**1942**—Act May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §14(a), 56 Stat. 305, amended subchapter heading, substituting “WAR” for “DEFENSE”.

As used in this subchapter—

(a) The term “mortgage” means a first mortgage on real estate, in fee simple, or on a leasehold (1) under a lease for not less than ninety-nine years which is renewable; or (2) under a lease having a period of not less than fifty years to run from the date the mortgage was executed; and the term “first mortgage” means such classes of first liens as are commonly given to secure advances on, or the unpaid purchase price of, real estate, under the laws of the State in which the real estate is located, together with the credit instruments, if any, secured thereby.

(b) The term “mortgagee” includes the original lender under a mortgage, and his successors and assigns approved by the Secretary; and the term “mortgagor” includes the original borrower under a mortgage and his successors and assigns.

(c) The term “maturity date” means the date on which the mortgage indebtedness would be extinguished if paid in accordance with periodic payments provided for in the mortgage.

(d) The term “State” includes the several States, and Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §601, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 55; amended Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; July 14, 1952, ch. 723, §10(a)(2), 66 Stat. 603; Pub. L. 86–70, §10(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 142; Pub. L. 86–624, §6, July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 411; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

**1967**—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner”.

**1960**—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 88–624 struck out “Hawaii,” before “Puerto Rico”.

**1959**—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–70 struck out “Alaska,” before “Hawaii”.

**1952**—Subsec. (d). Act July 14, 1952, inserted “Guam,” after “District of Columbia,”.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Section 9 of act Mar. 28, 1941 provided that: “If any provision of this Act [enacting sections 1736 to 1742 of this title, and section 609k of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and amending sections 371, 1430, 1702, 1706, 1707, 1713, and 1715, 1716, 1717 of this title] or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.”

Section, act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §602, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 55; amended May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §14(b) 56 Stat. 305; June 30, 1947, ch. 166, title II, §206(*l*), 61 Stat. 208; 1947 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §3, eff. July 27, 1947, 12 F.R. 4981, 61 Stat. 954; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59, created the War Housing Insurance Fund.

For establishment of the General Insurance Fund, see section 1735c of this title.

In order to assist in relieving the acute shortage of housing which now exists and to increase the supply of housing accommodations available to veterans of World War II at prices within their reasonable ability to pay, the Secretary is authorized, upon application by the mortgagee, to insure as hereinafter provided any mortgage which is eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided, and, upon such terms as the Secretary may prescribe, to make commitments for the insuring of such mortgages prior to the date of their execution or disbursement thereon: *Provided*, That the aggregate amount of principal obligations of all mortgages insured under this subchapter shall not exceed $6,150,000,000 except that with the approval of the President such aggregate amount may be increased to not to exceed $6,650,000,000: *Provided further*, That no mortgage shall be insured under this section after April 30, 1948, except (A) pursuant to a commitment to insure issued on or before April 30, 1948, or (B) a mortgage given to refinance an existing mortgage insured under this section and which does not exceed the original principal amount and unexpired term of such existing mortgage, and no mortgage shall be insured under section 1743 of this title after March 1, 1950, except (i) pursuant to a commitment to insure issued on or before March 1, 1950, or (ii) a mortgage given to refinance an existing mortgage insured under section 1743 of this title and which does not exceed the original principal amount and unexpired term of such existing mortgage: *Provided further*, That no mortgage shall be insured under section 1743 of this title unless the mortgagor certifies under oath that in selecting tenants for the property covered by the mortgage he will not discriminate against any family by reason of the fact that there are children in the family, and that he will not sell the property while the insurance is in effect unless the purchaser so certifies, such certifications to be filed with the Secretary; and violation of any such certification shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not to exceed $500: *And provided further*, That the Secretary shall, in his discretion, have power to require the availability for rental purposes of properties covered by mortgages insured under this subchapter, in such instances and for such periods of time as he may prescribe.

Notwithstanding the first proviso of this subsection, mortgages may be insured under sections 1744 and 1746 of this title if the aggregate amounts of principal obligations of mortgages insured under said sections plus the aggregate amount of principal obligations of mortgages insured under section 1745 of this title do not exceed the limitation contained in said section 1745 upon the aggregate amount of principal obligations of mortgages insured pursuant to said section.

Notwithstanding the second proviso of this subsection, mortgages otherwise eligible for insurance under section 1743 of this title may be hereafter insured thereunder if the application for such insurance was received by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before March 1, 1950, and for such purpose the aggregate amount of principal obligations authorized to be insured under section 1743 of this title is increased by not to exceed $500,000,000.

