| Fees and Charges |
First Lien |
Second Lien* |
| Administrative Fee |
Not regulated. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(q) allows
"an administrative fee not to exceed $25 for a loan of more than $1,000 or
$10 for a loan of $1,000 or less which is considered earned at the time the
loan is made or refinanced, which is not subject to refund, which may not be
contracted for or received by the lender refinancing the loan more than once in
any 180-day period if the loan is refinanced, and for which 50 cents of the fee
charged is deposited with the comptroller for the purpose of fulfilling the
responsibilities of the finance commission as required under applicable law. |
| Application Fee |
No limit on the amount or type of fee.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: A combination of the appraisal fee and the credit report fee
represents the application fee |
Not allowed |
| Appraisal Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customer Fee: The actual fee charged |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(4) allows
"reasonable fees for an appraisal of real property offered as security for
the loan prepared by a certified appraiser who is not a salaried employee of
the lender."
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee."
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged |
| Assignment Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary
|
Not allowed |
| Assumption Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary |
Not allowed |
| Attorney's Fee |
Texas Gov't Code Ann. Sec. 83.001 states:
"'83.001. Prohibited Acts
(a) A person, other than a person designated in Subsection (b), may not charge
or receive, either directly or indirectly, any compensation for all or part of
the preparation of a legal instrument affecting title to real property,
including a deed, deed of trust, note, mortgage, and transfer of release of
lien.
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) an attorney licensed in this state;
(2) a licensed real estate broker or salesman performing the acts of a real
estate broker pursuant to The Real Estate License Act (Article 6573a, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statues); or
(3) a person performing acts relating to a transaction for the lease, sale, or
transfer of any mineral or mining interest in real property.
(c) This section does not prevent a person from seeking reimbursement for costs
incurred by the person to retain a licensed attorney to prepare an
instrument."
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: $200.00 to $500.00 |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(2) allows
"reasonable fees charged to the lender by an attorney who is not a
salaried employee of the lender for preparation of the loan documents in
connection with the mortgage loan if the fees are evidenced by a statement for
services rendered."
See also "Document Preparation Fee."
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee."
Customary Fee: $200.00 to $500.00
Texas Finance Code Section 342.307(2) allows "reasonable fees paid to an
attorney who is not an employee of the creditor in the collection of a
delinquent secondary mortgage loan."
This fee must be expressly provided for in the loan contract.
********************
and Texas Finance Code Section 342.307(3) allows court costs and fees incurred
in the collection of the loan or foreclosure of a lien created by the
loan."
********************
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee." |
| Broker Fee Not regulated. |
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Not chargeable to the borrower.
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner in a letter to Secondary Mortgage
Lenders dated December 31, 1981, expressly states "Brokerage fees are not
authorized."
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Interpretive Letter 88-1, dated January
18, 1988, explains that brokers must be licensed under Article 5069-3 (Texas
Credit Title Chapter 3A) if they are in the business of making, negotiating, or
arranging secondary mortgage loans. If the funding lender absorbs the expense
of the referral fee paid to the originating lender and the borrower pays the
same basic interest rate and the same amount of prepaid interest regardless of
which authorized lender makes the loan, the lender may pay a licensed lender
(broker) a fee."
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions.
|
| Broker Points |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Not chargeable to the borrower.
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner in a letter to Secondary Mortgage
Lenders dated December 31, 1981, expressly states "Brokerage fees are not
authorized."
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Interpretive Letter 88-1, dated January
18, 1988, explains that brokers must be licensed under Article Chapter 3A) if
they are in the business of making, negotiating, or arranging secondary
mortgage loans. If the funding lender absorbs the expense of the referral fee
paid to the originating lender and the borrower pays the same basic interest
rate and the same amount of prepaid interest regardless of which authorized
lender makes the loan, then the lender may pay a licensed lender (broker) a
fee."
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Closing Agent Fee
(Escrow Fee) |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary because the Title Companies, typically selected by
the seller or the real estate agent, normally conduct residential loan
closings. |
Not allowed if interest rate on loan is above 10%.
Otherwise fee is permissible. TFC 342.308. |
| Commitment Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
in a letter to Secondary Mortgage Lenders dated December 31, 1981, expressly
states "Commitment fees are not authorized." |
| Copy Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| Courier Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed if interest rate on loan is above 10%.
Otherwise fee is permissible. TFC 342.308. |
| Credit Investigation Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| Credit Report Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(5) allows the
"reasonable cost of any credit report."
Maximum Fee: "reasonable cost."
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
| Disbursement Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary because the Title Companies, typically selected by
the seller or the real estate agent, normally conduct residential loan
closings. |
Not allowed. |
| Discount Points |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Interpretive
letter 81-9 dated July 14, 1981. According to an unpublished letter from the
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner dated December 1, 1981, points,
origination fees and discounts may be charged as interest provided that, when
added to the other interest and amortized over the term of the loan, the yield
to the lender does not exceed the allowable interest rate at the time the loan
was made."
Now Texas Finance Code.
Maximum Fee: Limited by Texas usury.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
| Document Preparation Fee |
Allowed, but the documents must be drawn by a
licensed attorney. See "Attorney's Fee" above.
Maximum Fee: None
Customary Fee: $200.00 to $500.00 |
Allowed, but the documents must be drawn by a
licensed attorney not a salaried employee of the lender and if the fees are
evidenced by a statement for services rendered." See "Attorney's
Fee" above.
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee."
