(a) Alternative election by mortgagee.

(1) When the mortgagee becomes eligible to receive mortgage insurance benefits pursuant to §207.255(a)(3) or (b)(3), the mortgagee must, within 45 calendar days after the date of eligibility, such period is referred to as the “Eligibility Notice Period” for purposes of this section, give the Commissioner notice of its intention to file an insurance claim and of its election either to assign the mortgage to the Commissioner, as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, or to acquire and convey title to the Commissioner, as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. Notice of this election must be provided to the Commissioner in the manner prescribed in 24 CFR part 200, subpart B. HUD may extend the Eligibility Notice Period at the request of the mortgagee under the following conditions:

(i) The request must be made to and approved by HUD prior to the 45th day after the date of eligibility; and

(ii) The approval of an extension shall in no way prejudice the mortgagee's right to file its notice of its intention to file an insurance claim and of its election either to assign the mortgage to the Commissioner or to acquire and convey title to the Commissioner within the 45-day period or any extension prescribed by the Commissioner.

(2) For mortgages funded with the proceeds of state or local bonds, Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities, participation certificates, or other bond obligations specified by the Commissioner (such as an agreement under which the insured mortgagee has obtained the mortgage funds from third-party investors and has agreed in writing to repay such investors at a stated interest rate and in accordance with a fixed repayment schedule), any of which contains a lock-out or prepayment premium, in the event of a default during the term of the prepayment lock-out or prepayment premium, and for any mortgage insured under section 232 of the Act, the mortgagee must:

(i) Request a 90-day extension of the deadline for filing the notice of the mortgagee's intention to file an insurance claim and the mortgagee's election to assign the mortgage or acquire and convey title in accordance with the mortgagee certificate, which HUD may further extend at the written request of the mortgagee;

(ii) Assist the mortgagor in arranging refinancing to cure the default and avert an insurance claim, if the Commissioner grants the requested (or a shorter) extension of notice filing deadline;

(iii) Report to the Commissioner at least monthly on any progress in arranging refinancing;

(iv) Cooperate with the Commissioner in taking reasonable steps in accordance with prudent business practices to avoid an insurance claim;

(v) Require successors or assigns to certify in writing that they agree to be bound by these conditions for the remainder of the term of the prepayment lock-out or prepayment premium; and

(vi) After commencement of amortization of the refinanced mortgage, notify HUD of a delinquency when a payment is not received by the 10th day after the date the payment is due.

(3) For multifamily project mortgages for which HUD issued a firm commitment for mortgage insurance on or after September 1, 2011, the regulations of paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall apply, unless the mortgagor demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that financial hardship to the mortgagor would result from application of the regulations in paragraph (a)(2) of this section due to the reasonable expectations of the mortgagor that the transaction would close under the regulations in effect prior to September 1, 2011, in which case, the regulations of paragraph (a)(2) shall not apply.

(4) Acknowledgment of election. For mortgages insured pursuant to section 232 of the Act, if the lender provides notice to the Commissioner of its election either to assign the mortgage to the Commissioner or to acquire and convey title to the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall, not later than 90 calendar days after the expiration of the Eligibility Notice Period, as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, as the same may have been extended, acknowledge and accept, or reject for cause, pursuant to program requirements, the lender's election, provided that the Commissioner may, in the Commissioner's discretion, extend such 90-day period by no more than an additional 90 calendar days if the Commissioner determines that such an extension is in HUD's interest.

(b) Assignment of mortgage to Commissioner—

(1) Timeframe; request for extension.

(i) If the mortgagee elects to assign the mortgage to the Commissioner, the mortgagee shall, at any time within 30 calendar days after the date HUD acknowledges the notice of election, file its application for insurance benefits and assign to the Commissioner, in such manner as the Commissioner may require, any applicable credit instrument and the realty and chattel security instruments.

(ii) The Commissioner may extend this 30-day period by written notice that a partial payment of insurance claim under §207.258b is being considered. A mortgagee may consider failure to receive a notice of an extension approval by the end of the 30-day time period a denial of the request for an extension.

(iii) The extension shall be for such term, not to exceed 60 days, as the Commissioner prescribes; however, the Commissioner's consideration of a partial payment of claim, or the Commissioner's request that a mortgagee accept partial payment of a claim in accordance with §207.258b, shall in no way prejudice the mortgagee's right to file its application for full insurance benefits within either the 30-day period or any extension prescribed by the Commissioner.

(iv) The requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(6) of this section shall also be met by the mortgagee.

(2) Notice of assignment. On the date the assignment of the mortgage is filed for record, the mortgagee must notify the Commissioner, in the manner prescribed in 24 CFR part 200, subpart B, of such assignment, and must also notify the FHA Comptroller by telegram of such recordation.

(3) Warranty of mortgagee. The assignment shall be made without recourse or warranty, except that the mortgagee shall warrant that:

(i) No act or omission of the mortgagee has impaired the validity and priority of the mortgage.

(ii) The mortgage is prior to all mechanics' and materialmen's liens filed on record subsequent to the recording of the mortgage, regardless of whether such liens attached prior to the recording date.

(iii) The mortgage is prior to all liens and encumbrances which may have attached or defects which may have arisen subsequent to the recording of the mortgage, except such liens or other matters as may be approved by the Commissioner.

(iv) The amount stated in the instrument of assignment is actually due under the mortgage and there are no offsets or counterclaims against such amount.

(v) The mortgagee has a good right to assign the mortgage.

