visions of this title with respect to mortgages insured under section 203 as hereinafter provided, and there shall be allocated immediately to such Fund the sum of $10,000,000 out of funds made available to the Administrator for the purposes of this title.

INSURANCE OF MORTGAGES

SEC. 203.12 (a) The Administrator is authorized, upon application by the mortgagee, to insure as hereinafter provided any mortgage offered to him which is eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided, and, upon such terms as the Administrator may prescribe, to make commitments for the insuring of such mortgages prior to the date of their execution or disbursement thereon: Provided, That the aggregate amount of principal obligations of all mortgages insured under this title and outstanding at any one time shall not exceed $4,000,000,000 except that with the approval of the President such aggregate amount may be increased to not to exceed $5,000,000,000: Provided further, That the aggregate amount of principal obligations of all mortgages that cover property the construction of which was completed more than one year prior to the date of the application for insurance, and that are insured under this title after June 3, 1939, and outstanding at any one time shall not exceed 35 per centum of the total amount of the principal obligations of mortgages with respect to which insurance may be granted under this title after such date: Provided further, That on and after July 1, 1944, no mortgages shall be insured under this title except mortgages that cover property which is approved for mortgage insurance prior to the completion of the construction of such property, or which has been previously covered by a mortgage insured by the Administrator. (b) To be eligible for insurance under this section a mortgage

shall—

(1) Have been made to, and be held by, a mortgagee approved by the Administrator as responsible and able to service the mortgage properly.

(2) Involve a principal obligation (including such initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Administrator shall approve) in an amount

(A) not to exceed $16,000 and not to exceed 80 per centum of the appraised value (as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance) of a property upon which there is located a dwelling or dwellings designed principally for residential use for not more than four families in the aggregate, irrespective of whether such dwelling or dwellings have a party wall or are otherwise physically connected with another dwelling or dwellings, or

(B) not to exceed $5,400 and not to exceed 90 per centum of the appraised value (as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance) of a property, urban, suburban, or rural, upon which there is located a dwelling designed principally for a single-family residence (i) the construction of which is begun after the date of enactment of the National Housing

12 As amended by acts approved February 3, 1938 (52 Stat. 8, c. 13); June 3, 1939 (53 Stat. 804, c. 175); and June 28, 1941 (Public, No. 138, 77th Congress).

Act Amendments of 1938 and which is approved for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction, or (ii) the construction of which was begun after January 1, 1937, and prior to the date of enactment of the National Housing Amendments of 1938, and which has not been sold or occupied since completion: Provided, That with respect to mortgages insured under this paragraph the mortgagor shall be the owner and occupant of the property at the time of the insurance and shall have paid on account of the property at least 10 per centum of the appraised value in cash or its equivalent, or

(C) not to exceed $8,600, and not to exceed the sum of (i) 90 per centum of $6,000 of the appraised value (as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance) and (ii) 80 per centum of such value in excess of $6,000 and not in excess of $10,000, of a property of the character described in paragraph (2) (B) of this subsection and subject to the same limitations and conditions which apply to such property.

(3) Have a maturity satisfactory to the Administrator, but not to exceed twenty years from the date of the insurance of the mortgage: Provided, That a mortgage of the character described in paragraph (2) (B) of this subsection shall be eligible for insurance under this section if it has a maturity satisfactory to the Administrator, but not to exceed twenty-five years from the date of the insurance of the mortgage.

(4) Contain complete amortization provisions satisfactory to the Administrator requiring periodic payments by the mortgagor not in excess of his reasonable ability to pay as determined by the Administrator.

(5) Bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insurance) at not to exceed 5 per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time, or not to exceed 6 per centum per annum if the Administrator finds that in certain areas or under special circumstances the mortgage market demands it.

(6) Provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Administrator, for the application of the mortgagor's periodic payments (exclusive of the amount allocated to interest and to the premium charge which is required for mortgage insurance as hereinafter provided) to amortization of the principal of the mortgage.

(7) Contain such terms and provisions with respect to insurance, repairs, alterations, payment of taxes, default reserves, delinquency charges, foreclosure proceedings, anticipation of maturity, additional and secondary liens, and other matters as the Administrator may in his discretion prescribe.

