Authority
To provide access to sources of private financing to Indian families, Indian housing authorities, and Indian tribes, who otherwise could not acquire housing financing because of the unique legal status of Indian lands, the Secretary may guarantee not to exceed 100 percent of the unpaid principal and interest due on any loan eligible under subsection (b) made to an Indian family, Indian housing authority, or Indian tribe.
Eligible loans
Eligible borrowers
The loans shall be made only to borrowers who are Indian families, Indian housing authorities, or Indian tribes.
Eligible housing
The loan shall be used to construct, acquire, refinance, or rehabilitate 1- to 4-family dwellings that are standard housing and are located on trust land or land located in an Indian or Alaska Native area.
Security
The loan may be secured by any collateral authorized under existing Federal law or applicable State or tribal law.
Lenders
Terms
Certificate of guarantee
Approval process
Before the Secretary approves any loan for guarantee under this section, the lender shall submit the application for the loan to the Secretary for examination. If the Secretary approves the loan for guarantee, the Secretary shall issue a certificate under this paragraph as evidence of the guarantee.
Standard for approval
The Secretary may approve a loan for guarantee under this section and issue a certificate under this paragraph only if the Secretary determines there is a reasonable prospect of repayment of the loan.
Effect
A certificate of guarantee issued under this paragraph by the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for guarantee under the provisions of this section and the amount of such guarantee. Such evidence shall be incontestable in the hands of the bearer and the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts agreed to be paid by the Secretary as security for such obligations.
Fraud and misrepresentation
This subsection may not be construed to preclude the Secretary from establishing defenses against the original lender based on fraud or material misrepresentation or to bar the Secretary from establishing by regulations in effect on the date of issuance or disbursement, whichever is earlier, partial defenses to the amount payable on the guarantee.
Trailing documents
In general
Termination of indemnification agreement
An indemnification agreement between an originating lender and the Secretary described in subparagraph (A) shall only terminate upon receipt by the Secretary of the trailing documents described in that subparagraph in a form and manner that is acceptable to the Secretary.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as authorizing the Bureau of Indian Affairs to delay the issuance of a final certified title status report and recorded mortgage relating to a loan closed on Indian trust land.
Guarantee fee
The Secretary shall establish and collect, at the time of issuance of the guarantee, a fee for the guarantee of loans under this section, in an amount not exceeding 3 percent of the principal obligation of the loan. The Secretary may also establish and collect annual premium payments in an amount not exceeding 1 percent of the remaining guaranteed balance (excluding the portion of the remaining balance attributable to the fee collected at the time of issuance of the guarantee). The Secretary shall establish the amount of the fees and premiums by publishing a notice in the Federal Register. The Secretary shall deposit any fees and premiums collected under this subsection in the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund established under subsection (i).
Liability under guarantee
The liability under a guarantee provided under this section shall decrease or increase on a pro rata basis according to any decrease or increase in the amount of the unpaid obligation under the provisions of the loan agreement.
Transfer and assumption
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any loan guaranteed under this section, including the security given for the loan, may be sold or assigned by the lender to any financial institution subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the Federal Government or of any State or the District of Columbia.
Disqualification of lenders and civil money penalties
In general
Civil money penalties for intentional violations
12 U.S.C. 1735f–14If the Secretary determines that any lender or holder of a guarantee certificate under subsection (c) has intentionally failed to maintain adequate accounting records, to adequately service loans guaranteed under this section, or to exercise proper credit or underwriting judgment, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty on such lender or holder in the manner and amount provided under section 536 of the National Housing Act [] with respect to mortgagees and lenders under such Act.
Payment on loans made in good faith
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary may not refuse to pay pursuant to a valid guarantee on loans of a lender or holder barred under this subsection if the loans were previously made in good faith.
Payment under guarantee
Lender options
In general
Foreclosure
The holder of the certificate may initiate foreclosure proceedings (after providing written notice of such action to the Secretary) and upon a final order by the court authorizing foreclosure and submission to the Secretary of a claim for payment under the guarantee, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the certificate the pro rata portion of the amount guaranteed (as determined pursuant to subsection (e)) plus reasonable fees and expenses as approved by the Secretary. The Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the guarantee and the lender holder shall assign the obligation and security to the Secretary.
No foreclosure
Without seeking foreclosure (or in any case in which a foreclosure proceeding initiated under clause (i) continues for a period in excess of 1 year), the holder of the guarantee may submit to the Secretary a request to assign the obligation and security interest to the Secretary in return for payment of the claim under the guarantee. The Secretary may accept assignment of the loan if the Secretary determines that the assignment is in the best interests of the United States. Upon assignment, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the guarantee the pro rata portion of the amount guaranteed (as determined under subsection (e)). The Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the guarantee and the holder shall assign the obligation and security to the Secretary.
