FEMA Declared Disaster – Arkansas (DR-4633-AR)
Newrez LLC "Newrez" Approved Correspondent Clients: please note, on December 23, 2021, FEMA issued a Major Disaster Declaration, under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act), for the Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornados natural disaster events with an incident start date of December 10, 2021, and incident end date of December 11, 2021.
Under the FEMA Major Disaster Declaration, the following five (5) counties have been designated for Individual Assistance due to the impact of the disaster:
- Craighead
- Jackson
- Mississippi
- Poinsett
- Woodruff
Effectiveimmediately,inaccordancewithagencyandinvestor requirements, Newrez will implement the following inspection requirements for loans secured byproperties locatedinthecountiesidentifiedabove.
If the effective date of the appraisal or appraisal alternative was on or prior to the December 11, 2021, Incident End date, the following inspection options by product type will be required.
Conventional
- For properties located within the counties listed above with an appraisal dated on or prior to December 11, 2021, and has not closed by the date of this announcement, either one of the following is required:
- A Borrower signed attestation that subject property was not damaged by disaster along with supporting photos that are date/time stamped. If the photos indicate more than minor cosmetic damage, a new interior appraisal is required, and all damage must be repaired prior to closing. This Borrower attestation option is not eligible for Cash-out refinances.
- A Correspondent client certification that represents and warrants that the property has not sustained damage and that the subject property is in marketable condition with no required repairs or adverse conditions. This Client certification option is not eligible for Cash-out refinances.
- A Disaster Inspection Report with photos evidencing the property is free from damage and the disaster had no effect on the value or marketability is
- If the Disaster Inspection Report or Attestation reveals more than minor cosmetic damage, a new interior appraisal is required, and all damage must be repaired prior to closing and purchase by
Non-Conforming
- If the effective date of the appraisal or appraisal alternative was on or prior to the December 11, 2021 incident end date, an inspection is required prior to closing or funding of the loan in accordance the Newrez Client Guide Chapter 15, Disaster Policy.
VA
- VA IRRRLs do not require Disaster Inspection or Veteran’s
- For properties located within the counties listed above with an appraisal dated on or prior to December 11, 2021, and have not closed by the date of this announcement, one of following options is required:
- Veteran to provide date/time stamped Photo’s to evidence that subject property was not damaged as result of the disaster along with a “Veteran’s Certification”, signed and dated with following language:
- “I have inspected the property located at and find its condition now to be acceptable to me. I understand that I will not be charged for any disaster‐ related expenses and now wish to close the loan.”
- A Correspondent client certification that represents and warrants that the property has not sustained damage and that the subject property is in marketable condition with no required repairs or adverse conditions with a “Veteran’s
Certification”, signed and dated with following language:
- “I have inspected the property located at and find its condition now to be acceptable to me. I understand that I will not be charged for any disaster‐ related expenses and now wish to close the loan.”
- A Disaster Inspection with photos evidencing the property is free from damage and the disaster had no effect on the value or marketability and a
“Veteran’s Certification”, signed and dated with following language:
- “I have inspected the property located at and find its condition now to be acceptable to me. I understand that I will not be charged for any disaster‐ related expenses and now wish to close the loan.”
FHA Loans
- FHA Streamline Refinances do not require Disaster Inspections.
- The following inspection requirements apply to all properties located within the FEMA designated counties listed above.
- The following applies to all FHA loans that have not closed by December 23, 2021:
- If FHA appraisal is dated on or prior to December 11, 2021, an interior/exterior inspection report with photos by original appraiser or FHA roster appraiser must be dated after the Incident Period end date of December 11, 2021.
- If the inspections indicated damage from the disaster, follow repair and escrow requirements outlined in the 4000.1 Handbook based on the amount of repairs and whether property is habitable.
The following applies to all FHA loans that have closed, but not endorsed by December 23, 2021:
- If the loan has closed prior to December 23, 2021, and is not FHA insured, an exterior- only inspection by a FHA roster appraiser will be required prior to endorsement
- If the inspections indicate damage from the disaster, follow repair requirements outlined in the 4000.1 Handbook based on the amount of repairs and whether property is habitable.
USDA Loans
- USDA Streamlined-assist and Streamline without Appraisal Refinance do not require Disaster Inspections.
- For properties located within the counties listed above with an appraisal dated prior to December 11, 2021, and has not closed by the date of this announcement, the following is required:
- A Disaster Inspection Report with photos evidencing the property is free from damage and the disaster had no effect on its value or marketability is required.