Private Mortgage Insurer
Eligibility Requirements
January 2008
© Freddie Mac. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Page
No.
v
Date of
Last
Update
1/2008
General Information
100 Compliance with Eligibility Requirements
101 State Compliance
102 Applicable NAIC Regulations
103 Type I/Type II Insurers
104 Nondiscrimination
1
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Application
200 Application Criteria
201 Application Submission
202 Application Fee
203 Appeal of Application Denial
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Foreword
Business Requirements
300 Scope of Business
301 Organization
302 Policies, Procedures, Practices
303 Compliance
304 Rebates, Commissions, Charges
and Compensating Balances
305 Separation of Responsibilities
306 Master Policy
307 Geographic Concentration and Diversity
308 Policies of Insurance
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Policy Underwriting
400 State Compliance
401 Delegated Underwriting
402 Evaluation of Borrower Creditworthiness
403 Property Valuation
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Table of Contents
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Quality Control
500 Quality Control Program Requirements
501 Quality Control Program Guidelines
502 Sampling Guidelines
503 Quality Control Loan File Review Guidelines
504 Reporting Guidelines
Date of
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Lender Approval and Monitoring
600 Guidelines
601 Lender Approval Guidelines
602 Lender Monitoring Guidelines
603 Delegated Underwriting/Limited
Documentation Guidelines
604 Delegated Underwriting Requirements
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Financial Requirements
700 State Compliance
701 Minimum Total Policyholders’ Surplus
702 Contingency Reserve
703 Loss Reserve
704 Liquidity of Assets
705 Risk-to-Capital
706 Combined Ratio
707 Financial Requirements for Captive Reinsurance
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Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
800 Statement of Purpose
801 Immediate Notices
802 Required Scheduled Reports
803 Required Periodic Reports
804 Supplemental Information
805 Document Retention
806 Periodic Reviews
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Table of Contents
Disqualification or Suspension
900 General Policy
901 Consequences of Suspension
902 Consequences of Disqualification
903 Notice of Intent to Disqualify or Suspend
Appeals
1000 Request for Appeal of Application Denial,
Suspension or Disqualification
1001 Hearings
1002 Date of Hearing
1003 Conduct of Hearings
1004 Recommended Decision
1005 Final Decision
Exhibit
Exhibit 1, NAIC Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act
Exhibit 2, New Product or Program/ Existing Product or
Program Revisions Considerations for Periodic Report
Submissions
Exhibit 3, Annual Certification
Glossary
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Foreword
Introduction
This document contains both requirements and guidelines for obtaining and
maintaining Freddie Mac approved insurer status. Approved insurers must
comply with requirements, which are preceded by the term “must.”
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to inform approved insurers of how Freddie
Mac will implement the requirements of Section 305(a)(2) of the Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, that states, Freddie Mac may
purchase mortgages guaranteed or insured by a qualified approved insurer.
Amendments
The eligibility requirements may be amended or supplemented from time to
time only by a written communication from Freddie Mac. An amendment to
this document is effective on the date specified by Freddie Mac.
Freddie Mac may modify, amend or waive any provision of these eligibility
requirements, or impose additional requirements, applicable to an individual
approved insurer or all or a group of approved insurers. Any amendments,
waivers, or modifications to the eligibility requirements, or additional
requirements, will be communicated in writing to each approved insurer that
is subject to the requirement. Any waiver of the eligibility requirements
must be in writing, signed by Freddie Mac. Any such written waiver,
amendment or modification must expressly refer to the eligibility
requirements and be denoted as a waiver to the eligibility requirements.
Discretion
Freddie Mac reserves the right to modify, waive, amend and/or impose
additional requirements, at any time, to any approved insurer regardless of
its current status or upon any entity seeking approved insurer status, at its
sole discretion.
Defined Terms
All terms in italics are defined in the glossary located at the back of this
document. Terms not defined in the glossary are used in the context of
standard industry practice.
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General Information
100
Compliance
with Eligibility
Requirements
An approved insurer must provide annual written certification of its
compliance with Freddie Mac’s eligibility requirements, including
compliance with applicable eligibility requirements as described in Section
707 of these requirements for those captive reinsurance arrangements
where the approved insurer is a beneficiary of such captive reinsurance.
The approved insurer must notify Freddie Mac in writing within 15
business days upon discovery of its failure to comply with any one or more
of the eligibility requirements.
101
Compliance
with Laws
An approved insurer must maintain compliance with allapplicable laws
and regulations, including without limitation:
1) All applicable federal laws, regulations and orders; and
2) The laws and regulationsof its state of domicile and each state in
which it does business.
The approved insurer must notify Freddie Mac in writing within 15
business days upon its determination of material noncompliance with any
applicable law and regulation.
102
Applicable
NAIC
Regulations
For the eligibility requirements stated in Sections 304, 702 and 703 within
this document, Freddie Mac is requiring compliance with the National
Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC) Model Act (See Exhibit
1, NAIC Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act); unless the laws and
regulations prescribed by an approved insurer’s state of domicile conflict
with the Model Act, in which case, the approved insurer must comply with
state laws and regulations.
In the event the NAIC changes the affected provision(s) of the Model Act,
the revised NAIC Model Act may be adopted by Freddie Mac and this
document may be amended. Freddie Mac will inform approved insurers
of its decision subsequent to any changes.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
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General Information
103
Type I/Type II
Insurers
This document refers to approved insurers as Type I insurer or Type II
insurer. Classification as Type I insurer or Type II insurer is as defined in
the Glossary to these requirements.
In the event ratings of an approved insurer are dependent, in whole or in
part, on capital support agreement(s) the approved insurer must:
1) Provide Freddie Mac with certified copies of such agreement(s).
2) Notify Freddie Mac and the rating agencies in advance of any change
in such agreement(s) that could have a material adverse impact on the
approved insurer’s safety and soundness or the value of the insurance
provided to Freddie Mac, or immediately in the event of any material
adverse change in the financial condition of the providers of such
agreement(s).
104
Nondiscrimination
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An approved insurer’s underwriting guidelines should be applied
consistently to each borrower, regardless of race, color, religion, national
origin, age, sex, marital status, familial status, or handicap.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Application
200
Application
Criteria
All private mortgage insurers are eligible to apply for Freddie Mac
approved insurer status. Freddie Mac’s approval is based on compliance
with the eligibility requirements, including the approval of the applicant’s
master policy, and any other requirement, document or action required at
Freddie Mac’s discretion.
