[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: 38CFR36.4302]

[Page 596-598]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 36--LOAN GUARANTY--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 36.4302  Computation of guaranties or insurance credits.

    (a) With respect to a loan to a veteran guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 
3710 the guaranty shall not exceed the lesser of the dollar amount of 
entitlement available to the veteran or
    (1) 50 percent of the original principal loan amount where the loan 
amount is not more than $45,000; or
    (2) $22,500 where the original principal loan exceeds $45,000, but 
is not more than $56,250; or
    (3) Except as provided in subparagraph (4), the lesser of $36,000 or 
40 percent of the original principal loan

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amount where the loan amount exceeds $56,250; or
    (4) The lesser of $60,000 or 25 percent of the original principal 
loan amount where the loan amount exceeds $144,000 and the loan is for 
the purchase or construction of a home or the purchase of a condominium 
unit.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3703(a))

    (b) With respect to an interest rate reduction refinancing loan 
guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 3710(a)(8), (a)(9)(B)(i), or (a)(11), the 
dollar amount of guaranty may not exceed the greater of the original 
guaranty amount of the loan being refinanced, or 25 percent of the 
refinancing loan amount.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3703, 3710)

    (c) With respect to a loan for an energy efficient mortgage 
guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 3710(d), the amount of the guaranty shall be 
in the same proportion as would have been provided if the energy 
efficient improvements were not added to the loan amount, and there 
shall be no additional charge to the veteran's entitlement as a result 
of the increased guaranty amount.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3703, 3710)

    (d) An amount equal to 15 percent of the original principal amount 
of each insured loan shall be credited to the insurance account of the 
lender and shall be charged against the guaranty entitlement of the 
borrower: Provided, That no loan may be insured unless the borrower has 
sufficient entitlement remaining to permit such credit.
    (e) Subject to the provisions of Sec. 36.4303(g), the following 
formulas shall govern the computation of the amount of the guaranty or 
insurance entitlement which remains available to an eligible veteran 
after prior use of entitlement:
    (1) If a veteran previously secured a nonrealty (business) loan, the 
amount of nonrealty entitlement used is doubled and subtracted from 
$36,000. The sum remaining is the amount of available entitlement for 
use, except that:
    (i) Entitlement may be increased by up to $24,000 if the loan amount 
exceeds $144,000 and the loan is for purchase or construction of a home 
or purchase of a condominium; and
    (ii) Entitlement for manufactured home loans that are to be 
guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 3712 may not exceed $20,000.
    (2) If a veteran previously secured a realty (home) loan, the amount 
of realty (home) loan entitlement used is subtracted from $36,000. The 
sum remaining is the amount of available entitlement for use, except 
that:
    (i) Entitlement may be increased by up to $24,000 if the loan amount 
exceeds $144,000 and the loan is for purchase or construction of a home 
or purchase of a condominium: and
    (ii) Entitlement for manufactured home loans that are to be 
guaranteed under 38 U.S.C. 3712 may not exceed $20,000.
    (3) If a veteran previously secured a manufactured home loan under 
38 U.S.C. 3712, the amount of entitlement used for that loan is 
subtracted from $36,000. The sum remaining is the amount of available 
entitlement for home loans and the sum remaining may be increased by up 
to $24,000 if the loan amount exceeds $144,000 and the loan is for 
purchase or construction of a home or purchase of a condominium. To 
determine the amount of entitlement available for manufactured home 
loans processed under 38 U.S.C. 3712, the amount of entitlement 
previously used for that purpose is subtracted from $20,000. The sum 
remaining is the amount of available entitlement for use for 
manufactured home loan purposes under 38 U.S.C. 3712.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3703)

    (f) For the purpose of computing the remaining guaranty or insurance 
benefit to which a veteran is entitled, loans guaranteed prior to the 
effective date of Secs. 36.4300 to 36.4393, inclusive, shall be taken 
into consideration as if made subsequent thereto.
    (g) A loan eligible for insurance may be either guaranteed or 
insured at the option of the borrower and the lender: Provided, That if 
the Secretary is not advised of the exercise of such option at the time 
the loan is reported pursuant to Sec. 36.4303 such loan will not be 
eligible for insurance.

