Prohibition on transfer fees and covenants

(a)

Prohibition

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after section 12 (12 U.S.C. 2610) the following new section:

13.

Prohibition on transfer fees and covenants

(a)

Transfer fee covenants after effective date

No person shall demand or accept a transfer fee pursuant to a transfer fee covenant that is recorded in any State if the transfer for which the transfer fee is imposed involves a federally related mortgage loan and such transfer occurs after the effective date under section 3 of the Homeowner Equity Protection Act of 2010. No person shall enforce or seek to enforce any lien purporting to secure the payment of a transfer fee pursuant to a transfer fee covenant recorded in any State in connection with any transfer involving a federally related mortgage loan if such transfer occurs after such effective date. (b)

Coordination with State law

No provision of State law or regulation that imposes more stringent limitations on transfer fees or transfer fee covenants shall be construed as being inconsistent with this section. (c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1)

Covered association

The term covered association means a nonprofit, mandatory membership organization comprised of owners of homes, condominiums, cooperatives, manufactured homes, or any interest in real property, created pursuant to a declaration, covenant, or other applicable law. (2)

State

The term State means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (3)

Transfer

The term transfer means, with respect to real property, the sale, gift, grant, conveyance, assignment, inheritance, or other transfer of an interest in the real property. (4)

Transfer fee

The term transfer fee means a fee or charge imposed by a transfer fee covenant, except that such term shall not include any tax, assessment, fee, or charge imposed by a governmental authority pursuant to applicable laws, regulations, or ordinances. (5)

Transfer fee covenant

(A)

In general

The term transfer fee covenant means a provision in a document relating to the transfer of specified residential real property located in any State and designed principally for the occupancy of from one to four families, whether recorded or not and however denominated, that— (i)purports to run with the land or bind current owners of, or successors in title to such real property; and (ii)obligates a transferee or transferor of all or part of the property to pay a fee or charge to a third person upon transfer of an interest in all or part of the property, or in consideration for permitting any such transfer. (B)

Exclusions

Such term shall not include— (i)any provision of a purchase contract, option, mortgage, security agreement, real property listing agreement, or other agreement that obligates one party to the agreement to pay the other, as full or partial consideration for the agreement or for a waiver of rights under the agreement, an amount determined by the agreement, if such amount— (I)is payable on a one-time basis only upon the next transfer of an interest in the specified real property and, once paid, shall not bind successors in title to the property; (II)constitutes a loan assumption or similar fee charged by a lender holding a lien on the property; or (III)constitutes a fee or commission paid to a licensed real estate broker for brokerage services rendered in connection with the transfer of the property for which the fee or commission is paid; (ii)any provision in a deed, memorandum, or other document recorded for the purpose of providing record notice of an agreement described in clause (i); (iii)any provision of a document requiring payment of a fee, charge, assessment, dues, fine, contribution, or other amount payable to a covered association pursuant to a declaration or covenant or law applicable to such covered association, including fees or charges payable for estoppel letters or certificates issued by the covered association or its authorized agent; or (iv)any provision of a document requiring payment of a fee or charge to an organization described in paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to be used exclusively to support cultural, educational, charitable, recreational, environmental, conservation, or other similar activities benefitting the real property affected by the provision or the community of which the property is a part. (d)

Remedies

(1)

Penalties

Any person or persons who violate this section shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (2)

Joint and several liability; treble damages

Any person or persons who violate the prohibitions or limitations of this section shall be jointly and severally liable to the person or persons charged for the transfer fee involved in the violation in an amount equal to three times the amount of any such transfer fee involved. (3)

Actions by Secretary and State officials

The Secretary, the Attorney General of any State, or the insurance commissioner of any State may bring an action to enjoin violations of this section. (4)

Court costs and attorneys fees

In any private action brought pursuant to this subsection, the court may award to the prevailing party the court costs of the action together with reasonable attorneys fees.

(b)

Jurisdiction of courts

Section 16 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2614) is amended by striking or 9 each place such term appears and inserting , 9, or 13.