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#2145543 - 09/11/17 06:02 PM When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD)
John Burnett Offline
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John Burnett
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Cape Cod
Just passing along information from a phone conversation this afternoon with an attorney at the CFPB regarding whether to complete the "Settlement Agent" column in the Contact Information table on page 5 of the closing disclosure when no settlement agent is used.

Paraphrasing the conversation - The regulation doesn't require that you make an entry in that column if there is no settlement agent, nor does it say you should not. Some banks identify themselves in that column when they close a loan themselves (I was at one time a proponent for doing so). Most don't. The CFPB attorney cautioned that in some states there are legal requirements that a settlement agent must be an attorney, and if the lender identifies itself in that column there could be ramifications.

I have concluded that not making an entry is the better option when there is no settlement agent. But leave the heading in place unless you omit the column entirely or replace it with contact information for another person ("A creditor or settlement agent may also omit a column on the table that is inapplicable or, if necessary, replace an inapplicable column with the contact information for the additional person" - last sentence in comment 38(r)-1).
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TRID - TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures Rule
#2145651 - 09/12/17 02:10 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) John Burnett
Ski Offline
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John, does your above post mean that you have changed your mind regarding your post of 11/01/16:

#2105537 - 11/01/16 02:45 PM Re: Closing Disclosure - Settlement Agent [Re: lgibbs]

I've been convinced that even when the lender does the closing, there is a settlement agent (the lender).

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#2145655 - 09/12/17 02:15 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) John Burnett
RR Joker Offline
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I've been convinced the opposite way all along for one main reason. We are not acting as an Agent [3rd party] for our own purposes/needs because we ARE the lender. If we are legally able to close a loan, we do...but we are not an SA.
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#2145658 - 09/12/17 02:22 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) John Burnett
rlcarey Online
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Me too smile
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#2145659 - 09/12/17 02:24 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) Ski
John Burnett Offline
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John Burnett
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Cape Cod
Originally Posted By Ski
John, does your above post mean that you have changed your mind regarding your post of 11/01/16:

#2105537 - 11/01/16 02:45 PM Re: Closing Disclosure - Settlement Agent [Re: lgibbs]

I've been convinced that even when the lender does the closing, there is a settlement agent (the lender).



I pretty much said so. And I have added an update to the other thread to say so.

I figure if the Bureau can change its mind on this issue, I can certainly do so.
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#2145662 - 09/12/17 02:30 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) John Burnett
RR Joker Offline
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I'm glad the bureau did, and thanks for confirming it!
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#2145779 - 09/13/17 12:52 PM Re: When There's No Settlement Agent (CloD) John Burnett
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Thanks for the info, this is useful.

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