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12 U.S.C. § 2601 — Congressional findings and purpose

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2601 — Congressional findings and purpose

**(a)** The Congress finds that significant reforms in the real estate settlement process are needed to insure that consumers throughout the Nation are provided with greater and more timely information on the nature and costs of the settlement process and are protected from unnecessarily high settlement charges caused by certain abusive practices that have developed in some areas of the country. The Congress also finds that it has been over two years since the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs submitted their joint report to the Congress on “Mortgage Settlement Costs” and that the time has come for the recommendations for Federal legislative action made in that report to be implemented. **(b)** It is the purpose of this chapter to effect certain changes in the settlement process for residential real estate that will result— (1) in more effective advance disclosure to home buyers and sellers of settlement costs; (2) in the elimination of kickbacks or referral fees that tend to increase unnecessarily the costs of certain settlement services; (3) in a reduction in the amounts home buyers are required to place in escrow accounts established to insure the payment of real estate taxes and insurance; and (4) in significant reform and modernization of local recordkeeping of land title information.

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_09a7b06aac64d4dc993900db
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-12/section-2601-congressional-findings-and-purpose--6c8f558d64.md
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Source location: Title 12, Chapter 27, § 2601; chapter-027-real-estate-settlement-procedures.md

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**(a)** The Congress finds that significant reforms in the real estate settlement process are needed to insure that consumers throughout the Nation are provided with greater and more timely information on the nature and costs of the settlement process and are protected from unnecessarily high settlement charges caused by certain abusive practices that have developed in some areas of the country. The Congress also finds that it has been over two years since the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs submitted their joint report to the Congress on “Mortgage Settlement Costs” and that the time has come for the recommendations for Federal legislative action made in that report to be implemented. **(b)** It is the purpose of this chapter to effect certain changes in the settlement process for residential real estate that will result— (1) in more effective advance disclosure to home buyers and sellers of settlement costs; (2) in the elimination of kickbacks or referral fees that tend to increase unnecessarily the costs of certain settlement services; (3) in a reduction in the amounts home buyers are required to place in escrow accounts established to insure the payment of real estate taxes and insurance; and (4) in significant reform and modernization of local recordkeeping of land title information.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2603 — Uniform settlement statement

**(a) Disclosure for mortgage loan transactions** The Bureau shall publish a single, integrated disclosure for mortgage loan transactions (including real estate settlement cost statements) which includes the disclosure requirements of this section and [section 2604 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section2604&num=0&edition=prelim), in conjunction with the disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act [[15 U.S.C. 1601](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1601&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] that, taken together, may apply to a transaction that is subject to both or either provisions of law. The purpose of such model disclosure shall be to facilitate compliance with the disclosure requirements of this chapter 11 See References in Text note below. and the Truth in Lending Act, and to aid the borrower or lessee in understanding the transaction by utilizing readily understandable language to simplify the technical nature of the disclosures. Such forms shall conspicuously and clearly itemize all charges imposed upon the borrower and all charges imposed upon the seller in connection with the settlement and shall indicate whether any title insurance premium included in such charges covers or insures the lender’s interest in the property, the borrower’s interest, or both. The Bureau may, by regulation, permit the deletion from the forms prescribed under this section of items which are not, under local laws or customs, applicable in any locality, except that such regulation shall require that the numerical code prescribed by the Bureau be retained in forms to be used in all localities. Nothing in this section may be construed to require that that part of the standard forms which relate

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

15 U.S.C. § 1601 — Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

**(a) Informed use of credit** The Congress finds that economic stabilization would be enhanced and the competition among the various financial institutions and other firms engaged in the extension of consumer credit would be strengthened by the informed use of credit. The informed use of credit results from an awareness of the cost thereof by consumers. It is the purpose of this subchapter to assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit, and to protect the consumer against inaccurate and unfair credit billing and credit card practices. **(b) Terms of personal property leases** The Congress also finds that there has been a recent trend toward leasing automobiles and other durable goods for consumer use as an alternative to installment credit sales and that these leases have been offered without adequate cost disclosures. It is the purpose of this subchapter to assure a meaningful disclosure of the terms of leases of personal property for personal, family, or household purposes so as to enable the lessee to compare more readily the various lease terms available to him, limit balloon payments in consumer leasing, enable comparison of lease terms with credit terms where appropriate, and to assure meaningful and accurate disclosures of lease terms in advertisements.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