201
Application
Submission
In order to become an approved insurer, an applicant must submit the
application form prescribed by Freddie Mac and the applicant’s master
policies, generally made available to insureds. Freddie Mac may require
the applicant to supplement the application with additional information or
certification, as Freddie Mac may deem appropriate.
Freddie Mac will then determine whether the applicant is deemed an
approved insurer under such terms and conditions as Freddie Mac may
prescribe or whether the applicant is ineligible to become an approved
insurer.
202
Application
Fee
The applicant must pay to Freddie Mac a nonrefundable application fee of
$2,500 at the time of filing an application.
203
Appeal of
Application
Denial
If the applicant wishes to appeal the application denial, it must do so
pursuant to Section 1000, Request for Appeal of Application Denial,
Suspension or Disqualification.
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Application
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Business Requirements
300
Scope of
Business
An approved insurer must limit its business activities to the underwriting of
mortgage guaranty insurance secured by 1-4 unit residential properties.
An approved insurer may not enter into any transaction or series of transactions
with the effect, or for the purpose of, circumventing these eligibility requirements.
An approved insurer may enter into a risk sharing transaction with a mortgage
enterprise, or an affiliate of a mortgage enterprise, only if the risk sharing
transaction is:
1) A reinsurance agreement with a qualified reinsurer, entered into in
compliance with these eligibility requirements and all applicable legal and
regulatory requirements, or
2) Any other risk sharing transaction which:
a) Has not been prohibited by a state that asserts extraterritoriality with
respect to insurance regulation (whether or not that state’s extraterritorial
authority would apply to the risk sharing transaction or the approved
insurer in the absence of this requirement), and
b) Complies in all respects with (i) the rules and regulations established by
any state asserting extraterritoriality with respect to such risk sharing
transaction (whether or not that state’s extraterritorial authority would
apply to the risk sharing transaction or the approved insurer in the
absence of this requirement), and (ii) all other applicable laws and
regulations.
Risk sharing transactions that constitute or involve non-captive captives or
performance notes, as defined by the Insurance Department of the State of New
York, are expressly prohibited.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 707 of these eligibility requirements, and
notwithstanding any other provisions of these eligibility requirements,
Freddie Mac’s express written approval must be obtained for any risk sharing
transaction which involves ceding over 25% of the gross aggregate risk or
premium with respect to a loan or pool of loans and which is entered into with a
mortgage enterprise, or an affiliate of a mortgage enterprise, other than a
qualified reinsurer that is not a captive reinsurer.
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Business Requirements
300
Scope of
Business
(continued)
These eligibility requirements apply to:
1) Any reinsurance agreement, or other risk sharing transaction entered into,
renewed, extended, modified or amended on or after January 1, 2001, and
2) All loans closed on or after January 1, 2001, irrespective of the date the
applicable reinsurance agreement, or other risk sharing transaction, became
effective or was renewed, extended, modified or amended.
The eligibility requirements in Section 707 apply to any risk sharing transaction
entered into, renewed, extended, modified or amended after the effective date of
the most current version of eligibility requirements.
301
Organization
An approved insurer or captive reinsurer must be a corporation duly organized
pursuant to the laws and regulations of its state of domicile (or, in the case of a
captive reinsurer, its country of organization) and operating according to the laws
of the state(s) or country in which it is licensed or has authority to do business or
in which it does business.
302
Policies,
Procedures,
Practices
An approved insurer’s or captive reinsurer’s policies, procedures and practices
must be developed and executed on the basis of safe and sound industry
standards. An approved insurer must also:
1) maintain policies and procedures that ensure timely and accurate payment of
claims, and may not unreasonably delay or deny claim payments;
2) have an effective system of internal controls;
3) maintain internal controls processes to ensure that any reinsurance
agreements with captive reinsurers continue to meet the applicable eligibility
requirements.
An approved insurer must have on file an opinion prepared by an independent
certified actuary that (i) each reinsurance agreement with a captive reinsurer
constitutes “transfer of risk” and (ii) there is commensurate ceding premium
associated with such “transfer of risk” in accordance with applicable regulatory
and accounting standards. The opinion may address the reinsurance agreements
on a program-by-program basis, rather than addressing each individual
reinsurance agreement separately, so long as the reinsurance agreements entered
into under the program do not vary from the program in any material respect.
Examples of material changes would include, but not be limited to, changes to
ceded premium, ceded risk/risk layer, dividending, risk-to-assets ratios, or
required reinsurance.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Business Requirements
302
Policies,
Procedures,
Practices
(continued)
An approved insurer must provide Freddie Mac with full access to all of the
approved insurer’s captive reinsurance documentation including but not limited
to copies of the reinsurance agreement and all associated trust agreement, letters
of credit, guarantees, regulatory and accounting opinions, for each captive
reinsurance transaction. The names of the lender and captive reinsurer may be
redacted on all documents, so long as the approved insurer provides a written
representation and warranty that all documents provided relate to the same
reinsurance agreement.
An approved insurer must provide the approved insurer’s rating agencies with
such access to all of the approved insurer’s captive reinsurance documentation as
the rating agency may require.
An approved insurer shall have 180 days from the date a captive reinsurance
agreement, or captive reinsurer, fails to comply with any of the requirements set
forth in these eligibility requirements to bring the captive reinsurance agreement
into compliance, or to cause the captive reinsurer to comply, as applicable. After
such 180-day period, the approved insurer must cease ceding additional
reinsurance risk and premium or be subject to the provisions of Section 903.
303
Compliance
An approved insurer or qualified reinsurer must maintain compliance with the
applicable federal laws and regulations and the applicable laws and regulations of
its state or country of domicile and each state in which it does business and with
any other applicable laws or regulations as required by these eligibility
requirements. An approved insurer must notify Freddie Mac in writing within 15
business days upon its determination of material noncompliance with any
applicable law and regulation. Without limiting the foregoing, each approved
insurer or qualified reinsurer shall at all times comply with the Real Estate
Settlement Procedures Act.
