(a) In addition to the monthly installment payments of principal and interest payable under the terms of the loan agreement, the borrower will be required to make payments monthly to the Secretary in such amounts as may be determined by the Secretary from time to time to be necessary for the purpose of accumulating funds sufficient for the payment of taxes and assessments, ground rents, insurance premiums, and similar levies or charges on the security property. The borrower at loan closing shall pay in cash to the Secretary such sum as it estimates may be necessary as the initial deposit to the borrower's tax and insurance reserve account.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3720)

(b) The borrower shall procure and maintain insurance of a type or types and in such amounts as may be required by the Secretary to protect the security against fire and other hazards. The Secretary cannot make a loan for the acquisition or construction of property located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards unless the community in which such area is situated is then participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Secretary shall not make, increase, extend, or renew a loan secured by a building or manufactured home that is located or to be located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act, as amended, unless the building or manufactured home and any personal property securing the loan is covered by flood insurance for the term of the loan. The amount of flood insurance must be at least equal to the lesser of the outstanding principal balance of the loan or the maximum limit of coverage available for the particular type of property under the National Flood Insurance Act, as amended. The requirements of 38 CFR 36.4700 through 36.4709 shall apply to direct loans made pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 3711 and 3761 through 3764. All hazard and flood insurance shall be carried with a company or companies satisfactory to the Secretary and the policies and renewals thereof shall be held in the possession of the Secretary and contain a mortgagee loss payable clause in favor of and in a form satisfactory to the Secretary.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4012a, 4106(a))

[62 FR 5531, Feb. 6, 1997]