The rules right now are simple, when the B_W changes go into place in 2016, it might be a little more difficult:
52. When must escrow accounts be established for flood insurance purposes?
Answer: If a lender requires the escrow of taxes, insurance premiums, fees, or any other charges for a loan secured by residential improved real estate or a mobile home, the lender must also require the escrow of all flood insurance premiums and fees. When administering loans secured by one-to-four family dwellings, lenders should look to the definition of “Federally related mortgage loan” contained in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) to see whether a particular loan is subject to the escrow requirements in Section 10 of RESPA. (This includes individual units of condominiums. Individual units of cooperatives, although covered by Section 10 of RESPA, are not insurable under the NFIP and are not covered by the Regulation.) Loans on multi-family dwellings with five or more units are not covered by RESPA requirements. Pursuant to the Regulation, however, lenders must escrow premiums and fees for any required flood insurance if the lender requires escrows for other purposes, such as hazard insurance or taxes.
53. Do voluntary escrow accounts established at the request of the borrower trigger a requirement for the lender to escrow premiums for required flood insurance?
Answer: No. If escrow accounts for other purposes are established at the voluntary request of the borrower, the lender is not required to establish escrow accounts for flood insurance premiums. Examiners should review the loan policies of the lender and the underlying legal obligation between the parties to the loan to determine whether the accounts are, in fact, voluntary. For example, when a lender’s loan policies require borrowers to establish escrow accounts for other purposes and the contractual obligation permits the lender to establish escrow accounts for those other purposes, the lender will have the burden of demonstrating that an existing escrow was made pursuant to a voluntary request by the borrower.
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