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Thursday, March 26, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Businesses devastated by quarantine should proactively negotiate forbearances with their lenders to avoid foreclosure and monetary judgments.
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On March 24, 2020, the details of NYS’ COVID-19 mortgage help came to light.
Specifically, the New York State Department of Financial Services promulgated 3 NYCRR 119 in response to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.9.
Here is a Q&A about the details:
What is the COVID-19 Relief Program?
The COVID-19 Relief Program requires DFS regulated institutions to make applications for a 90-day forbearance of any payment due on a residential mortgage of New York Property to individuals residing in New York and who demonstrates financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How long is the Program effective?
The Program shall be in effect until June 19, 2020, but may be extended if necessary.
Are mortgage payments waived under the Program?
The Program does not expressly require institutions to waive mortgage payments.
When can a borrower apply for the Program?
On or before April 3, 2020, regulated institutions are required to e-mail, publish on their website, mass mail, or broadly communicate to customers how to apply for COVID-19 relief and provide their contact information.
Which institutions are covered under the Program?
Specifically, the New York State Department of Financial Services promulgated 3 NYCRR 119 in response to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.9.
Here is a Q&A about the details:
What is the COVID-19 Relief Program?
The COVID-19 Relief Program requires DFS regulated institutions to make applications for a 90-day forbearance of any payment due on a residential mortgage of New York Property to individuals residing in New York and who demonstrates financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How long is the Program effective?
The Program shall be in effect until June 19, 2020, but may be extended if necessary.
Are mortgage payments waived under the Program?
The Program does not expressly require institutions to waive mortgage payments.
When can a borrower apply for the Program?
On or before April 3, 2020, regulated institutions are required to e-mail, publish on their website, mass mail, or broadly communicate to customers how to apply for COVID-19 relief and provide their contact information.
Which institutions are covered under the Program?
DFS-regulated institutions are covered under the Program. They are New York regulated banking organizations covered by the New York Banking Law and all New York regulated mortgage servicers regulated by DFS. This means that the program does not cover National Association lenders (federally charted banks). The Program does not apply to mortgage loans made, insured, or securitized by the United States, Government Sponsored Enterprise, Federal Home Loan Bank, and lenders, issuers, servicers or trustees of such loans, as well as, servicers for the Government National Mortgage Associations.
Does the Program cover commercial loans?
The Program does not apply to any commercial mortgage or other loans not described in 3 NYCRR 119.
Aside from a 90-day forbearance, is there additional relief available under the Program?
From today until June 19, 2020, or until extended, lenders will provide the following relief to individuals who experience financial hardship from COVID-19:
Who is qualified to receive COVID-19 relief?
Regulated institutions must develop their own clear, easy to understand, and reasonably tailored criteria for assessing qualified individuals. The qualifications and process for applying for relief should be published by institutions on or before April 3, 2020.
How are applications processed under the Program?
Regulated institutions are required to develop and implement procedures for expedited processing where they must process and respond to requests immediately and no later than 10 days of receipt of all information reasonably required to process the application. All determinations must be communicated to the applicant in writing and must explain the reasons if the application was denied and a statement that the applicant may file a complaint with DFS if he believes the application was wrongly denied.
Is the Program ready to launch?
More clarity concerning the Program is expected once regulated institutions have published their process for applying for relief. Individuals who are seeking mortgage assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged retain counsel as soon as possible to negotiate with their mortgage lenders or servicers. Don’t assume you qualify and get all terms in writing before you stop making mortgage payments.
Does the Program cover commercial loans?
The Program does not apply to any commercial mortgage or other loans not described in 3 NYCRR 119.
Aside from a 90-day forbearance, is there additional relief available under the Program?
From today until June 19, 2020, or until extended, lenders will provide the following relief to individuals who experience financial hardship from COVID-19:
- Waive fees for use of automated teller machines (ATMs);
- Waive overdraft fees; and
- Waive credit card late payment fees.
Who is qualified to receive COVID-19 relief?
Regulated institutions must develop their own clear, easy to understand, and reasonably tailored criteria for assessing qualified individuals. The qualifications and process for applying for relief should be published by institutions on or before April 3, 2020.
How are applications processed under the Program?
