97-15301. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; Notice of Revision of Special Information Booklet  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 31982-32011]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-15301]
    
    
    
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    Part VI
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Housing and Urban Development
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; Revision of Special Information 
    Booklet; Notice
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 112 / Wednesday, June 11, 1997 / 
    Notices
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
    
    [Docket No. FR-4243-N-01]
    
    
    Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; Notice of Revision of 
    Special Information Booklet
    
    AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
    Commissioner, HUD.
    
    ACTION: Notice; revision of special information booklet.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a revised special 
    information booklet as required by the Real Estate Settlement 
    Procedures Act of 1974 (RESPA) (12 U.S.C. 2601-17) and prescribed by 
    the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    
    ADDRESSES: The special information booklet that follows this notice is 
    also available by sending a request to the Director, Office of Consumer 
    and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: RESPA/Special Information Booklet, 
    Room 9146, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
    Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Williamson, Office of 
    Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, (202) 708-4560, Room 9146, Department 
    of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
    DC 20410. (This is not a toll-free number.) Persons with hearing or 
    speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the 
    Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 23, 1987, the Department issued the 
    current edition of the special information booklet (52 FR 13566). That 
    version provided a description of the nature and purpose of the costs 
    relating to a real estate settlement, and an explanation of the HUD-1 
    Settlement Statement, escrow accounts used in connection with the loan, 
    providers of real estate settlement services, and unfair practices and 
    unreasonable or unnecessary charges. The Real Estate Settlement 
    Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2601-17) (RESPA) requires lenders to 
    provide the special information booklet to each person borrowing money 
    to finance the purchase of residential real estate within 3 business 
    days after receiving the application.
        Since 1987, RESPA has been amended on several occasions. (Cranston-
    Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, 1990, Public Law 101-625; the 
    Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1991, Public Law 102-
    27; the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Public Law 102-
    550; the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
    1994, Public Law 103-325; the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork 
    Reduction Act of 1996, Public Law 104-208.) Consequently, certain parts 
    of the special information booklet are outdated. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 
    2603, and 24 CFR 3500.6(b) of the Department's RESPA regulations, the 
    Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner has 
    revised the special information booklet by addressing the legislative 
    amendments, and by updating informational references and the booklet's 
    discussion of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. The revised booklet is 
    published in today's Federal Register following this notice.
        More specifically, the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal 
    Housing Commissioner has revised the booklet to reflect changes in 
    RESPA coverage as well as additional required disclosures relating to 
    loan servicing transfers, escrow accounts, and affiliated service 
    providers. The explanation of settlement services has been expanded to 
    include current lending and settlement charges, such as fees for 
    mortgage brokers, Computer Loan Origination (CLO) services, tax 
    service, flood insurance, and lead based paint inspection services. The 
    booklet was also updated to include other statutes related to fair 
    credit, fair lending, flood insurance and lead based paint hazards 
    which affect the lending and settlement process.
        The Department will make a copy of the special information booklet 
    available to any firm planning to publish the booklet for distribution 
    to lenders. Firms interested in securing a copy should send their 
    requests to the Director, Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, 
    Attention: RESPA/Special Information Booklet, Room 9146, U.S. 
    Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., 
    Washington, DC 20410. The booklet will also be available through the 
    Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
    Washington, DC 20402. The Department does not have a sufficient supply 
    of the booklet and form to provide copies to all settlement service 
    providers. Lenders may use the booklet as soon as it becomes available 
    through normal sources. Previous editions may be used until supplies 
    are exhausted or until September 9, 1997 whichever is earlier.
        The Department is also making the booklet available to settlement 
    service providers and consumers at the following web site address: 
    http://www.hud.gov/fha/res/respa_hm.html
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The information collection requirements for the special information 
    booklet have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
    in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
    3520), and assigned OMB control number 2502-0265. An agency may not 
    conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
    collection of information unless the collection displays a valid 
    control number.
    
    Environmental Impact
    
        In accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1) of the Department's 
    regulations, published in a final rule on September 27, 1996 (61 FR 
    50914), this notice and the special information booklet do not direct, 
    provide for assistance or loan and mortgage insurance for, or otherwise 
    govern or regulate property acquisition, disposition, lease, 
    rehabilitation, alteration, demolition, or new construction, or set out 
    or provide for standards for construction or construction materials, 
    manufactured housing, or occupancy. Therefore, this notice and the 
    special information booklet are categorically excluded from the 
    requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
        The Department is hereby publishing the revised special information 
    booklet to provide appropriate notice of its contents. The text of the 
    special information booklet for the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
    Act follows this notice.
    
        Dated: June 2, 1997.
    Nicolas P. Retsinas,
    Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    [FR Doc. 97-15301 Filed 6-10-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4210-27-C
    
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    [FR Doc. 97-15301 Filed 6-10-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4210-27-C
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/11/1997
Department:
Housing and Urban Development Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice; revision of special information booklet.
Document Number:
97-15301
Pages:
31982-32011 (30 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FR-4243-N-01
PDF File:
97-15301.pdf