Mortgage Choice Act of 2013

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here, with an updated short title.)

Mortgage Choice Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Truth in Lending Act with respect to requirements for disclosure to a consumer of points and fees information about a consumer credit transaction, secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, but which is not a residential mortgage transaction, a reverse mortgage transaction, or a transaction under an open end credit plan, when the total points and fees the consumer must pay at or before closing will exceed 8% of the total loan amount or $400, whichever is greater. (Such consumer credit transactions might include an equity credit line to which consumer purchases or leases may be charged.)

Excludes from the computation of such points and fees any escrow for future payment of insurance.

Modifies the criteria for exclusion from the computation of points and fees of certain reasonable charges elsewhere exempted from the computation of the finance charge in extensions of credit secured by an interest in real property. Excludes from points and fees any such reasonable charges even though a creditor receives compensation, but only in so far as the creditor or its affiliate retains the compensation as a result of their participation in an affiliated business arrangement.

(An "affiliated business arrangement" is one in which: (1) a person who is in a position to refer business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan, or an associate of such person, has either an affiliate relationship with or a direct or beneficial ownership interest of more than 1% in a provider of settlement services; and (2) either of such persons directly or indirectly refers such business to that provider or affirmatively influences the provider's selection.)

Revises the additional requirement that such a reasonable charge be paid to a third party unaffiliated with the creditor. Requires the charge to be: (1) a bona fide third party charge not retained by the mortgage originator, creditor, or an affiliate; or (2) a fee or premium for title examination, title insurance, or similar purposes.

Modifies the conditions under which federal departments and agencies may exempt refinancings under a streamlined refinancing from an income verification requirement that, at the time a refinancing is consummated, the consumer has a reasonable ability to repay the loan and all applicable taxes, insurance, and assessments. Repeals the exception for bona fide third party charges not retained by the mortgage originator, creditor, or an affiliate from the requirement that total points and fees not exceed 3% of the total new loan amount. (Thus subjects such charges to the same 3% ceiling.)

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3211 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3211

   To amend the Truth in Lending Act to improve upon the definitions 
provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2013

Mr. Huizenga of Michigan (for himself, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Royce, Mr. David 
Scott of Georgia, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Peters of Michigan, Mr. Bachus, Ms. 
    McCollum, Mr. Murphy of Florida, and Mr. Doyle) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Truth in Lending Act to improve upon the definitions 
provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mortgage Choice Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF POINTS AND FEES.

    (a) Amendment to Section 103 of TILA.--Section 103(bb)(4) of the 
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1602(bb)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``paragraph (1)(B)'' and inserting 
        ``paragraph (1)(A) and section 129C'';
            (2) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and insurance'' after ``taxes'';
                    (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, except as 
                retained by a creditor or its affiliate as a result of 
                their participation in an affiliated business 
                arrangement (as defined in section 2(7) of the Real 
                Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 
                2602(7))'' after ``compensation''; and
                    (C) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the 
                following:
                            ``(iii) the charge is--
                                    ``(I) a bona fide third-party 
                                charge not retained by the mortgage 
                                originator, creditor, or an affiliate 
                                of the creditor or mortgage originator; 
                                or
                                    ``(II) a charge set forth in 
                                section 106(e)(1);''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) by striking ``accident,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or any payments'' and inserting 
                ``and any payments''.
    (b) Amendment to Section 129C of TILA.--Section 129C of the Truth 
in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1639c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(5)(C), by striking ``103'' and all 
        that follows through ``or mortgage originator'' and inserting 
        ``103(bb)(4)''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(C)(i), by striking ``103'' and all 
        that follows through ``or mortgage originator)'' and inserting 
        ``103(bb)(4)''.

SEC. 3. RULEMAKING.

    Not later than the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection shall issue final regulations to carry out the amendments 
made by this Act, and such regulations shall be effective upon 
issuance.
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