(4) Chattel lien warranty. In assigning its security interest in chattels, including materials, located on the premises covered by the mortgage, or its security interest in building components stored either on-site or off-site at the time of the assignment, the mortgagee shall warrant that:

(i) No act or omission of the mortgagee has impaired the validity or priority of the lien created by the chattel security instruments; and

(ii) The mortgagee has a good right to assign the security instruments; and

(iii) The chattel security instruments are a first lien on the items covered by the instruments except for such other liens or encumbrances as may be approved by the Commissioner.

(5) Items delivered by mortgagee. The mortgagee shall deliver to the Commissioner, within 45 days after the assignment is filed for record, the items enumerated below:

(i) An assignment of all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagor or others arising out of the mortgage transaction.

(ii) All policies of title or other insurance or surety bonds or other guaranties, and any and all claims thereunder, including evidence satisfactory to the Commissioner that the effective date of the original title coverage has been extended to include the assignment of the mortgage to the Commissioner.

(iii) All records, ledger cards, documents, books, papers, and accounts relating to the mortgage transaction.

(iv) All property of the mortgagor held by the mortgagee or to which it is entitled (other than the cash items which are to be retained by the mortgagee) pursuant to paragraph (b)(5) of this section.

(v) Any additional information or data which the Commissioner may require.

(6) Disposition of cash items. The following cash items shall either be retained by the mortgagee or delivered to the Commissioner in accordance with instructions to be issued by the Commissioner at the time the insurance claim is filed:

(i) Any balance of the mortgage loan not advanced to the mortgagor.

(ii) Any cash held by the mortgagee or its agents or to which it is entitled, including deposits made for the account of the mortgagor, and which have not been applied in reduction of the principal of the mortgage indebtedness.

(iii) All funds held by the mortgagee for the account of the mortgagor received pursuant to any other agreement.

(iv) The amount of any undrawn balance under a letter of credit used in lieu of a cash deposit.

(c) Conveyance of title to Commissioner. If the mortgagee elects to acquire and convey title to the Commissioner, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) Alternative actions by mortgagee. At any time within a period of 30 days after the date of the notice of such election, the mortgagee shall take one of the alternative actions in paragraph (c) (2) or (3) of this section.

(2) Foreclosure of mortgage. The mortgagee may elect to commence foreclosure proceedings. If the laws of the State where the property is located do not permit institution of foreclosure within such 30-day period, foreclosure shall be commenced not less than 30 days after such action can be taken. Under such proceedings, the mortgagee shall take one of the following actions:

(i) Obtain possession of the mortgaged property and the income therefrom through the voluntary surrender thereof by the mortgagor.

(ii) Institute and prosecute with reasonable diligence, proceedings for the appointment of a receiver to manage the mortgaged property and collect income therefrom.

(iii) Proceed to exercise such other rights and remedies as may be available to it for the protection and preservation of the mortgaged property and to obtain the income therefrom under the mortgage and the law of the particular jurisdiction.

(iv) With the prior approval of the Commissioner, exercise the power of sale under a deed of trust.

(3) Acquisition of title and possession. The mortgagee, with the approval of the Commissioner, may elect to acquire possession of, and title to, the mortgaged property by means other than foreclosure. With the prior approval of the Commissioner, title may be transferred directly to the Commissioner.

(4) Notice of foreclosure. The mortgagee shall given written notice to the Commissioner within 30 days after the institution of foreclosure proceedings and shall exercise reasonable diligence in prosecuting such proceedings to completion. Any developments which might delay the consummation of such proceedings shall be promptly reported to the Commissioner.

(5) Transfer by mortgagee. After acquiring title to and possession of the property, the mortgagee shall (within 30 days of such acquisition) transfer title and possession of the property to the Commissioner. The transfer shall be made in such manner as the Commissioner may require. On the date the deed is filed for record, the mortgagee shall notify the Commissioner on a form prescribed by him of the filing of such conveyance, and shall also notify the FHA Assistant Commissioner-Comptroller by telegram of such recordation.

(6) Filing of deed and application. The mortgagee shall file its application for insurance benefits at the time of filing for record of the deed conveying the property to the Commissioner.

(7) Deed covenants and documents. The deed conveying the property to the Commissioner shall contain covenants satisfactory to the Commissioner. The original deed shall be forwarded to the Commissioner as soon as received from the recording authority. The following documents shall be forwarded with the deed:

(i) A bill of sale covering any personal property to which the mortgagee is entitled by reason of the mortgage transaction or by the acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

(ii) An assignment of all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagor or others arising out of the mortgage transaction and out of the foreclosure proceedings or other means by which the property was acquired.

(iii) An assignment of any claims on account of title insurance and fire or other hazard insurance, except claims which have been released with the prior approval of the Commissioner.

(8) Title evidence. Evidence of title, satisfactory to the Commissioner and meeting the requirements of §207.258a shall be furnished to the Commissioner (without expense to him) within 45 days of the filing for record of the deed conveying the property to him.

(9) Disposition of cash items. The provisions of paragraph (b)(4) of this section, relating to the retention or delivery of cash items, shall be applicable to cases involving the conveyance of property to the Commissioner.

(Information collection requirements in paragraph (b) were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2535-0061)

[36 FR 24537, Dec. 22, 1971, as amended at 44 FR 8195, Feb. 8, 1979; 50 FR 38786, Sept. 25, 1985; 51 FR 27838, Aug. 4, 1986; 64 FR 4770, Jan. 29, 1999; 76 FR 24371, May 2, 2011; 77 FR 55135, Sept. 7, 2012]