The Director, or the insured loan officer of the Finance Office, is authorized in connection with the sale of any insured note to execute required documents on behalf of Rural Development and to take other appropriate action, including, but not limited to, acknowledging notice of sale of an insured note, or requiring an insured holder to sell an insured note to Rural Development in connection with any voluntary conveyance or foreclosure, or transfer related to liquidation of the borrower's account or any other servicing action so related. Upon recommendation by the State Director that purchase of an insured note is necessary for any servicing action not related to liquidation of the borrower's account, authorization may be given by the National Office to request the Director, Finance Office, to require a holder to sell an insured note to Rural Development.

(a) Assignments—(1) Effective date of assignment. When an insured note is sold by a private holder to a private buyer, notice of such sale executed by the seller must be given to and acknowledged by Rural Development in order for the sale to be binding on Rural Development, as to Rural Development, the effective date of the sale will be the acknowledgment date specified in the acknowledgement of notice executed by Rural Development.

(2) Assignment to Rural Development at request of Rural Development. At any time Rural Development considers it necessary for proper servicing of the loan, Rural Development may require, in writing, a private holder to sell an insured note to Rural Development.

(3) Assignment to Rural Development at option of holder. A private holder at any time during the option period may require, in writing, Rural Development to purchase an insured note.

(4) Price. If Rural Development is the buyer of an insured note, the price will be the par value as of the effective date of the sale. In other cases, the price will be determined by an agreement between the parties.

(b) Sale of insured notes by private holders to private buyers.

(1) On receipt of notice from a private holder of intention to assign an insured note, the Director, Finance Office, will send the holder:

(i) Form RD 471-7 “Notice and Acknowledgment of Sale of Insured or Guaranteed Loan.”

(ii) A statement of the unpaid principal. If requested the Director, Finance Office, will furnish a statement of account instead of or in addition to a statement of the unpaid principal.

(iii) Appropriate information on how to complete the assignment.

(2) If the Director, Finance Office, is informed that an insured note has been assigned and Rural Development is requested to recognize the assignment, the Director, Finance Office, will send the assignor Form RD 471-7, with directions for its execution.

(3) On receipt of Form RD 471-7 properly executed by the assignor, the Director, Finance Office, will complete and execute the acknowledgment section of the form. The Director, Finance Office, will retain the original of the form, have two facsimile copies made and send one to the assignor, and one to the assignee. For any correction or other change to be made in the record of the name or address of a private holder, or of a designated agent of a private holder, a request will be made to Rural Development in writing.

(4) As of the date of the acknowledgment, executed by the Director, Finance Office, on Form RD 471-7 the Director, Finance Office, will transfer the insured note from the assignor to the assignee as the insured holder on the records of Rural Development. The name and address of the assignee will be recorded by Rural Development exactly as they appear on Form RD 471-7.

(5) Payments transmitted by Rural Development on or after the acknowledgment date shown on Form RD 471-7 will be transmitted to the assignee. The Director, Finance Office, will give notice to the assignor and the assignee of any payments transmitted by Rural Development to the assignor before the acknowledgment date and after either the date of sale, or the date of the statement of account, whichever is earlier. However, Rural Development will not be liable for any failure to give such notice.

(c) Assignment of insured notes to Rural Development—(1) Assignment at the request of the holder. For assignment of an insured note to Rural Development during the option period at the request of the holder, the following procedure will apply:

(i) The holder will endorse the insured note as follows: “Pay to the order of the United States of America. Without recourse.” The holder will then deliver the endorsed note, together with the insurance agreement, to the Director, Finance Office.

(ii) On receipt of the endorsed note with the accompanying insurance agreement, the Director, Finance Office, will acknowledge receipt of the note and process payment to the assignor of the par value of the note as of the date of the Treasury check.

(2) Assignment at the request of Rural Development. The procedure for assigning an insured note at the request of Rural Development will be the same as that prescribed in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, except that the Director, Finance Office, will send a written request to the holder requiring that the insured note be assigned to Rural Development and delivered to the Director, Finance Office, with the accompanying insurance agreement. The Director, Finance Office, will explain that the assignment is necessary to enable Rural Development to service the account properly and will give the holder all necessary information as to the manner of making the assignment and the amount to be paid by Rural Development.

(d) Replacement of called or fully paid notes. Certain insurance endorsements contain a clause or rider providing for a replacement note when the original note is paid in full, or is called by Rural Development. This provision applies to loans sold for a fixed period of 10 years or longer for loans sold on or after December 1, 1969, and a fixed period of 15 years or longer for loans sold before December 1, 1969. If a note is paid in full or called by the Government and the lender is entitled to a replacement note, the lender may obtain a certificate of beneficial ownership in lieu of the replacement note. The certificate will carry the rates and terms applicable to the replacement note.

(e) Death of a noteholder. The Finance Office should be notified of the death of a holder of an insured note. The following documents should be forwarded with the notice if available:

(1) A certified copy of the death certificate.

(2) A certified copy of the court order appointing the Administrator or Executor (include the mailing address of the Administrator or Executor). The Finance Office will notify the person submitting the notice and/or documentation if any other records or documents are needed, and will provide any additional instructions that are needed. Legal opinions and advice will be obtained by the Finance Office as needed from the Regional Attorney.

[41 FR 51799, Nov. 24, 1976, as amended at 80 FR 9869, Feb. 24, 2015]