(c) The Administrator is authorized to fix a premium charge for the insurance of mortgages under this title but in the case of any mortgage such charge shall not be less than an amount equivalent to one-half of 1 per centum per annum nor more than an amount equivalent to 1 per centum per annum of the amount of the principal obligation of the mortgage outstanding at any time, without taking into account delinquent payments or prepayments: Provided, That

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a premium charge so fixed and computed shall also be applicable to each mortgage insured prior to the date of enactment of the National Housing Act Amendments of 1938 in lieu of any premium charge which would otherwise become due after such date with respect to such mortgage: Provided further, That in the case of any mortgage described in section 203 (b) (2) (B) and accepted for insurance after such date and prior to July 1, 1939, the premium charge shall be onefourth of 1 per centum per annum on such outstanding principal obligation. Such premium charges shall be payable by the mortgagee, either in cash, or in debentures issued by the Administrator under this title at par plus accrued interest, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Administrator: Provided, That the Administrator may require the payment of one or more such premium charges at the time the mortgage is insured, at such discount rate as he may prescribe not in excess of the interest rate specified in the mortgage. If the Administrator finds upon the presentation of a mortgage for insurance and the tender of the initial premium charge or charges so required that the mortgage complies with the provisions of this section, such mortgage may be accepted for insurance by endorsement or otherwise as the Administrator may prescribe; but no mortgage shall be accepted for insurance under this section unless the Administrator finds that the project with respect to which the mortgage is executed is economically sound. In the event that the principal obligation of any mortgage accepted for insurance under this section or section 210 is paid in full prior to the maturity date, the Administrator is further authorized in his discretion to require the payment by the mortgagee of an adjusted premium charge in such amount as the Administrator determines to be equitable, but not in excess of the aggregate amount of the premium charges that the mortgagee would otherwise have been required to pay if the mortgage had continued to be insured under this section until such maturity date; and in the event that the principal obligation is paid in full as herein set forth, and a mortgage on the same property is accepted for insurance at the time of such payment, the Administrator is authorized to refund to the mortgagee for the account of the mortgagor all, or such portion as he shall determine to be equitable, of the current unearned premium charges theretofore paid.

(d) The Administrator is authorized to insure, pursuant to the provisions of this section, any mortgage which (A) covers a farm upon which a farm house or other farm buildings are to be constructed or repaired, and (B) otherwise would be eligible for insurance under the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section: Provided, That the construction and repairs to be undertaken on such farm shall involve the expenditure for materials and labor of an amount not less than 15 per centum of the total principal obligation of said mortgage.

(e) Any contract of insurance heretofore or hereafter executed by the Administrator under this title shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the mortgage for insurance, and the validity of any contract of insurance so executed shall be incontestable in the hands of an approved mortgagee from the date of the execution of such contract, except for fraud or misrepresentation on the part of such approved mortgagee.

(f) No mortgage which in whole or in part refinances a then existing mortgage shall be insured under this section unless the mortgagor files with the application his certificate to the Administrator that prior to the making of the application the mortgagor applied to the holder of such existing mortgage for such refinancing and that, after reasonable opportunity such holder failed or refused to make a loan of a like amount and on as favorable terms as those of the loan secured by the mortgage offered for insurance after taking into account amortization provisions, commission, interest rate, mortgage insurance premium, and costs to the mortgagor for legal services, appraisal fees, title expenses, and similar charges.

