CFPB Issues Notice of ATR/QM Assessment and Requests Comment
May 25, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released details of its plan to assess the 2014 Ability to Repay (ATR) and Qualified Mortgage (QM) Standards (ATR/QM Rule) and requested comments. Comments are due by July 31, 2017.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFPB to conduct an assessment of the rule’s effectiveness in meeting the purposes and objectives. The CFPB is also required to request comments on recommendations for modifying, expanding, or eliminating the rule.
The CFPB assessment plan includes examining the rules impact on the following consumer outcomes:
- Mortgage cost
- Origination volumes
- Approval rates
- Subsequent loan performance
Additional considerations will include changes creditors made to their underwriting policies and procedures in order to comply with the ATR Rule and how those changes impacted consumer outcomes.
The assessment will evaluate the “Temporary” QM status afforded to loans eligible for deliver to government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the potential consequences of that provision’s expiration.
Attention will be paid to the outcomes for consumers who rely on income from self-employment, from assets, or from intermittent or seasonal work. Another focus area will be outcomes from other special groups such as low and moderate-income, rural, and minority borrowers.
The CFPB plan will rely on HMDA data, Fannie/Freddie public loan level data, servicing data, and the National Mortgage Database. Some creditors and stakeholders will receive limited requests for data.
The full text of this notice and request for comments is published in the federal register https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/06/01/2017-11218/request-for-information-regarding-ability-to-repayqualified-mortgage-rule-assessment
Comments are requested on the following topics:
- Feasibility and effectiveness of the assessment plan
- Data and other factual information that may be useful when executing the plan
- Recommendations to improve the assessment plan
- Data and other factual information about benefits and costs of the ATR/QM rule for consumers, creditors and other stakeholders
- Data and other factual informant about the rule’s impact on transparency, efficiency, access, and innovation in the mortgage market
- Data and other factual information about the rule’s effectiveness in meeting its purpose
- Recommendations for modifying, expanding, or eliminating the ATR/QM rule
Comments are closed.