304
Rebates,
Commissions,
Charges and
Compensating
Balances
When not specified otherwise in its state of domicile laws and regulations, an
approved insurer must comply with the rebates, commissions, charges and
compensating balance requirements found in the NAIC Model Act, Section 13 Rebates, Commissions and Charges, Section 14 - Compensating Balances
Prohibited, and Section 15(B) - Conflict of Interest. An approved insurer must
notify Freddie Mac in writing, within 15 business days upon its determination of
material noncompliance with these requirements.
Note:
Freddie Mac is not adopting Section 15(a) of the NAIC Model Act.
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Business Requirements
305
Separation of
Responsibilities
An employee of an approved insurer whose responsibilities include sales for the
approved insurer must not underwrite or approve insurance on mortgages.
Excluded from this restriction are those employees who are in a management
position accountable for both sales and underwriting functions.
306
Master Policy
An approved insurer’s master policies, generally made available to insureds, are
subject to Freddie Mac approval prior to use. Any material changes or
endorsements must be filed with Freddie Mac pursuant to Section 803, Required
Periodic Reports.
307
Geographic
Concentration
and Diversity
In addition to complying with Section 303, State Compliance, a Type II insurer
must also comply with the following requirements:
1) Shall not have more than 20 percent of its total risk-in-force in any one
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) or Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA), as applicable. No combination of risk-in-force in any
one state may exceed 40 percent of its total risk-in-force. An new approved
insurer shall have three years from the date of its first policy issuance, to
meet such requirement.
2) Shall not insure mortgages secured by properties in a single housing tract or a
contiguous tract where the risk-in-force applicable thereto is in excess of 10
percent of its total policyholders’ surplus.
3) Shall not insure mortgages secured by a single risk in excess of 10 percent of
its total policyholders’ surplus.
308
Policies of
Insurance
An approved insurer must maintain policies of insurance (such as Fidelity, E&O,
and hazard insurance on acquired REO, etc.) or provide for a reserve for selfinsurance in accordance with its state of domicile laws and regulations.
309 Business
Continuity
Planning
An approved insurer must maintain business continuity plans and test such plans
periodically to ensure that the approved insurer’s business operations are
sustainable in the event of disaster or other event requiring the activation of a
business continuity plan.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Policy Underwriting
400
State Compliance
An approved insurer must maintain compliance with applicable federal
laws and regulations and the applicable laws and regulations of its state
of domicile and each state in which it does business. The approved
insurer must notify Freddie Mac within 15 business days upon its
determination of material noncompliance with any applicable law
and/or regulation.
401
Delegated
Underwriting
Delegated underwriting may be utilized provided that the approved
insurer has established an adequate system of controls and safeguards,
including, but not limited to, a lender approval and monitoring process,
and a quality control (QC) program to ensure compliance with the
approved insurer’s underwriting standards. (Refer to Quality Control,
Sections 500-504 and Lender Approval and Monitoring, Sections 600604 for requirements and guidelines.)
402
Evaluation of
Borrower
Creditworthiness
An approved insurer or its delegated underwriter must determine the
creditworthiness of the borrower prior to issuing a certificate or policy
of insurance.
The approved insurer or its delegated underwriter must determine that
the borrower has the willingness and financial ability to make timely
repayment of the home mortgage being insured. The determination of
creditworthiness should be made with specific consideration to the
characteristics of the mortgage and repayment terms and be based on a
thorough evaluation of all pertinent credit information.
403
Property
Valuation
The approved insurer must establish a methodology for property
valuation that will allow the approved insurer or its delegated
underwriter to determine that the subject property is of sufficient
market value to support the decision to insure, and should include a soft
market policy, as appropriate.
As a guideline, an approved insurer’s risk management controls should
provide for the identification and reverification of fraudulent appraisals
or other property valuations or unsubstantiated values found in the
underwriting, quality control, and claims areas, including loans insured
under delegated underwriting programs.
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Policy Underwriting
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Quality Control
500
Quality
Control
Program
Requirements
An approved insurer must operate a quality control (QC) program to
assess the effectiveness of its underwriters and that of its delegated
underwriting programs. While Freddie Mac does not believe that any one
specific QC program can meet the needs of all approved insurers, certain
common characteristics are found in all effective QC programs. These
common characteristics are the foundation of Freddie Mac’s requirements.
An approved insurer’s QC program must:
1) Contain documented standard operating procedures for the entire QC
process.
2) Operate independently from the sales function, the area that
underwrites and/or approves mortgages for insurance.
3) Determine whether the underwriting decisions made were consistent
with the approved insurer’s policies and procedures and expectations
for quality.
4) Ensure that areas where improvement, training, or other corrective
actions are needed are brought to the attention of, acknowledged by, ,
and implemented at the direction of senior management.
501
Quality
Control
Program
Guidelines
The information provided in Sections 502 - 504 is presented as guidelines
for consideration and such guidelines are encouraged, but not required to
obtain or maintain Freddie Mac approved insurer status. Guidelines are
denoted by the term “should.”
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Quality Control
502 Sampling
Guidelines
A selection method should be used that ensures that every type of
transaction has a chance of being selected for review within a specified
period of time after the decision to insure is made (including both new
production mortgages and seasoned mortgages). The selection method
should also include provisions for expanded, discretionary and targeted
sampling as needed.
The appropriate frequency of sampling by an approved insurer is
dependent on a variety of factors, one of which may be the volume of
business. Minimum sampling rates should be representative of the
approved insurer’s business and result in a statistically valid sampling of
loans insured and perhaps on loans declined for insurance.
The sampling should take into account the individual characteristics of the
approved insurer’s business, including but not limited to such areas as:
1) Experience and expertise of its underwriting staff and/or the delegated
underwriters
2) Geographic areas of insured mortgages
3) Volume of transactions, especially those with high-risk characteristics
4) Distribution of risk exposure among lenders
5) Types of insurance programs offered
6) Any significant changes in the approved insurer’s business, such as a
new product or new geographic area served
7) Areas of rapid appreciation or depreciation
8) Increased incidence of fraud, flipping, straw buyers or rapid
prepayment
Delegated Underwriting Sampling
Increased sampling and scope of reviews is expected when approved
insurers delegate the decision to insure. This increased sampling and
scope may be modified as the approved insurer gains confidence in the
ability of the delegated underwriter to make appropriate decisions on
insurability.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Quality Control
503
Quality
Control Loan
File Review
Guidelines
The review itself should focus on evaluating the quality of the
documentation provided at the time of the insuring decision, and the
reasonableness of the original underwriting decision.
