Impound account required under loan secured by real property: Annual analysis; statements; increase in contributions; disposition of excess money.
1. For each loan requiring the deposit of money to an escrow account, loan trust account or other impound account for the payment of taxes, assessments, rental or leasehold payments or fire, hazard or other insurance premiums, the lender shall, at least annually, analyze the account. The analysis of each account must be performed to determine whether sufficient money is contributed to the account on a monthly basis to pay for the projected disbursements from the account. At least 30 days before the effective date of any increased contribution to the account based on the analysis, a statement must be sent to the borrower showing the method of determining the amount of money held in the account, the amount of projected disbursements from the account and the amount of the reserves which may be held in accordance with federal guidelines.
2. If, upon completion of the analysis, it is determined that an account is not sufficiently funded to pay from the normal payment the items when due on the account, the lender shall offer the borrower the opportunity to correct the deficiency by making one lump-sum payment or by making increased monthly contributions, in an amount required by the lender. The lender shall not declare a default on the account solely because the borrower is unable to pay the amount of the deficiency in one lump sum.
3. If, upon completion of the analysis, it is determined that the amount of money held by the lender in the account, together with anticipated future monthly contributions to the account to be credited to the account before the dates items are due on the account, exceed the amount of money required to pay the items when due, the lender shall, at the option of the borrower, either repay the excess promptly to the borrower, apply the excess to the outstanding principal balance or retain the excess in the account. If any payment on the loan is delinquent at the time of the analysis, the lender shall retain any excess money in the account and apply the money in the account toward payment of the delinquency.
4. As used in this section:
(a) “Borrower” means any person who receives a loan secured by real property and who is required to make advance contributions for the payment of taxes, insurance premiums or other expenses related to the property.
(b) “Lender” means any person who makes loans secured by real property and who requires advance contributions for the payment of taxes, insurance premiums or other expenses related to the property.
Last modified: February 27, 2006