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State of Ohio Recently Introduced Legislation. Marianne Collins, ED & COO Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association www.ohiomba.org. Legislation Recently Introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives. HB 80 HB 223 HB 201. HB 80 (Foley).
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State of OhioRecently Introduced Legislation Marianne Collins, ED & COO Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association www.ohiomba.org
Legislation Recently Introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives • HB 80 • HB 223 • HB 201
HB 80 (Foley) • Makes it a 5th degree felony for a servicer to fail to register • Servicer must name an experienced employee in the registration to act as operations manager. That person will be investigated • Servicer shall maintain a $250,000 net worth • Servicer will produce a pay-off statement within 5 business days of written request. There can be no charge for the 1st statement, and no more than $3 charged for any additional statements in a 12 month period.
May not make false statements to a borrower • May not ask a borrower to sign anything in blank • Make escrow payments in a timely manner • Credit payments on the date received • Comply with loss mitigation standards as required by the insuring entity • May not charge any fee that is not reasonable • May not initiate a foreclosure action without proof of ownership • May not obtain forced-place insurance without written notice to the borrower • May not communicate with a borrower who is represented by an attorney
May not telephone a borrower and state it is an “emergency” or “urgent” • May not use obscene language • May not call a borrower with the intent to annoy, harass or threaten • May not cause a borrower to pay for a text message or toll call • May not call a borrower repeatedly, continually or at unusual times
Exemptions • Depository Institutions • Insurance Companies • Attorneys • Government Agencies • Institutions of Higher Education • Debt collector representing a servicer
OMBA Recommendation Give the CFPB’s Servicing Rule a chance to work before imposing additional state regulation
HB 223 (Grossman) • Does away with the 2/3 minimum bid at Sheriff Sale for abandoned properties • In a foreclosure action the municipality/court will determine if the property is a abandoned • The property will be considered abandoned if: - The lien holders & owner are deemed to have abandoned their rights to the property -No bids after 2 advertised sheriff sales • Property may go to a land bank • Owner may not cause damage to the property after being served in a foreclosure action
Does away with the minimum bid at the second sheriff sale for all other residential properties. If the property is not sold at the 2nd sale, it will be deemed abandoned. Blighted Properties • Properties deemed “blighted” by the municipal court will be ordered to be sold free and clear of any liens (other than federal taxes) if the lien holder or interested party does not remediate the conditions of the property. • If the lien holder or other interested party remediates the blight, the court will grant them a lien in the amount of their remediation expenses.
Only “qualified” bidders, as determined by the municipality, are eligible to purchase blighted properties • Sheriff will provide the list of qualified bidders at time of the sale • Sheriff will conduct the sale • Winning bidder must obtain a bond • Property will be sold free of liens (except federal taxes) • No minimum bid • Sale proceeds will go to the municipality to extinguish costs first, then to lien holders • Winning bidder must remediate blight and may not sell the property for 18 months
OMBA Recommendations • Do away with the 2/3 minimum bid on all sheriff sales. However, there will still be a appraisal, and if the property sells for less than 2/3, the lender has a right of redemption for a certain period of time • Do away with the 18 month holding period when a blighted property is purchased • Allow online advertising and sheriff sales • Do not require blighted property bidders to be “qualified” by the municipality • Confirmation serves as title transfer • Allow plaintiff’s attorney to perfect service
HB 201 (Butler) • Changes the penalty for not filing a satisfaction of mortgage in a timely manner (90 days after payoff) from $250 to $50 per day.
OMBA Recommendations • The current penalty of $250 allows for further penalties if harmed • We feel current law is sufficient