FTC Extends Watch on Shady Mortgage Ads for Consumer Protection
Published Date: 1/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Trade Commission wants to keep collecting info about mortgage ads for three more years to make sure companies play fair. This affects businesses that advertise home loans and helps protect consumers from tricky ads. If you have thoughts, speak up by February 23, 2026—no extra costs, just keeping the rules rolling smoothly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Specific Records Firms Must Retain
Covered persons must retain (1) copies of materially different commercial communications and related materials about any term of any mortgage credit product they made or disseminated, (2) documents describing or evidencing all mortgage credit products available to consumers during the relevant time period, and (3) documents describing or evidencing additional products or services offered with those mortgage products. Failure to keep such records is an independent violation of the Rule.
Three-Year Extension of Reg N Recordkeeping
The FTC is asking OMB to extend for three years the Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for the Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule (Regulation N). The current clearance expires on February 28, 2026, and comments on the extension are due by February 23, 2026.
Recordkeeping Burden Focused on Lead Generators
The FTC identifies lead generators and rate aggregators as likely respondents who may not already keep the required records and thus will be subject to the information-collection burden. The estimate allocates 1,000 likely respondents and about 3 hours per respondent per year.
Estimated Annual Hours and Labor Cost
For the FTC's share of Regulation N enforcement, the agency estimates an annual burden of 1,500 hours and an annual labor cost burden of $31,515 (calculated as 1,500 hours × $21.01 per hour). The underlying calculation derives from 1,000 likely respondents × ~3 hours each = 3,000 hours, of which the FTC's allotted PRA burden is 1,500 hours.
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Key Dates
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Next: 2026-01233, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
The Federal Trade Commission wants to keep collecting info under a rule they share with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for three more years. This affects about 120 businesses who must keep records and submit reports, with no new costs or big changes. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until March 24, 2026, to speak up!