New mortgage disclosure forms that will potentially make loan signings run smoother will be rolled out in 2015, according to an announcement last month by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Borrowers frequently have questions and concerns about the terms of their loans because the forms used by most lenders are very complex and often received on short notice. The new standardized forms, available to preview on the CFPB website, have been redesigned to simplify key information.
The new Loan Estimate form replaces the current Good Faith Estimate of Settlement Costs (GFE) and initial Truth in Lending Disclosure (TIL). The new Closing Disclosure replaces the current HUD-1 Settlement Statement and final Truth in Lending Statement.
When the forms are rolled out on August 1, 2015, lenders also will be required to provide borrowers with their Loan Estimate three business days after the loan application date, and the Closing Disclosure three business days before the closing. This is designed to give borrowers more time to review and understand their loan terms.
The CFPB developed the forms to comply with a federal requirement to make mortgage disclosure documents easier to understand. The new forms also include contact information for the lender, mortgage broker, real estate brokers and closing agent, which can help a Signing Agent or borrower contact someone about a loan document issue during a signing.
David Thun is the Assistant Managing Editor with the National Notary Association.