15 U.S.C. § 1604 — Disclosure guidelines

**(a) Promulgation, contents, etc., of regulations** The Bureau shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Except with respect to the provisions of [section 1639 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1639&num=0&edition=prelim) that apply to a mortgage referred to in section 1602(aa) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, such regulations may contain such additional requirements, classifications, differentiations, or other provisions, and may provide for such adjustments and exceptions for all or any class of transactions, as in the judgment of the Bureau are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter, to prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith. **(b) Model disclosure forms and clauses; publication, criteria, compliance, etc.** The Bureau shall publish a single, integrated disclosure for mortgage loan transactions (including real estate settlement cost statements) which includes the disclosure requirements of this subchapter in conjunction with the disclosure requirements of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 [[12 U.S.C. 2601](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section2601&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] that, taken together, may apply to a transaction that is subject to both or either provisions of law. The purpose of such model disclosure shall be to facilitate compliance with the disclosure requirements of this subchapter and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, and to aid the borrower or lessee in understanding the transaction by utilizing readily understandable language to simplify the technical nature of the disclosures. In devising such forms,

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2602 — Definitions

For purposes of this chapter— (1) the term “federally related mortgage loan” includes any loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction loan) which— (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy of from one to four families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and (B) (i) is made in whole or in part by any lender the deposits or accounts of which are insured by any agency of the Federal Government, or is made in whole or in part by any lender which is regulated by any agency of the Federal Government, or (ii) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by the Secretary or any other officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the Secretary or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency; or (iii) is intended to be sold by the originating lender to the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or a financial institution from which it is to be purchased by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; or (iv) is made in whole or in part by any “creditor”, as defined in section 1602(f) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 15, who makes or invests in residential real estate loans aggregating more than $1,000,000 per year, except that for the purpose of this chapter, the term “creditor” does not include any agency or instrumentality of any State; (2) the te

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

15 U.S.C. § 1631 — Disclosure requirements

**(a) Duty of creditor or lessor respecting one or more than one obligor** Subject to subsection (b), a creditor or lessor shall disclose to the person who is obligated on a consumer lease or a consumer credit transaction the information required under this subchapter. In a transaction involving more than one obligor, a creditor or lessor, except in a transaction under [section 1635 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1635&num=0&edition=prelim), need not disclose to more than one of such obligors if the obligor given disclosure is a primary obligor. **(b) Creditor or lessor required to make disclosure** If a transaction involves one creditor as defined in section 1602(f) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, or one lessor as defined in [section 1667(3) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1667/3&num=0&edition=prelim), such creditor or lessor shall make the disclosures. If a transaction involves more than one creditor or lessor, only one creditor or lessor shall by required to make the disclosures. The Bureau shall by regulation specify which creditor or lessor shall make the disclosures. **(c) Estimates as satisfying statutory requirements; basis of disclosure for per diem interest** The Bureau may provide by regulation that any portion of the information required to be disclosed by this subchapter may be given in the form of estimates where the provider of such information is not in a position to know exact information. In the case of any consumer credit transaction a portion of the interest on which is determined on a per diem basis and is to be collected upon the consummation of such transaction, any disclosure with respect to such portion of

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2617 — Authority of Bureau

**(a) Issuance of regulations; exemptions** The Bureau is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations, to make such interpretations, and to grant such reasonable exemptions for classes of transactions, as may be necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter. **(b) Liability for acts done in good faith in conformity with rule, regulation, or interpretation** No provision of this chapter or the laws of any State imposing any liability shall apply to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any rule, regulation, or interpretation thereof by the Bureau or the Attorney General, notwithstanding that after such act or omission has occurred, such rule, regulation, or interpretation is amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason. **(c) Investigations; hearings; failure to obey order; contempt** (1) The Secretary 11 Probably should be “The Bureau”. may investigate any facts, conditions, practices, or matters that may be deemed necessary or proper to aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, in prescribing of rules and regulations thereunder, or in securing information to serve as a basis for recommending further legislation concerning real estate settlement practices. To aid in the investigations, the Bureau is authorized to hold such hearings, administer such oaths, and require by subpena the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and production of such documents as the Bureau deems advisable. (2) Any district court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which an inquiry is carried on may, in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena of the Bureau issued under this section, issue an order requiring compliance therewith; and any failure to obey such order of the

