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OCC Handbook - Interpretation of RESPA Exemptions

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Question: 
In Reg Z and RESPA, investment property which will not be owner-occupied is considered business purpose. I'm referring to RESPA 3500.5(b)(2) and Reg Z 226.3(a)(1). During a recent internal review, the analysts used the current OCC Handbook as their guide and it included the following exception on page 2: <i>"Exemptions (24 CFR 3500.5(b)) Transactions exempt from RESPA include loans: For which the primary purpose is business, commercial, or agricultural (definition parallels Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.3(a)(1)). However, a business purpose loan made to one or more persons, acting in an individual capacity (natural persons) to acquire, refinance, improve, or maintain a one-to-four family residential property used or to be used to rent or lease to other persons is a covered transaction. An action by a sole proprietorship is not considered to be conducted in an individual capacity."</i> What is the authority on which OCC makes this statement of exemption in their Exam Guidebook? The regulation was written by the Federal Reserve - not OCC.
Answer: 

From your question, "In Reg Z and RESPA, investment property which will not be owner occupied is considered business purpose." That is not what it says. It says "rental" property not "investment" property. Investment property would have to be put up against the general business purpose test to determine if it was business purpose or personal investment. Regarding the statement that the OCC has made, I have no idea where that originates.

First published on BankersOnline.com 7/06/09

First published on 07/06/2009

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