Regulated institutions are required to develop and implement procedures for expedited processing where they must process and respond to requests immediately and no later than 10 days of receipt of all information reasonably required to process the application. All determinations must be communicated to the applicant in writing and must explain the reasons if the application was denied and a statement that the applicant may file a complaint with DFS if he believes the application was wrongly denied.
Is the Program ready to launch?
More clarity concerning the Program is expected once regulated institutions have published their process for applying for relief. Individuals who are seeking mortgage assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged retain counsel as soon as possible to negotiate with their mortgage lenders or servicers. Don’t assume you qualify and get all terms in writing before you stop making mortgage payments.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
As of March 24, 2020, both the Nassau County and Suffolk County Clerks have suspended in-person access to their offices. As previously reported on our blog, the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts has ordered that county clerks shall no longer accept any filings, electronic or otherwise. It's still an open question whether this precludes the electronic recording of documents, but there is no doubt that title insurance is a whole lot more complicated right now.
How will your title insurer examine title and issue a policy if they cannot pull non-electronic records? While some clerks have a more robust electronic system than others, can title insurers be confident that the records are up to date given limited staffing and restrictions on filing?
What about the period between closing of title and the recording of your deed? It has always been theoretically (and unfortunately in some instances, actually possible) for a grantor to encumber title to the property you just bought after your title insurer had already performed its search, cleared for closing, and locked in its policy. If there is an even further extended period between closing and recording due to coronavirus closures, it is more vital than ever to ensure that you are protected against these unseen encumbrances.
Traditionally this "GAP Period" requires a special endorsement that protects the purchaser against encumbrances that occur after closing but before the deed is recorded, but will title insurers be willing to insure such an unknown and potentially length time period?
If you are closing in the next few weeks, make sure your attorney has all these questions answered.
How will your title insurer examine title and issue a policy if they cannot pull non-electronic records? While some clerks have a more robust electronic system than others, can title insurers be confident that the records are up to date given limited staffing and restrictions on filing?
What about the period between closing of title and the recording of your deed? It has always been theoretically (and unfortunately in some instances, actually possible) for a grantor to encumber title to the property you just bought after your title insurer had already performed its search, cleared for closing, and locked in its policy. If there is an even further extended period between closing and recording due to coronavirus closures, it is more vital than ever to ensure that you are protected against these unseen encumbrances.
Traditionally this "GAP Period" requires a special endorsement that protects the purchaser against encumbrances that occur after closing but before the deed is recorded, but will title insurers be willing to insure such an unknown and potentially length time period?
If you are closing in the next few weeks, make sure your attorney has all these questions answered.
Beyond injuring others and being a terrible person, have you looked-up the exposure for violating Executive Order 202.8.
To remind you, 202.8 is what provides, in pertinent part, that "[e]ach employer shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 100% no later than March 22 at 8 p.m."
As to exposure for violating 202.8, it provides that "[a]ny business violating the above order shall be subject to enforcement as if this were a violation of an order pursuant to section 12 of the Public Health Law." Then, section 12 of the Public Health Law provides for "a civil penalty of not to exceed two thousand dollars for every such violation" for the first violation and a penalty "not to exceed five thousand dollars for a subsequent violation." However, if your violation "results in serious physical harm to any patient or patients, the penalty is "not to exceed ten thousand dollars."
So, if you infect someone, you are getting charged with a $10K penalty per violation.
Oh, by the way, the State can also get an injunction against your continued violations and potentially shut down your business, remote or otherwise, with that injunction.
Don't be crazy and ignore the order. Instead, if you believe you are essential, apply for a designation here.
To remind you, 202.8 is what provides, in pertinent part, that "[e]ach employer shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 100% no later than March 22 at 8 p.m."
As to exposure for violating 202.8, it provides that "[a]ny business violating the above order shall be subject to enforcement as if this were a violation of an order pursuant to section 12 of the Public Health Law." Then, section 12 of the Public Health Law provides for "a civil penalty of not to exceed two thousand dollars for every such violation" for the first violation and a penalty "not to exceed five thousand dollars for a subsequent violation." However, if your violation "results in serious physical harm to any patient or patients, the penalty is "not to exceed ten thousand dollars."
So, if you infect someone, you are getting charged with a $10K penalty per violation.
Oh, by the way, the State can also get an injunction against your continued violations and potentially shut down your business, remote or otherwise, with that injunction.
Don't be crazy and ignore the order. Instead, if you believe you are essential, apply for a designation here.
