[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR36.4254]

[Page 574-576]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 36--LOAN GUARANTY--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 36.4254  Fees and charges.

    (a) Except as provided in Sec. 36.4232 fees and charges incident to 
origination of a combination loan or a loan to purchase a lot upon which 
a manufactured home owned by the veteran will be placed which may be 
paid by the veteran shall be limited, with respect to the real estate 
portion of the loan, to reasonable and customary amounts for any of the 
following:
    (1) Fees of the Department of Veterans Affairs appraiser and of 
compliance inspectors designated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
except appraisal fees incurred for the predetermination of reasonable 
value requested by others than veteran or lender,
    (2) Recording fees and recording taxes or other charges incident to 
recordation,
    (3) Credit report,
    (4) That portion of taxes, assessments, and other similar items for 
the current year chargeable to the borrower and an initial deposit 
(lump-sum payment) for any tax and insurance account,
    (5) Survey, if required by lender or veteran,
    (6) Title examination and title insurance, if any,
    (7) The actual amount charged for flood zone determinations, 
including a charge for a life-of-the-loan flood zone determination 
service purchased at the time of loan origination, if made by a third 
party who guarantees the accuracy of the determination. A fee may not be 
charged for a flood zone determination made by a Department of Veterans 
Affairs appraiser or for the lender's own determination, and
    (8) Such other items as may be authorized in advance by the Under 
Secretary for Benefits as appropriate for inclusion under this paragraph 
as proper local variances.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3712; 42 U.S.C. 4001 note, 4012a)

    (b) A lender may charge and the veteran may pay a flat charge not 
exceeding one (1) percent of the amount of the loan less the portion 
thereof allocated to the manufactured home: Provided, That such flat 
charge shall be in lieu of all other charges relating to costs of 
origination not expressly specified and allowed in this schedule.
    (c) Except for a refinancing loan pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 
3712(a)(1)(F) or (G) fees and charges specified in this section may not 
be included in the loan.
    (d)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of this 
section and subject to the limitations set out in paragraphs (d)(4) and 
(d)(5) of this section, a fee must be paid to the Secretary. A fee of 1 
percent of the total loan amount must be paid to the Secretary before a 
combination manufactured home and lot loan (or a loan to purchase a lot 
upon which a manufactured home owned by the veteran will be placed) will 
be eligible for guaranty. Provided, however, that the fee shall be 0.50 
percent of the total loan amount for interest rate reduction refinancing 
loans guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 3712(a)(1)(F). All or part of such fee 
may be paid in cash at loan closing or all or part of the fee may be 
included in

[[Page 575]]

the loan without regard to the reasonable value of the property or the 
computed maximum loan amount, as appropriate. In computing the fee, the 
lender will disregard any amount included in the loan to enable the 
borrower to pay such fee.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3729(a))

    (2) Subject to the limitations set out in paragraphs (d)(3) and 
(d)(4) of this section, a fee of one-half of one percent of the loan 
balance must be paid to the Secretary in a manner prescribed by the 
Secretary by a person assuming a loan to which section 3714 of chapter 
37 of 38 U.S.C. applies. The instrument securing such a loan shall 
contain a provision describing the right of the holder to collect this 
fee as trustee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The loan holder 
shall list the amount of this fee in every assumption statement provided 
and include a notice that the fee must be paid to the holder immediately 
following loan settlement. The fee must be transmitted to the Secretary 
within 15 days of receipt by the holder of notice of the transfer.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3714, 3729)

    (3) The lender is rquired to pay to the Secretary the fee described 
in paragraph (d)(1) of this section within 15 days after loan closing. 
Any lender closing a loan, subject to the limitations set out in 
paragraphs (d)(4) and (d)(5) of this section, who fails to submit timely 
payment of this fee will be subject to a late charge equal to 4 percent 
of the total fee due. If payment of the 1 percent fee is made more than 
30 days after loan closing, interest will be assessed at a rate set in 
conformity with the Department of Treasury's Fiscal Requirements Manual. 
This interest charge is in addition to the 4 percent late charge, but 
the late charge is not included in the amout on which interest is 
computed. This interest charge is to be calculated on a daily basis 
beginning on the date of closing, although the interest will be assessed 
only on funding fee payments received more than 30 days after closing.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501)

    (4) The lender is required to pay to the Secretary electronically 
through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system the fees described in 
paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section and any late fees and 
interest due on them. This shall be paid to a collection agent by 
operator-assisted telephone, terminal entry, or CPU-to-CPU transmission. 
The collection agent will be identified by the Secretary. The lender 
shall provide the collection agent with the following: authorization for 
payment of the funding fee (including late fees and interest) along with 
the following information: VA lender ID number; four-digit personal 
identification number; dollar amount of debit; VA loan number; OJ 
(office of jurisdiction) code; closing date; loan amount; information 
about whether the payment includes a shortage, late charge, or interest; 
veteran name; loan type; sale amount; downpayment; whether the veteran 
is a reservist; and whether this is a subsequent use of entitlement. For 
all transactions received prior to 8:15 p.m. on a workday, VA will be 
credited with the amount paid to the collection agent at the opening of 
business the next banking day.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3729(a))

    (5) The fee described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this 
section shall not be collected from a veteran who is receiving 
compensation or who but for the receipt of retirement pay would be 
entitled to receive compensation) or from a surviving spouse described 
in section 3701(b)(2) of title 38 U.S.C.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3729(b))

    (6) Collection of the loan fee in this paragraph does not apply to 
loans closed prior to August 17, 1984, between

[[Page 576]]

October 1, and October 15, 1987, inclusive, between November 16 and 
December 20, 1987, inclusive, nor to loans closed after September 30, 
1989.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3729(c))

(The information collection requirements in this section have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
2900-0474)

[36 FR 3369, Feb. 23, 1971, as amended at 46 FR 43671, Aug. 31, 1981; 47 
FR 46700, Oct. 20, 1982; 48 FR 40231, Sept. 6, 1983; 50 FR 5754, Feb. 
12, 1985; 53 FR 27048, July 18, 1988; 55 FR 37473, Sept. 12, 1990; 60 FR 
38259, July 26, 1995; 61 FR 28058, June 4, 1996; 62 FR 63278, Nov. 28, 
1997]