The QC review should examine file contents for completeness and for
their use as a basis for the underwriting decision. For cases with delegated
underwriting, or where the package submitted to the approved insurer for
decision was less than the completed mortgage file (limited document
approvals), the approved insurer’s review may include a request to view
the complete original mortgage file.
The following information should be reverified on a sample basis through
the QC process:
1) Borrower’s employment
2) Borrower’s income
3) Borrower’s deposits and sources of funds used for down payment and
closing costs
4) Borrower’s credit history
In addition, the appraised value of the insured property should be reviewed
on a sample basis through the QC process. As a general guideline, an
approved insurer’s risk management controls should also provide for the
identification and reverification of fraudulent appraisals or other property
valuations, or unsubstantiated values found in the underwriting, quality
control, and claims areas, including loans insured under delegated
underwriting programs.
504
Reporting
Guidelines
The QC program should include regular reporting of findings to senior
management. Monthly reporting of results is suggested, with immediate
reporting recommended to senior management in the event that fraud is
suspected. The findings are a basis for ongoing feedback and training to
both staff and the insured, as well as a key component in the approved
insurer’s efforts to detect fraud.
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Quality Control
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Lender Approval and Monitoring
600
Guidelines
The information provided in Sections 601-603 is presented as guidelines
for consideration and such guidelines are encouraged, but not required to
obtain or maintain Freddie Mac’s approved insurer status unless
denoted by the term “must.” Guidelines are denoted by the term
“should.”
601
Lender Approval
Guidelines
In addition to the requirements stated under Section 604, Delegated
Underwriting Requirements, an approved insurer is encouraged to have
and apply written standards and procedures for evaluating and
approving the lenders from whom they receive requests to insure
mortgage loans. These procedures should be applied to all lenders and
should include steps sufficient to allow the approved insurer to know
the quality of the lender from whom it will receive business. The level
of inquiry and information reviewed may vary depending on the scope
and level of business with the lender. The following areas of
consideration are recommended:
1) The lender’s appraiser and broker and correspondent approval and
monitoring processes
2) The lender’s fraud prevention controls
3) The lender’s historical loan performance
602
Lender
Monitoring
Guidelines
An approved insurer should monitor the quality and performance of its
master policyholders. Management should receive regular monitoring
reports about each lender relationship. By doing so, it can make an
informed decision on whether to continue the business relationship.
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Lender Approval and Monitoring
602
Lender
Monitoring
Guidelines
(continued)
Some indicators of a lender’s overall performance may include:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Volume of business and market share trends
Claims paid ratios
Delinquency information, including early payment defaults
Reject rates
Servicing problems or trends
Underwriting discrepancies allowed/exceptions granted
QC results
Records of any performance issues and their resolution
Changes in key personnel, such as senior management, or those
underwriting or servicing insured mortgages
10) Changes in payoff activity
The amount of monitoring the approved insurer should perform directly
relates to the amount of risk it is taking from a particular lender. This
will vary with volume, type of loans insured, geographic location and
servicing characteristics.
603
Delegated
Underwriting/
Limited
Documentation
Guidelines
If the lender has delegated underwriting or submits mortgages under a
limited documentation program, the increased risk (of a potential poor
decision to insure) should be offset by increased monitoring steps, such
as selective reunderwriting or periodic requests for full documentation.
More frequent reviews may also be appropriate.
604
Delegated
Underwriting
Requirements
Approval
If the lender is performing delegated underwriting for the approved
insurer, the approved insurer must perform a level of due diligence,
incorporating an assessment of the areas mentioned in Section 401,
Delegated Underwriting, sufficient to ascertain if the lender is capable of
meeting the approved insurer’s quality expectations.
Monitoring
The overall performance of an approved insurer’s delegated
underwriting program must be tracked separately, by lender, from other
insured loans.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Financial Requirements
Basic Financial Requirements for all Approved Insurers (700-703)
700
State
Compliance
An approved insurer must maintain compliance with the applicable laws
and regulations of its state of domicile and each state in which it does
business. The approved insurer must notify Freddie Mac within 15
business days upon its determination of material noncompliance with any
applicable law and regulation.
701
Minimum Total
Policyholders’
Surplus
All Freddie Mac approved insurers must meet and maintain a minimum
total policyholders’ surplus a) as required to comply with applicable laws
and regulations of its state of domicile and each state in which it does
business and b) if the approved insurer is a Type I insurer, to maintain
ratings necessary to retain Type I insurer status unless specifically
approved otherwise by Freddie Mac.
702
Contingency
Reserve
If the applicable state laws and regulations do not address contingency
reserve, the approved insurer must comply with the NAIC Model Act,
Section 16(C), Contingency Reserves.
703
Loss Reserve
If the applicable state laws and regulations do not address loss reserve, the
approved insurer must comply with the NAIC Model Act, Section 16(B),
Loss Reserves.
Additional Requirements for Type II Insurers (704-706)
In addition to the basic financial requirements, a Type II insurer must
comply with the requirements stated in Sections 704-706.
704
Liquidity of
Assets
A Type II insurer must maintain not less than 90 percent of total admitted
assets in the form of liquid assets.
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Financial Requirements
705
Risk-to-Capital
A Type II insurer must not at any time have total risk-in-force in excess of
15 times its total policyholders’ surplus.
706
Combined
Ratio
A Type II insurer must not have a combined ratio computed on an annual
basis in excess of 85 percent for more than one calendar year.
Additional Requirements for Captive Reinsurance Transactions (707)
707
Financial
Requirements
for Captive
Reinsurance
The following requirements shall apply to transactions involving a captive
reinsurer:
1) The ceding approved insurer must at all times be a Type I insurer. A
Type I insurer that becomes a Type II insurer for any reason must,
within 15 days of the date it becomes a Type II insurer, provide notice
to the captive reinsurer that it will cease reinsuring new risk with the
captive reinsurer no later than 90 days subsequent to the Type II
insurer’s notice to the captive reinsurer.
2) The reinsurance agreement between an approved insurer and captive
reinsurer may permit allocation of expenses, provided that the
allocated expenses must be (i) commercially reasonable, and (ii)
directly related to the acquisition and administration of the loans for
which premium is ceded.