[[Page 598]]

    (h) A guaranty is reduced or increased pro rata with any deduction 
or increase in the amount of the guaranteed indebtedness, but in no 
event will the amount payable on a guaranty or the percentage of the 
indebtedness corresponding to that of the original guaranty whichever is 
less. However, on a graduated payment mortgage loan, the percentage of 
guaranty applicable to the original loan amount pursuant to paragraph 
(a) of this section shall apply to the loan indebtedness to the extent 
scheduled deferred interest is added to principal during the graduation 
period without regard to the original maximum dollar amount of guaranty.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3703(b) and (d))

    (i) The amount of any guaranty or the amount credited to a lender's 
insurance account in relation to any insured loan shall be charged 
against the original or remainder of the guaranty benefit of the 
borrower. Complete or partial liquidation, by payment or otherwise, of 
the veteran's guaranteed or insured indebtedness does not increase the 
remainder of the guaranty benefit, if any, otherwise available to the 
veteran. When the maximum amount of guaranty or insurance legally 
available to a veteran shall have been granted, no further guaranty or 
insurance is available to the veteran.
    (j) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (g) of this section, 
the Secretary may exclude the amount of guaranty or insurance 
entitlement used for any guaranteed or insured loan provided:
    (1) The property which served as security for the loan has been 
disposed of by the veteran, or has been destroyed by fire or other 
natural hazard; and
    (2)(i) The loan has been repaid in full or the Secretary has been 
released from liability as to the loan, or if the Secretary has suffered 
a loss on said loan, such loss has been paid in full; or
    (ii) A veteran-transferee has agreed to assume the outstanding 
balance on the loan and consented to the use of his or her entitlement 
to the extent the entitlement of the veteran-transferor had been used 
originally; or
    (3) The loan has been repaid in full, and the loan for which the 
veteran seeks to use entitlement is secured by the same property which 
secured the fully repaid loan; or
    (4) In a case in which the veteran still owns the property purchased 
with a VA-guaranteed loan, the Secretary may, one time only, restore 
entitlement used on that loan if:
    (i) the loan has been repaid in full or, if the Secretary has 
suffered a loss on the loan, the loss has been paid in full; or
    (ii) the Secretary has been released from liability as to the loan, 
and, if the Secretary has suffered a loss on the loan, the loss has been 
paid in full.
    (k) The Secretary may, in any case involving circumstances deemed 
appropriate, waive either or both of the requirements set forth in 
paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2)(i) of this section.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3702(b), 3710)

    (l)(1) The amount of guaranty entitlement, available and unused, of 
an eligible unmarried surviving spouse (whose eligibility does not 
result from his or her own service) is determinable in the same manner 
as in the case of any veteran, and any entitlement which the decedent 
(who was his or her spouse) used shall be disregarded. A certificate as 
to the eligibility of such surviving spouse, issued by the Secretary, 
shall be a condition precedent to the guaranty or insurance of any loan 
made to a surviving spouse in such capacity.


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3701(a))

    (2) An unmarried surviving spouse who was a co-obligor under an 
existing VA guaranteed, insured or direct loan shall be considered to be 
a veteran eligible for an interest rate reduction refinancing loan 
pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 3710(a)(8) or (9)(B)(i).


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3710(e)(3))

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 3703(c)(1))

[13 FR 7274, Nov. 27, 1948, as amended at 35 FR 17179, Nov. 7, 1970; 40 
FR 34589, Aug. 18, 1975; 46 FR 43672, Aug. 31, 1981; 47 FR 15139, Apr. 
8, 1982; 49 FR 28243, July 11, 1984; 50 FR 3334, Jan. 24, 1985; 55 FR 
40655, Oct. 4, 1990; 60 FR 38259, July 26, 1995; 68 FR 6627, Feb. 10, 
2003]

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