Title 12 › Chapter 13— NATIONAL HOUSING › Subchapter X— NATIONAL DEFENSE HOUSING INSURANCE › § 1750c
Lenders who foreclose on or otherwise take a property after a borrower defaults can get mortgage insurance benefits if, under rules and within the time the Secretary sets, they promptly give clear title to the Secretary and assign their claims against the borrower (except claims the Secretary agreed to release). Once they do that and stop paying insurance premiums, the Secretary must give the lender debentures (bonds) equal to the mortgage’s value and a certificate of claim. The mortgage’s value is the unpaid principal at the start of foreclosure or acquisition plus lender-paid costs (like taxes, assessments, property insurance, and mortgage insurance premiums), minus amounts the lender has received later and net rental income after reasonable expenses. If foreclosure happens before 10 percent of the property’s appraised value has been paid toward principal, certain foreclosure costs paid by the lender may be added to the debentures but are limited: either up to 2 percent of the unpaid principal (and not over $75) or up to two-thirds of the cost, whichever is larger. For debentures issued on or after September 2, 1964, the Secretary may include, with the lender’s consent, up to one-third of total foreclosure and related costs, but never more than what the lender actually paid. For mortgages affected by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, the Secretary may add an amount to cover losses from delaying foreclosure during military service and for three months afterward. Debentures must be in multiples of $50, dated as of foreclosure or acquisition (or, for claims filed on or after September 2, 1964, dated as of default or a later date the Secretary sets), bear interest set when the mortgage was insured but not more than 3 percent per year paid January 1 and July 1, and mature in 20 years. Differences up to $350 between the mortgage value and debenture face value can be paid in cash from the General Insurance Fund. The debentures are issued in the name of the General Insurance Fund, are negotiable, tax-exempt (with certain exceptions), and fully guaranteed by the United States; if the Fund cannot pay, the Treasury will. The Secretary may manage, repair, rent, insure, sell, or otherwise handle properties and pursue assigned claims, using agents as needed and exempting some small purchases from certain procurement rules if under $1,000. Once property or claims are transferred to the Secretary, neither the lender nor the borrower retains rights in the property or any claim, and the Secretary owes them no duty about handling or selling it.
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Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 1750c
Title 12 — Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60