3) Premium ceded or assumed with respect to any reinsurance
agreement that involves a captive reinsurer as a party shall not be
disproportionate to the risk ceded or assumed. Ceded premium may
only be paid as received.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Financial Requirements
707
Financial
Requirements
for Captive
Reinsurance
(continued)
4) Any reinsurance obtained by a captive reinsurer on ceded risk from a
Type I insurer must be obtained from a qualified reinsurer. For purposes
of this requirement only, the definition of qualified reinsurer (i) includes
the ceding Type I insurer itself, and (ii) does not include (a) any company
that qualifies as a qualified reinsurer only because it is an affiliate of a
ceding Type I insurer with the sole purpose of providing reinsurance for
the ceding insurer, or (b) a captive reinsurer. The captive reinsurer
obtaining reinsurance must have on file an opinion prepared by an
independent actuary certifying that each reinsurance agreement with a
qualified reinsurer (i) constitutes real “transfer of risk” and (ii) there is
commensurate ceding premium associated with such “transfer of risk” in
accordance with applicable regulatory and accounting standards. The
opinion may address the reinsurance agreements on a program-byprogram basis, rather than addressing each individual reinsurance
agreement separately, so long as the reinsurance agreements entered into
under the program do not vary from the program in any material respect.
5) For reinsurance agreements providing for coverage on a quota-share or
excess-of-loss basis:
a) With respect to any loan or pool of loans, the aggregate amount of
gross risk and/or gross premium ceded under all reinsurance
agreements may not exceed 50%, either directly or indirectly, and
b) With respect to any loan or pool of loans, if any risk is reinsured in
which either the aggregate gross ceded risk or the aggregate gross
ceded premium exceeds 25%, the captive reinsurer must at all times:
i) maintain a rating of AA- or Aa3 by a Freddie Mac-approved
rating agency, or
ii) maintain a minimum restricted asset balance of not less than
$35,000,000.00. To meet this requirement, the restricted asset
balance may include
(1) the aggregate restricted asset balances in all mortgage
guaranty reinsurance trusts maintained by a captive
reinsurer or
(2) the aggregate restricted asset balances contained in all such
trusts held by all the captive reinsurers which are whollyowned subsidiaries of the same mortgage enterprise. The
restricted asset balance in each trust must be in proportion to
the risk in that trust.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 19
1/2008
Financial Requirements
707
Financial
Requirements
for Captive
Reinsurance
(continued)
6) Whether or not balance sheet credit for the reinsurance is sought by
the approved insurer, all reinsurance agreements must provide for,
and the approved insurer and the captive reinsurer must execute and
at all times maintain, trust agreements wherein the approved insurer is
the beneficiary of the trust and the captive reinsurer is the grantor of
the trust, and the trust is established, collateralized and maintained in
compliance with standards pertaining to collateralization set forth in
NY Ins. Ch. 27, Article 65, § 6507 and § 6501(g), 11 NYCRR § 79
and § 126.5, or any successor statutes or regulations. The trust must
be funded only by ceded premiums, the mortgage enterprise, or
investment earnings on trust assets. Reinsurance agreements that do
not cover multiple book-years are prohibited. Independent trusts may
not be established for each book-year covered by the reinsurance
agreement. In addition,
a) The trustee must hold all trust assets in the U.S.
b) The trustee must be a bank or trust company organized and
domiciled in the U.S, or a U.S. branch of a foreign banking
organization that is subject to regulatory supervision in the U.S.
c) The trustee must not be a parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the
captive reinsurer.
d) Investment of trust assets must comply with the requirements of
11 NYCRR § 126.5, except that up to five percent (5%) of the
aggregate value of all investments need not meet the quality
requirements of that regulation; provided that no portion of the 5%
is an investment in the equity or debt securities or other
obligations of an affiliate of the captive reinsurer.
e) Effective as of December 31, 2008, mortgage guaranty insurance
tax and loss bonds issued under or in accordance with 31 C.F.R. §
343 et. seq., shall not count as assets held by the trust for purposes
of calculation of the risk-to-assets ratio or minimum trust account
balance or aggregate minimum trust account balances as required
below or elsewhere in these requirements.
7) In the event of a conversion of one type of reinsurance agreement to
another (e.g., excess-of-loss to quota-share), the new agreement must
cross-collateralize trust assets relating to all book years under the
previous agreement with the ceding company.
Page 20
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Financial Requirements
707
Financial
Requirements
for Captive
Reinsurance
(continued)
8) With respect to captive reinsurers who do not maintain a rating of
AA- or Aa3 by a Freddie Mac-approved rating agency:
a) Except and only to the extent necessary to pay commercially
reasonable operating expenses and taxes due and payable, at all
times the risk-to-assets ratio with respect to the trust established in
connection with each reinsurance agreement shall not exceed the
following:
i) 10:1 for an excess-of-loss agreement, or
ii) 20:1 for a quota-share agreement
b) Except and only to the extent necessary to pay commercially
reasonable operating expenses and taxes due and payable,
distribution of assets from the trust to the captive reinsurer may be
made only if, before and after such distributions, the restricted
asset balance is not less than the greater of:
i) the reinsurer’s share of the contingency reserve, or
ii) an amount such that the risk-to-assets ratio does not exceed:
(1) 5:1 for an excess-of-loss agreement, or
(2) 15:1 for a quota-share agreement.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 21
1/2008
Financial Requirements
707
Financial
Requirements
for Captive
Reinsurance
(continued)
c) With respect to conversions of one type of reinsurance agreement
to another, e.g., excess-of-loss to quota-share, the risk associated
with each type of agreement must comply with the maximum riskto-assets ratio requirements and the distribution of assets
requirements applicable to such agreement, as set forth in this
section. In such case, the minimum required aggregate trust
account balance shall be determined as the sum of the minimum
trust account balances for each type of reinsurance agreement
under the foregoing requirements.
9) Ceding commission or an equivalent arrangement shall be included in
every quota-share reinsurance agreement with a captive reinsurer or
obtained by a captive reinsurer, and shall accurately reflect the
commercially reasonable costs incurred in the course of underwriting
and administering the reinsured coverage.
10) Ceding commission or an equivalent arrangement on excess-of-loss
agreements with a captive reinsurer or obtained by a captive reinsurer
are not required.