Customary Fee: $200.00 to $500.00. |
| Document Redraw Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by contract and reason for redraw. |
Not allowed. |
| Fax Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Actual Cost. |
Not allowed. |
| Federal Express Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Actual Fee charged. |
Not allowed. |
| Fee for providing Amortization Schedule |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual cost of providing schedule. |
Not allowed. |
| Flood Certification Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Allowed fees: Texas Finance Code Section
342.308(a)(8) if "incurred to comply with a federally mandated
program." |
| Funding Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by investor. |
Not allowed. |
| Late Charges |
There are no restrictions on late fees.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The Fannie Mae standard of 5% after 15 days. |
Late charges may not exceed 5% of any installment not
paid for 10 days or more following the date the payment is due. Late charges
shall not be collected more than once on the same installment. Texas Finance
Code Section 342.302. |
| Lender Inspection Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Borrower may pay only if interest rate is 10% or
less. |
| Lock in Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Not allowed. |
| Notary Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary because title companies normally conduct
residential closings. |
Not allowed. |
| NSF Fee |
Allowed under Texas Occupations and Business Code
Article 9022 of Title 132. "Processing fee by holder of dishonored
check" provides as follows:
"(a) The holder of a check or its assignee, agent, representative, or any
other person retained by the holder to seek collection of the face value of the
dishonored check on return of the check to the holder following its dishonor by
a payor may charge the drawer or endorser a reasonable processing fee, which
shall not exceed $25..."
Maximum Fee: $25.00.
Customary Fee: $25.00 |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.502(d) allows same fee
as allowed by Article 9022 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes i.e $25.00.
Maximum Fee: $25.00
Customary Fee: $25.00 |
| Origination Fee or Points |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
According to a letter from the Office of Consumer
Credit Commission dated July 14, 1981, points, origination fees and discounts
may be charged as interest provided that, when added to the other interest and
amortized over the term of the loan, the yield to the lender does not exceed
the allowable interest rate at the time the loan was made.
Maximum Fee: Limited by the states usury law.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
| Points |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Interpretive
letter 81-9 dated July 14, 1981. According to an unpublished letter from the
Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner dated December 31, 1981, points,
origination fees and discounts may be charged as interest provided that, when
added to the other interest and amortized over the term of the loan, the yield
to the lender does not exceed the allowable interest rate at the time the loan
was made."
Maximum Fee: Limited by Texas usury law.
Customary Fee: Determined by market conditions. |
| State Maximum Prepayment Penalty |
Texas Finance Code Section 302.102 prohibits
prepayment penalties on residential mortgage loans secured by the homestead of
the borrower if the interest rate on the loan is greater than 12% unless the
charge or penalty is required by an agency created by federal law.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| Processing Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: $150.00 to $300.00. |
Not allowed. Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
Interpretive Letter 87-5, dated December 9, 1987.* |
| Recording Fee |
Allowed.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(3) allows
"charges prescribed by law that are paid to public officials for
determining the existence of a security interest or for perfecting, releasing,
or satisfying a security interest."
|
| Release Fees |
Allowed.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee paid to a government entity for recording the
release. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308 (a)(3) allows
"charges prescribed by law that are paid to public officials for
determining the existence of a security interest or for perfecting, releasing,
or satisfying a security interest."
|
| Review Appraisal Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. See "Appraisal Fee." |
| Satisfaction Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual cost incurred in preparing and recording the release. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(3) allows
"charges prescribed by law that are paid to public officials for
determining the existence of a security interest or for perfecting, releasing,
or satisfying a security interest."
See "Release fee." |
| Servicing Release Premium |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| State Specific Tax Fees on Mortgage Transactions |
None. |
None. |
| Tax Service Fee |
Allowed.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Not allowed |
| Transfer Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| Underwriting Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: $100.00 to $300.00. |
Not allowed. |
| Warehouse Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
Not allowed. |
| Wire Fee |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Not allowed. |
| Title Examination, Title Insurance and Title Search
Fees |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fees charged. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(1)(A) and (B)
allow "reasonable fees for title examination and preparation of an
abstract of title by an attorney who is not an employee of the lender; or a
title company or property search company authorized to do business in this
state; or premiums or fees for title insurance or title search for the benefit
of the mortgagee, and, at the mortgagee's option, for title insurance or title
search for the benefit of the mortgagor."
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee." |
| Survey Fees |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(6) allows
"reasonable fees for a survey of real property offered as security for the
loan prepared by a registered surveyor who is not a salaried employee of the
lender."
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee."
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
| Federally Mandated Program Fees |
Allowed. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(8) allows
"reasonable fees relating to real property offered as security for the
loan that are incurred to comply with a federally mandated program if the
collection of the fees or the participation in the program is required by a
federal agency."
Maximum Fee: "a reasonable fee."
Customary Fee: The required fees. |
| Trustee Fees |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
|
Texas Finance Code Section 342.307 allows
"reasonable fees or charges paid to the trustee in connection with a deed
of trust or similar instrument executed in connection with the secondary
mortgage loan, including fees for enforcing the lien against or posting for
sale, selling, or releasing the property secured by the deed of trust."
This fee must be expressly provided for in the loan contract.
Maximum Fee: a "reasonable fee." |
| Mortgage Protection Insurance |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: The actual fee charged. |
Texas Finance Code Section 342.308(a)(7) allows
premiums for "other insurance that protects the mortgagee against default
by the mortgagor, the benefits of which are applied in whole or in part to
reduce or extinguish the loan balance." |
| Seller Points |
Not regulated.
Maximum Fee: None.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |
If a lender is to receive seller points, such
compensation must be considered as part of the interest received on the loan.
Since seller points are received at the time of the loan they should be
considered as prepaid interest in calculating the interest rate on the contract
for the purpose of determining whether the rate charged is within the lawful
interest rate ceiling. Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Interpretive
Letter 82-14 dated July 20, 1982*
Maximum Fee.
Customary Fee: Not customary. |