PAYMENT OF INSURANCE

SEC. 204.13 (a) In any case in which the mortgagee under a mortgage insured under section 203 or section 210 shall have foreclosed and taken possession of the mortgaged property in accordance with regulations of, and within a period to be determined by, the Administrator, or shall, with the consent of the Administrator, have otherwise acquired such property from the mortgagor after default, the mortgagee shall be entitled to receive the benefit of the insurance as hereinafter provided, upon (1) the prompt conveyance to the Administrator of title to the property which meets the requirements of rules and regulations of the Administrator in force at the time the mortgage was insured, and which is evidenced in the manner prescribed by such rules and regulations, and (2) the assignment to him of all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagor or others, arising out of the mortgage transaction or foreclosure proceedings, except such claims as may have been released with the consent of the Administrator. Upon such conveyance and assignment the obligation of the mortgagee to pay the premium charges for insurance shall cease and the Administrator shall, subject to the cash adjustment hereinafter provided, issue to the mortgagee debentures having a total face value equal to the value of the mortgage and a certificate of claim, as hereinafter provided. For the purposes of this subsection, the value of the mortgage shall be determined, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Administrator, by adding to the amount of the original principal obligation of the mortgage which was unpaid on the date of the institution. of foreclosure proceedings, or on the date of the acquisition of the property after default other than by foreclosure, the amount of all payments which have been made by the mortgagee for taxes, ground rents, and water rates, which are liens prior to the mortgage, special assessments which are noted on the application for insurance or which become liens after the insurance of the mortgage, insurance on the mortgaged property, and any mortgage insurance premiums paid after either of such dates, and by deducting from such total amount any amount received on account of the mortgage after either of such dates, and any amount received as rent or other income from the property, less reasonable expenses incurred in handling the property, after either of such dates: Provided, That with respect to mortgages which are accepted for insurance prior to July 1, 1944, under section 203 (b)

13 As amended by acts approved May 28, 1935 (49 Stat. 293, c. 150), February 3, 1938 (52 Stat. 8, c. 13); June 3, 1939 (53 Stat. 804, c. 175), and June 28, 1941 (Public, No. 138, 77th Cong.).

(2) (B) of this Act, and which are foreclosed before there shall have been paid on account of the principal obligation of the mortgage a sum equal to 10 per centum of the appraised value of the property as of the date the mortgage was accepted for insurance, there may be included in the debentures issued by the Administrator, on account of foreclosure costs actually paid by the mortgagee and approved by the Administrator an amount not in excess of 2 per centum of the unpaid principal of the mortgage as of the date of the institution of foreclosure proceedings, but in no event in excess of $75.

(b) The Administrator may at any time, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, consent to the release of the mortgagor from his liability under the mortgage or the credit instrument secured thereby, or consent to the release of parts of the mortgaged property from the lien of the mortgage.

(c) Debentures issued under this section shall be in such form and denominations in multiples of $50, shall be subject to such terms and conditions, and shall include such provisions for redemption, if any, as may be prescribed by the Administrator with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and may be in coupon or registered form. Any difference between the value of the mortgage determined as herein provided and the aggregate face value of the debentures issued, not to exceed $50, shall be adjusted by the payment of cash by the Administrator to the mortgagee from the Fund as to mortgages insured under section 203 and from the Housing Fund as to mortgages insured under section 210.

(d) The debentures issued under this section to any mortgagee with respect to mortgages insured under section 203 shall be executed in the name of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund as obligor, shall be signed by the Administrator by either his written or engraved signature, and shall be negotiable and the debentures issued under this section to any mortgagee with respect to mortgages insured under section 210 shall be executed in the name of the Housing Insurance Fund as obligor, shall be signed by the Administrator by either his written or engraved signature, and shall be negotiable. All such debentures shall be dated as of the date foreclosure proceedings were instituted, or the property was otherwise acquired by the mortgagee after default, and shall bear interest from such date at a rate determined by the Administrator, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, at the time the mortgage was offered for insurance, but not to exceed 3 per centum per annum, payable semiannually on the 1st day of January and the 1st day of July of each year, and shall mature three years after the 1st day of July following the maturity date of the mortgage on the property in exchange for which the debentures were issued. Such debentures as are issued in exchange for property covered by mortgages insured under_section 203 or section 207 prior to the date of enactment of the National Housing Act Amendments of 1938 shall be subject only to such Federal, State, and local taxes as the mortgages in exchange for which they are issued would be subject to in the hands of the holder of the debentures and shall be a liability of the Fund, but such debentures shall be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States; but any mortgagee entitled to receive any such debentures may elect to receive in lieu thereof a cash adjustment and debentures issued as hereinafter provided and