Page 22
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
800
Statement of
Purpose
Documents submitted in accordance with this chapter will be evaluated to
determine compliance with the eligibility requirements and to evaluate an
approved insurer’s practices.
801
Immediate
Notices
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding Type I insurer, must
notify Freddie Mac in writing of any of the events listed below within 15
business days of its occurrence. The notice of the change must describe
the event with reasonable specificity, without reference to any other
documents.
1) Upon receipt of notice of material noncompliance with any applicable
law and regulation of its state of domicile or any state in which it is
licensed or has authority to do business.
2) Upon investigation of or material action by any state attorney general,
or by any other regulatory or enforcement body of any state in which
the approved insurer or affiliate is authorized to transact business
(information requests in the normal course of business are not
investigations for the purposes of this requirement).
3) Upon discovery of noncompliance with the eligibility requirements.
4) Upon notification that any one of the Fitch, Moody’s, or S&P rating
has been affirmed or confirmed, or has been or will be decreased,
regardless of whether the rating affects the approved insurer’s
classification as a Type I or Type II insurer. (For example, placement
on Creditwatch or other watchlist.)
5) Upon notification that any rating for a captive reinsurer or captive
reinsurance agreement fails to meet the minimum standards set forth
in section 707 of these eligibility requirements for such arrangements,
if ratings are used to qualify the captive reinsurer or captive
reinsurance agreement under these requirements.
6) It goes into run-off.
7) Any material change occurs in its ownership or organization. Such
change may include, but is not limited to, a merger, consolidation, sale
or transfer of stock, name change or change in its senior management
or the membership of its board of directors.
8) Any material adverse change in the financial condition or performance
of an approved insurer or actions or events that threaten material
adverse change.
9) It is placed into supervision, conservatorship or liquidation.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
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1/2008
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
801
Immediate
Notices
(continued)
10) It is put on probation or its activities are restricted in any manner by
any agency of the federal or state government.
11) Receipt of notification of any action or investigation by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) or any material action by any other federal
regulatory body or enforcement agency (information requests in the
normal course of business are not investigations for the purposes of
this requirement).
12) It becomes subject to any judgment, order, finding, or regulatory
action that would adversely affect the approved insurer’s ability to
comply with the terms and conditions of the eligibility requirements.
13) Any change to any existing capital support agreement(s) and/or
execution of a new capital support agreement for the benefit of, or
provided by the approved insurer that could have a material adverse
impact on the value of the insurance provided to Freddie Mac or the
safety and soundness of the approved insurer.
14) Discovery of any conflict between applicable laws and regulations and
any provision of these eligibility requirements or the terms and
conditions of approval.
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding insurer, must notify
Freddie Mac within 30 days of determination that any risk sharing
transaction, or special program or structure or insurance of non-standard
loans is likely to have a material adverse impact on the value of the
insurance provided to Freddie Mac or the safety and soundness of the
approved insurer.
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding insurer, must provide
Freddie Mac with details of any reinsurance agreements under which risk
is ceded to a reinsurer rated less than AA- by Fitch or S&P, or Aa3 by
Moody’s within 30 days of entering into the agreement or of ratings action
by one or more rating agency (does not apply to captive reinsurance
agreements or reinsurance agreements with an affiliate of the approved
insurer).
Page 24
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
802
Required
Scheduled
Reports
Quarterly Reports
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding Type I insurer, either
individually or on a consolidated basis, must file Form 443 with Freddie
Mac within 45 days after the end of each quarter, except for the last
quarter of each calendar year. The report for the last quarter of a calendar
year must be filed with Freddie Mac within 60 days after the end of that
calendar year.
When submitting the Form 443, the insurer must also notify Freddie Mac
that funds have been removed from the contingency reserve during the
previous quarter if removed prior to the 10 year hold period specified in
the NAIC Model Act, Section 16(c), Reserves.
An approved insurer must, within 45 days after the end of each quarter
(except for the last quarter of each calendar year; the report for the last
quarter of a calendar year must be filed with Freddie Mac within 60 days
after the end of that calendar year):
1) file a quarterly report on a consolidated basis for all captive
reinsurance agreements and individually for each of the approved
insurer’s top 10 captive reinsurers (measured by aggregate dollar
amount of potential exposure reinsured with such captive reinsurer)
and any captive reinsurer that must meet the minimum restricted asset
balance standards outlined in section 707 herein with respect to
captive reinsurance arrangements above 25% ceded risk and/or
premium. Such report must include:
a) gross and ceded premium
b) gross and ceded new insurance written
c) gross and ceded risk in force (and by policy year)
d) trust account balances
e) ceding commissions received
2) file a quarterly report on a consolidated basis for all reinsurance
agreements with qualified reinsurers that are not captive reinsurers
and individually for each of the top 10 qualified reinsurers that are not
captive reinsurers. Such report must include:
a) reinsurer ratings for the top 10 qualified reinsurers
b) ceded risk in force
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 25
1/2008
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
802
Required
Scheduled
Reports
(continued)
803 Required
Periodic
Reports
Annual Reports
Each approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with
the sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding insurer, is
required to submit the following reports to Freddie Mac by April 15
(unless such reports are available on or through links on the web site of the
approved insurer or its parent company within such time period):
1) An annual Convention Statement as filed with state insurance
regulatory authorities and all correspondence relating thereto.
2) An annual “Certificate of Compliance” which states that it is in
compliance with the eligibility requirements. The form of such
certificate is prescribed by Freddie Mac in Exhibit 3 and must be
signed by an authorized officer of the approved insurer.
3) An audit report prepared by an independent certified public accountant
or in lieu thereof a copy of Form 10K for the approved insurer or its
parent company as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, attaching a schedule which will reconcile the audited
consolidated financial statements included in the Form 10K with the
statutory financial statements of the approved insurer, if such
reconciling schedule exists (reconciling schedule must be provided as
soon as available if not typically available by April 15).
4) Material changes in generally applicable premium rates for its most
commonly insured loans.
5) The approved insurer’s statement of actuarial opinion.
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding Type I insurer, must
submit the following for approval to Freddie Mac 30-days prior to their
effective date if there is a potential material impact on the operations or
financial obligations of the approved insurer or Freddie Mac:
1) Master policy endorsements.
