renovation loan. You need GMI under the provisions of Reg B.

First published on BankersOnline.com 6/16/08

First published on 06/16/2008

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