Requirements
Before any payment under a guarantee is made under subparagraph (A), the holder of the guarantee shall exhaust all reasonable possibilities of collection. Exhausting all reasonable possibilities of collection by the holder of the guarantee shall include a good faith consideration of loan modification as well as meeting standards for servicing loans in default, as determined by the Secretary. Upon payment, in whole or in part, to the holder, the note or judgment evidencing the debt shall be assigned to the United States and the holder shall have no further claim against the borrower or the United States. The Secretary shall then take such action to collect as the Secretary determines appropriate.
Limitations on liquidation
In the event of a default by the borrower on a loan guaranteed under this section involving a security interest in restricted Indian land, the mortgagee or the Secretary shall only pursue liquidation after offering to transfer the account to an eligible tribal member, the tribe, or the Indian housing authority serving the tribe or tribes. If the mortgagee or the Secretary subsequently proceeds to liquidate the account, the mortgagee or the Secretary shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or alienate the property except to one of the entities described in the preceding sentence.
Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund
Establishment
There is established in the Treasury of the United States the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund for the purpose of providing loan guarantees under this section.
Credits
Use
Investment
Any amounts in the Guarantee Fund determined by the Secretary to be in excess of amounts currently required to carry out this section may be invested in obligations of the United States.
Limitation on commitments to guarantee loans and mortgages
Requirement of appropriations
The authority of the Secretary to enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this section shall be effective for any fiscal year to the extent or in such amounts as are or have been provided in appropriations Acts, without regard to the fiscal year for which such amounts were appropriated.
Limitations on costs of guarantees
section 661a of title 2The authority of the Secretary to enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this section shall be effective for any fiscal year only to the extent that amounts in the Guarantee Fund are or have been made available in appropriation Acts to cover the costs (as such term is defined in ) of such loan guarantees for such fiscal year. Any amounts appropriated pursuant to this subparagraph shall remain available until expended.
Limitation on outstanding aggregate principal amount
Subject to the limitations in subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary may enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this section in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding such amount as may be provided in appropriation Acts for such fiscal year.
Liabilities
All liabilities and obligations of the assets credited to the Guarantee Fund under paragraph (2)(A) shall be liabilities and obligations of the Guarantee Fund.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Guarantee Fund to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
Requirements for standard housing
Environmental review
Definitions
Tribe; indian tribe .—
Pub. L. 102–550, title I, § 184106 Stat. 3739Pub. L. 104–330, title VII, § 701(a)110 Stat. 4048–4050Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 595(e)(11)112 Stat. 2658Pub. L. 106–377, § 1(a)(1) [title II, § 227]114 Stat. 1441Pub. L. 106–568, title X, § 1002114 Stat. 2925Pub. L. 106–569, title V, § 502114 Stat. 2961Pub. L. 107–292, § 2(d)116 Stat. 2053Pub. L. 110–37, § 2121 Stat. 229Pub. L. 113–6, div. F, title VIII, § 1806127 Stat. 433Pub. L. 113–235, div. K, title II, § 241128 Stat. 2759Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title I, § 105(b)134 Stat. 2171(, , ; –(j), , ; –(13), , ; , , , 1441A–30; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
act June 27, 1934, ch. 84748 Stat. 1246section 1701 of this titleThe National Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), is , . Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 1707 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.
act July 15, 1949, ch. 33863 Stat. 413section 1441 of Title 42The Housing Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(C), is , , which is classified principally to chapter 8A (§ 1441 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Pub. L. 91–19083 Stat. 852section 4321 of Title 42The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (k), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
lPub. L. 104–330110 Stat. 4016section 4101 of Title 25The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, referred to in subsecs. (k)(1) and ()(5), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 43 (§ 4101 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
lPub. L. 92–20385 Stat. 688section 1601 of Title 43The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. ()(8), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
lPub. L. 93–63888 Stat. 2203section 5301 of Title 25The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. ()(8), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, and not as part of the National Housing Act which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
Pub. L. 116–2602020—Subsec. (c)(5). added par. (5).
Pub. L. 113–2352014—Subsec. (h)(1)(B). inserted after first sentence “Exhausting all reasonable possibilities of collection by the holder of the guarantee shall include a good faith consideration of loan modification as well as meeting standards for servicing loans in default, as determined by the Secretary.”
Pub. L. 113–62013—Subsec. (d). amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall fix and collect a guarantee fee for the guarantee of loans under this section, which may not exceed the amount equal to 1 percent of the principal obligation of the loan. The fee shall be paid by the lender at time of issuance of the guarantee and shall be adequate, in the determination of the Secretary, to cover expenses and probable losses. The Secretary shall deposit any fees collected under this subsection in the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund established under subsection (i) of this section.”
Pub. L. 110–372007—Subsec. (i)(5)(C),(7). substituted “fiscal years 2008 through 2012” for “fiscal years 1997 through 2007”.
Pub. L. 107–2922002—Subsec. (i)(5)(C), (7). substituted “each of fiscal years 1997 through 2007” for “each fiscal year”.
Pub. L. 106–377, § 1(a)(1) [title II, § 227(1)]2000—Subsec. (a). , struck out “or as a result of a lack of access to private financial markets” after “legal status of Indian lands”.
