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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".20" citation="COMAR 09.03.06.20" title_num="09" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="06" heading="Duty of Care.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Good Faith and Fair Dealing. A licensee has a duty of good faith and fair dealing in communications, transactions, and course of dealings with a borrower in connection with the advertisement, solicitation, making, servicing, purchase, or sale of any mortgage loan, including, but not limited to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The duty to recommend to a borrower or induce a borrower to enter into only a mortgage loan refinancing that has a net tangible benefit to a borrower, considering all of the circumstances, including the terms of a loan, the cost of a loan, and the borrower's circumstances;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The duty to provide to a borrower who is offered a higher-priced mortgage loan information about the non-higher-priced mortgage loans that the licensee can make available and for which the borrower may qualify; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The duty when servicing mortgage loans to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Promptly provide borrowers with an accurate accounting of the debt owed when borrowers request an accounting;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Make borrowers in default aware of loss mitigation options and services offered by the licensee;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Provide trained personnel and telephone facilities sufficient to promptly answer and respond to borrower inquiries regarding their mortgage loans; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Pursue loss mitigation when possible.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Method to Determine Net Tangible Benefit.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>When determining whether a refinance of a mortgage loan will provide a net tangible benefit to the borrower, a licensee shall make a reasonable inquiry of the borrower to determine what net tangible benefit, if any, the borrower will receive from a mortgage loan. Net tangible benefits may include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Obtaining a lower interest rate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Obtaining a lower monthly payment, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Obtaining a shorter amortization schedule;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Changing from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Eliminating a negative amortization feature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Eliminating a balloon payment feature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Receiving cash-out from the new loan in an amount greater than all closing costs incurred in connection with the loan;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Avoiding foreclosure;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Eliminating private mortgage insurance; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Consolidating other existing loans into a new mortgage loan.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A licensee is considered to have conducted a reasonable inquiry of whether a refinance of a mortgage loan provides a net tangible benefit to a borrower if the mortgage lender has the borrower complete and sign a net tangible benefit worksheet on the form prescribed by the Commissioner, or a form that is substantially similar to the form prescribed by the Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>