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 301 — Department

**(a)** The Department of Veterans Affairs is an executive department of the United States. **(b)** The purpose of the Department is to administer the laws providing benefits and other services to veterans and the dependents and the beneficiaries of veterans. **(c)** The Department is composed of the following: (1) The Office of the Secretary. (2) The Veterans Health Administration. (3) The Veterans Benefits Administration. (4) The National Cemetery Administration. (5) The Board of Veterans’ Appeals. (6) The Veterans’ Canteen Service. (7) The Board of Contract Appeals. (8) Such other offices and agencies as are established or designated by law or by the President or the Secretary. (9) Any office, agency, or activity under the control or supervision of any element named in paragraphs (1) through (8).

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 1831b — Disclosures with respect to certain federally related mortgage loans

**(a) Identity of beneficiary interest as condition for a loan; report to Corporation** No insured depository institution, insured branch of a foreign bank, or mutual savings or cooperative bank which is not an insured depository institution, shall make any federally related mortgage loan to any agent, trustee, nominee, or other person acting in a fiduciary capacity without the prior condition that the identity of the person receiving the beneficial interest of such loan shall at all times be revealed to the insured depository institution, insured branch, or bank. At the request of the Corporation, the insured depository institution, insured branch, or bank shall report to the Corporation on the identity of such person and the nature and amount of the loan, discount, or other extension of credit. **(b) Enforcement; bank status** In addition to other available remedies, this section may be enforced with respect to mutual savings and cooperative banks which are not insured depository institutions in accordance with [section 1818 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1818&num=0&edition=prelim), and for such purpose such mutual savings and cooperative banks shall be held and considered to be State nonmember insured banks and the appropriate Federal agency with respect to such mutual savings and cooperative banks shall be the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2604 — Home buying information booklets

**(a) Preparation and distribution** The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall prepare, at least once every 5 years, a booklet to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage loans to understand the nature and costs of real estate settlement services. The Director shall prepare the booklet in various languages and cultural styles, as the Director determines to be appropriate, so that the booklet is understandable and accessible to homebuyers of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Director shall distribute such booklets to all lenders that make federally related mortgage loans. The Director shall also distribute to such lenders lists, organized by location, of homeownership counselors certified under [section 1701x(e) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1701x/e&num=0&edition=prelim) for use in complying with the requirement under subsection (c) of this section. **(b) Contents** Each booklet shall be in such form and detail as the Director shall prescribe and, in addition to such other information as the Director may provide, shall include in plain and understandable language the following information: (1) A description and explanation of the nature and purpose of the costs incident to a real estate settlement or a federally related mortgage loan. The description and explanation shall provide general information about the mortgage process as well as specific information concerning, at a minimum— (A) balloon payments; (B) prepayment penalties; (C) the advantages of prepayment; and (D) the trade-off between closing costs and the interest rate over the life of the loan. (2) An explanation and sample of th

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

12 U.S.C. § 2607 — Prohibition against kickbacks and unearned fees

**(a) Business referrals** No person shall give and no person shall accept any fee, kickback, or thing of value pursuant to any agreement or understanding, oral or otherwise, that business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan shall be referred to any person. **(b) Splitting charges** No person shall give and no person shall accept any portion, split, or percentage of any charge made or received for the rendering of a real estate settlement service in connection with a transaction involving a federally related mortgage loan other than for services actually performed. **(c) Fees, salaries, compensation, or other payments** Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting (1) the payment of a fee (A) to attorneys at law for services actually rendered or (B) by a title company to its duly appointed agent for services actually performed in the issuance of a policy of title insurance or (C) by a lender to its duly appointed agent for services actually performed in the making of a loan, (2) the payment to any person of a bona fide salary or compensation or other payment for goods or facilities actually furnished or for services actually performed, (3) payments pursuant to cooperative brokerage and referral arrangements or agreements between real estate agents and brokers, (4) affiliated business arrangements so long as (A) a disclosure is made of the existence of such an arrangement to the person being referred and, in connection with such referral, such person is provided a written estimate of the charge or range of charges generally made by the provider to which the person is referred (i) in the case of a face-to-face referral or a referral made in writing or by electronic media, at or before the tim

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