2) Documentation related to new or special products or programs or
revisions to existing products or programs.
In assessing potential material impact of new products or programs or
revisions to existing programs, an approved insurer, and any affiliate of a
ceding Type I insurer with the sole purpose of providing reinsurance for
the ceding Type I insurer, must consider the items listed on Exhibit 2
hereto titled ‘New Product or Program/ Existing Product or Program
Revisions – Considerations for Periodic Report Submissions.
Page 26
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
803 Required
Periodic
Reports
(continued)
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding Type I insurer, must
submit the following documents for approval regardless of materiality:
New master and pool policies generally made available to insureds,
no later than 30-days prior to the effective date of the policy.
For informational purposes, the following documents must be submitted to
Freddie Mac no later than 15 days after their preparation or release date
(unless they are available on or through links on the web site of the
approved insurer or its parent company within such time period):
1) Any financial statements or other reports furnished to stockholders of
publicly held companies.
2) Filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (including all exhibits and all amendments) material to the
continuing eligibility of the approved insurer, and any affiliate of a
ceding Type I insurer with the sole purpose of providing reinsurance
for the ceding insurer.
3) An annual report to policyholders.
804
Supplemental
Information
At any time, Freddie Mac reserves the right to request any additional
reports and documents which may contain information relating to the
approved insurer’s compliance with the eligibility requirements or the
approved insurer’s practices, or the eligibility requirements or practices of
any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the sole purpose of providing
reinsurance for the ceding insurer. Freddie Mac also reserves the right to
request any report identified in this document on a more frequent basis.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 27
1/2008
Reports/Documentation/Monitoring
805
Document
Retention
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding insurer, must retain
documents and records that are necessary to demonstrate compliance with
the eligibility requirements. Documents must be retained in accordance
with the approved insurer’s state of domicile laws and regulations with
respect to document retention. In the absence of such laws and
regulations, such documents must be retained for a period of three years.
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding insurer, is required to
maintain records with respect to claim denials, policy cancellations and
partial settlements in accordance with the requirement stated above. These
records must also indicate the percentage and dollar amount of partial
settlements, the amount of any claim denial or policy cancellation, as well
as the reason for these actions.
The files with respect to each settled claim must contain such information
and documentation as necessary to show that losses were computed
pursuant to requirements of the master policy.
The mortgage payment record must be maintained by either the approved
insurer or the insured. If the insured maintains the record, the approved
insurer must employ adequate controls documenting the maintenance and
quality of such records.
806
Periodic
Reviews
Periodically, at Freddie Mac’s discretion, Freddie Mac will conduct onsite reviews of an approved insurer and/or any affiliate of a ceding Type I
insurer with the sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding
insurer to ensure an understanding of the approved insurer’s ongoing
ability to meet obligations to Freddie Mac.
An approved insurer, and any affiliate of a ceding Type I insurer with the
sole purpose of providing reinsurance for the ceding Type I insurer, must
give Freddie Mac personnel access to documents and staff necessary to
determine the approved insurer’s compliance with eligibility requirements
and evaluate the approved insurer’s practices.
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1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Disqualification or Suspension
900
General Policy
If at any time Freddie Mac believes that an approved insurer has
violated, is violating or is about to violate any of the eligibility
requirements, or Freddie Mac has significant concerns regarding the
approved insurer’s safety and soundness or ability to honor obligations to
Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac may take any one or more of the following
actions:
1) Freddie Mac may in its discretion, issue a warning to an approved
insurer that it has violated, is violating, or is about to violate any of
the provisions of the eligibility requirements, and that unless
corrective action is taken within a specified time period,
disqualification or suspension may result. This warning may be
given by Freddie Mac as part of an audit report or as a result of any
other review or investigation of the approved insurer by Freddie
Mac.
2) An informal warning may be given to the approved insurer that
expresses Freddie Mac’s concern and suggests possible corrective
actions.
3) The approved insurer may be disqualified or suspended in
accordance with Section 903, Notice of Intent to Disqualify or
Suspend.
4) Impose additional terms and conditions of approval, including
corrective action.
5) Reclassify a Type I insurer as a Type II insurer.
901
Consequences
of Suspension
During a period of suspension, Freddie Mac will not purchase mortgages
insured by a suspended approved insurer undertaking remedial action in
order to comply with all provisions of the eligibility requirements.
During this period, however, Freddie Mac may permit renewals of
existing mortgage guaranty insurance coverage issued by the suspended
mortgage insurer for mortgages serviced for Freddie Mac and provide
Seller/Servicers appropriate notices consistent with the foregoing actions.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 29
1/2008
Disqualification or Suspension
902
Consequences
of
Disqualification
Freddie Mac will refuse to purchase mortgages insured by a disqualified
approved insurer, and will not permit renewals of existing mortgage
guaranty insurance for mortgages serviced for Freddie Mac.
Freddie Mac will notify all of its Seller/Servicers that it will not purchase
mortgage loans insured by the disqualified approved insurer or permit
renewals of existing insurance. Freddie Mac may negotiate transfer of
the existing insurance in-force to other approved insurer(s).
If an approved insurer wishes to voluntarily discontinue compliance with
the terms and conditions of approval, the approved insurer must inform
Freddie Mac 30 days in advance, in writing. Upon receipt of written
notification, Freddie Mac will discontinue approval of the approved
insurer. Freddie Mac will not purchase mortgages insured by the former
approved insurer and at its sole discretion may not permit renewals of
existing insurance. Freddie Mac will provide Seller/Servicers with
notices consistent with the foregoing actions.
A disqualified or voluntarily discontinued approved insurer will be
responsible for any costs associated with the substitution of insurance
exceeding the amount of renewal premiums due.
903
Notice of
Intent to
Disqualify or
Suspend
Freddie Mac will provide the approved insurer with not less than 30 days
prior written notice of an intent to disqualify or suspend unless Freddie
Mac determines, at its sole discretion, that a shorter or no notice period is
necessary or advisable to protect Freddie Mac’s interests.
Certain violations of the eligibility requirements are viewed with particular
seriousness by Freddie Mac, including but not limited to, violations
pertaining to an approved insurer’s safety and soundness or its claims
paying ability. In such cases, Freddie Mac will act without prior written
notice to disqualify or suspend the approved insurer. If prior written
notice is not provided, disqualification or suspension will become
effective upon oral notice from Freddie Mac to the approved insurer.