Pub. L. 106–377, § 1(a)(1) [title II, § 227(2)]Subsec. (b)(2). , inserted “refinance,” after “acquire,”.
Pub. L. 106–568, § 1002(1)Pub. L. 106–569, § 502(1)Subsec. (i)(5)(C). , and , amended par. (5) identically, adding subpar. (C) and striking out heading and text of former subpar. (C). Text read as follows: “Subject to the limitations in subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary may enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this section in each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $400,000,000 for each such fiscal year.”
Pub. L. 106–568, § 1002(2)Pub. L. 106–569, § 502(2)Subsec. (i)(7). , and , amended par. (7) identically, substituting “each fiscal year” for “each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001”.
Pub. L. 105–276, § 595(e)(11)1998—Subsec. (b)(2). , struck out before period at end “that is under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe for which an Indian housing plan has been submitted and approved pursuant to sections 102 and 103 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 that provides for the use of loan guarantees under this section to provide affordable homeownership housing in such areas.”
Pub. L. 105–276, § 595(e)(12)Subsec. (i)(5)(C). , substituted “not” for “note”.
lPub. L. 105–276, § 595(e)(13)lSubsecs. (k), (). , added subsec. (k) and redesignated former subsec. (k) as ().
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(a)(1)1996—Subsec. (a). , (b), substituted “, Indian housing authorities, and Indian tribes,” for “and Indian housing authorities”, “lands or as a result of a lack of access to private financial markets” for “trust land”, and “, Indian housing authority, or Indian tribe” for “or Indian housing authority”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(a)(2)Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “, Indian housing authorities, or Indian tribes” for “or Indian housing authorities”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(c)Subsec. (b)(2). , inserted before period at end “that is under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe for which an Indian housing plan has been submitted and approved pursuant to sections 102 and 103 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 that provides for the use of loan guarantees under this section to provide affordable homeownership housing in such areas”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(i)Subsec. (b)(5)(C)(i). , added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “an amount equal to the sum of (I) 97 percent of $25,000 of the appraised value of the property, as of the date the loan is accepted for guarantee, and (II) 95 percent of such value in excess of $25,000; and”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(d)(1)(A)Subsec. (h)(1)(A)(i). , struck out “in a court of competent jurisdiction” after “foreclosure proceedings” in first sentence.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(d)(1)(B)Subsec. (h)(1)(A)(ii). , added cl. (ii) and struck out heading and text of former cl. (ii). Text read as follows: “Without seeking a judicial foreclosure (or in any case in which a foreclosure proceeding initiated under clause (i) continues for a period in excess of 1 year), the holder of the guarantee may submit to the Secretary a claim for payment under the guarantee and the Secretary shall only pay to such holder for a loss on any single loan an amount equal to 90 percent of the pro rata portion of the amount guaranteed (as determined under subsection (e) of this section). The Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the guarantee and the holder shall assign the obligation and security to the Secretary.”
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(d)(2)Subsec. (h)(2), (3). , (3), (e), redesignated par. (3) as (2), in first sentence substituted “restricted Indian land, the mortgagee or” for “tribal allotted or trust land,”, in second sentence substituted “mortgagee or the Secretary” for “Secretary” in two places, and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: “Notwithstanding paragraph (1), upon receiving notice of default on a loan guaranteed under this section from the holder of the guarantee, the Secretary may accept assignment of the loan if the Secretary determines that the assignment is in the best interests of the United States. Upon assignment the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the guarantee the pro rata portion of the amount guaranteed (as determined under subsection (e) of this section). The Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the guarantee and the holder shall assign the obligation and security to the Secretary.”
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(j)(1)Subsec. (i)(5)(A). , added subpar. (A) and struck out heading and text of former subpar. (A). Text read as follows: “The authority of the Secretary to enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this section shall be effective for any fiscal year only to the extent or in such amounts as are or have been provided in appropriations Acts for such fiscal year.”
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(j)(2)Subsec. (i)(5)(B). , inserted at end “Any amounts appropriated pursuant to this subparagraph shall remain available until expended.”
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(f)Subsec. (i)(5)(C). , substituted “1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount note exceeding $400,000,000 for each such fiscal year” for “1993 and 1994 with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding such amount as may be provided in appropriation Acts for each such year”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(g)Subsec. (i)(7). , substituted “such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001” for “such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1993 and $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(h)(1)Subsec. (k)(4). , inserted “or Indian tribe” after “authority”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(h)(2)Subsec. (k)(5). , inserted concluding provisions, added subpar. (A), and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “is authorized to engage in or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing for Indians; and”.
Pub. L. 104–330, § 701(h)(3)Subsec. (k)(8). , added par. (8) and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: “The term ‘tribe’ means any tribe, band, pueblo, group, community, or nation of Indians or Alaska Natives.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 595(f)112 Stat. 2659
Findings Related to Improvements to Loan Guarantees for Indian Housing
Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title I, § 105(a)134 Stat. 2170
Reports on Acceleration of Processing
Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title I, § 105(c)134 Stat. 2171