Written confirmation of that oral notice will follow.
Page 30
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Appeals
1000
Request for
Appeal of
Application
Denial,
Suspension or
Disqualification
The applicant may write to Freddie Mac to appeal an application denial
and an approved insurer may write to Freddie Mac to appeal a
determination to disqualify or suspend pursuant to Section 903, Notice of
Intent to Disqualify or Suspend.
The appeal must be postmarked or hand delivered no later than 15 days
1) From the date the applicant or approved insurer received written
notice of action from Freddie Mac or
2) From the date the approved insurer received written confirmation of
Freddie Mac’s oral notice of action, if prior written notice was not
provided by Freddie Mac.
If an appeal is not filed within the 15-day period, the applicant or
approved insurer will be deemed to have forfeited its right to appeal.
The appeal must contain the following, in the order indicated:
1) A cover page bearing the names and addresses of the applicant or
approved insurer and its representative, if any.
2) A reference to Freddie Mac’s action or proposed action and a concise
statement of the case.
3) A listing in separate numbered paragraphs of each on the grounds on
which the applicant or approved insurer relies.
4) The argument, generally amplifying the applicant or approved
insurer’s grounds for appeal and clearly exhibiting the points of fact,
policy, and law being presented.
5) A conclusion, specifying the action the applicant or approved insurer
believes Freddie Mac should take.
1001
Hearings
The requirements of Sections 1002 and 1003 shall be applicable to any
circumstances in which the eligibility requirements provide for an
opportunity for a hearing or Freddie Mac determines that a hearing
should be held. Generally, an evidentiary hearing will not be a necessary
part of the appeal process. Freddie Mac reserves the right, however, to
schedule an evidentiary hearing when appropriate.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 31
1/2008
Appeals
1002
Date of
Hearing
Freddie Mac shall by resolution or order establish a date for such hearing.
That date shall be no more than 60 days after receipt from an applicant or
approved insurer of the request for a hearing. Such resolution or order
shall be served upon all interested parties, shall state the time, place and
nature of the hearing, and, if a presiding officer has been designated by
Freddie Mac to preside at the hearing, the name and address of the
presiding officer.
1003
Conduct of
Hearings
In such cases, Freddie Mac will be represented by its general counsel or
the counsel’s designee. Freddie Mac will appoint an individual from
within or outside Freddie Mac to serve as presiding officer at any hearing.
The presiding officer will establish the rules and procedures under which
the hearing will be conducted. At a minimum, the rules for the hearing
will provide for the taking of oral testimony under oath, the taking of
documentary evidence, and the transcription of the hearing. The rules of
evidence will not apply to the proceedings, but the presiding officer will
retain discretion to exclude clearly irrelevant, repetitious, or untrustworthy
evidence. The presiding officer shall have all powers necessary to that
end, including, but not limited to, the following:
1) To require any party to produce documents.
2) To receive relevant evidence and to rule upon the admission of
evidence and offers of proof.
3) To take or cause depositions to be taken.
4) To regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties
and their counsel.
5) To hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of issues or
for any proper purpose.
6) To consider the rule upon, as justice may require, all procedural and
other motions appropriate in any adversary proceeding, except that a
presiding officer other than Freddie Mac will not have the power to
decide any motion to dismiss the proceeding or other motion which
results in final determination of the merits of the proceeding.
Every party will have the right to present their case or defense by oral and
documentary evidence, to submit rebuttal evidence, and to conduct such
cross-examination as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the
facts. Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence shall be
excluded.
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Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Appeals
1003
Conduct of
Hearings
(continued)
All hearings will be private and will be attended only by the parties, their
representative or counsel, witnesses (while testifying), and other persons
having an official interest in the proceedings.
Hearings will be recorded and transcripts will be made available to any
party upon payment of the cost thereof. A copy of the transcript of the
testimony taken at any hearings, duly certified by the reporter, together
with all exhibits, all papers and requests filed in the proceedings, and any
briefs or memoranda of law filed in the proceedings shall be deemed the
record at such proceedings.
1004
Recommended
Decision
The presiding officer will within 30 days of the completion of the hearing,
serve upon each party and certify to Freddie Mac for decision the entire
record of the hearing. The record will include his recommended decision,
the transcript, and the exhibits (including, on request of any of the parties,
any exhibits excluded from evidence or tenders of proof), exceptions,
rulings, and all briefs and memoranda filed in connection with the hearing.
1005
Final Decision
Freddie Mac’s Chief Executive Officer, or that person’s designee, will
review the appeal of the applicant, or approved insurer and the hearing
record, if any, before rendering a decision.
The Chief Executive Officer or that person’s designee, will then render a
decision in writing either affirming, reserving, or modifying Freddie
Mac’s prior determination to reject, disqualify or suspend. The decision
will be made, and notice of it will be given to the applicant or approved
insurer in the ordinary course of business.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Page 33
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Appeals
Page 34
1/2008
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
Exhibit 1, NAIC Mortgage Guaranty Insurance
Model Act
Please contact NAIC at WWW.NAIC.ORG for a copy of the Mortgage
Guaranty Insurance Model Act.
Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements
E-1
1/2008
Exhibit 2, New Product or Program/ Existing
Product or Program Revisions Considerations for
Periodic Report Submissions
Information Type
Legal
Considerations
Operations
Credit/Collateral/LP
Securitization
Considerations
Servicing
Marketing
Detail Description
1. Any need to change the Uniform Instruments, such as the Note, Mortgage, Deed of
Trust or the need for a Rider or Addendum
2. Any conflict with any provision of the Uniform Instruments
3. Any changes to existing Primary or Pool Master Policies, including endorsements
whether general or state specific
4. Any need for special disclosures to borrowers
5. Laws (state or federal) that could impact the product or its use by originators
6. Analysis of product/program, including specific requirements or parameters in
relation to anti-predatory lending laws and Freddie Mac’s anti-predatory lending
policies or “fair lending” laws and regulations
7. Any involvement of non-mortgage insurer third-party relationship necessary for
product offering
8. Need to develop documentation, data dictionary and description of data elements
necessary to support this product, if different from standard products
9. Need for special tracking of