To be eligible for insurance under this section a mortgage shall—

(1) have been made to, and be held by, a mortgagee approved by the Secretary as responsible and able to service the mortgage properly;

(2) involve a principal obligation (including such initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Secretary shall approve) in an amount not to exceed 90 per centum of the Secretary's estimate of the value (as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance), except that as to applications received by the Secretary on or before March 31, 1948, the mortgage may involve a principal obligation in an amount not to exceed 90 per centum of the Secretary's estimate of the necessary current cost (including the land and such initial service charges and such appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Secretary shall approve); of a property, urban, suburban, or rural, upon which there is located a dwelling designed principally for residential use for not more than four families in the aggregate, which is approved for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction. The principal obligation of such mortgage shall in no event, however, exceed—

(A) $5,400 if such dwelling is designed for a single-family residence, or

(B) $7,500 if such dwelling is designed for a two-family residence, or

(C) $9,500 if such dwelling is designed for a three-family residence, or

(D) $12,000 if such dwelling is designed for a four-family residence:

*Provided*, That the Secretary may, if he finds that at any time or in any particular geographical area it is not feasible, within such limitations of maximum mortgage amounts, to construct dwellings without sacrifice of sound standards of construction, design, or livability, prescribe by regulation or otherwise higher maximum mortgage amounts not to exceed—

(A) $8,100 if such dwelling is designed for a single-family residence, or

(B) $12,500 if such dwelling is designed for a two-family residence, or

(C) $15,750 if such dwelling is designed for a three-family residence, or

(D) $18,000 if such dwelling is designed for a four-family residence.

(3) have a maturity satisfactory to the Secretary but not to exceed twenty-five years from the date of the insurance of the mortgage;

(4) contain complete amortization provisions satisfactory to the Secretary;

(5) bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insurance) at not to exceed 4 per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time;

(6) provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary, for the application of the mortgagor's periodic payments (exclusive of the amount allocated to interest and to the premium charge which is required for mortgage insurance as herein provided) to amortization of the principal of the mortgage; and

(7) contain such terms and provisions with respect to insurance, repairs, alterations, payment of taxes, default reserves, delinquency charges, foreclosure proceedings, anticipation of maturity, additional and secondary liens, and other matters as the Secretary may in his discretion prescribe.

The Secretary is authorized to fix a premium charge for the insurance of mortgages under this subchapter but in the case of any mortgage such charge shall not be less than an amount equivalent to one-half of 1 per centum per annum nor more than an amount equivalent to 1½ per centum per annum of the amount of the principal obligation of the mortgage outstanding at any time, without taking into account delinquent payments or prepayments. Such premium charges shall be payable by the mortgagee, either in cash, or in debentures issued by the Secretary under this subchapter at par plus accrued interest, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary: *Provided*, That the Secretary may require the payment of one or more such premium charges at the time the mortgage is insured, at such discount rate as he may prescribe not in excess of the interest rate specified in the mortgage. If the Secretary finds, upon the presentation of a mortgage for insurance and the tender of the initial premium charge and such other charges as the Secretary may require, that the mortgage complies with the provisions of this subchapter, such mortgage may be accepted for insurance by endorsement or otherwise as the Secretary may prescribe; but no mortgage shall be accepted for insurance under this subchapter unless the Secretary finds that the project with respect to which the mortgage is executed is an acceptable risk in view of the shortage of housing referred to in this section. In the event that the principal obligation of any mortgage accepted for insurance under this subchapter is paid in full prior to the maturity date, the Secretary is further authorized in his discretion to require the payment by the mortgagee of an adjusted premium charge in such amount as the Secretary determines to be equitable, but not in excess of the aggregate amount of the premium charges that the mortgagee would otherwise have been required to pay if the mortgage had continued to be insured under this subchapter until such maturity date; and in the event that the principal obligation is paid in full as herein set forth, the Secretary is authorized to refund to the mortgagee for the account of the mortgagor all, or such portion as he shall determine to be equitable, of the current unearned premium charges theretofore paid. The Secretary shall prescribe such procedures as in his judgment are necessary to secure to veterans of World War II, and their immediate families, and to hardship cases as defined by the Secretary, preference or priority of opportunity to purchase or rent properties covered by mortgages insured under this subchapter.

Any contract of insurance heretofore or hereafter executed by the Secretary under this subchapter shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the mortgage for insurance, and the validity of any contract of insurance so executed shall be incontestable in the hands of an approved mortgagee from the date of the execution of such contract, except for fraud or misrepresentation on the part of such approved mortgagee.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §603, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 56; amended Sept. 2, 1941, ch. 410, 55, Stat. 686; May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §§1–4, 14(b), 56 Stat. 301, 305; Mar. 23, 1943, ch. 21, §1, 57 Stat. 42; Oct. 15, 1943, ch. 259, §1, 57 Stat. 571; June 30, 1944, ch. 334, 58 Stat. 648; Mar. 31, 1945, ch. 48, §1, 59 Stat. 47; May 22, 1946, ch. 268, §10(a)–(d), 60 Stat. 212, 213; June 30, 1947, ch. 163, title I, §2, 61 Stat. 193; Aug. 5, 1947, ch. 495, §1, 61 Stat. 777; Dec. 27, 1947, ch. 525, §1, 61 Stat. 945; Mar. 31, 1948, ch. 165, §1(a)–(c), 62 Stat. 101; Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title I, §101(a), (k)(2), 62 Stat. 1268, 1273; Mar. 30, 1949, ch. 42, title III, §304, 63 Stat. 29; July 15, 1949, ch. 338, title II, §201(3), 63 Stat. 421; Aug. 30, 1949, ch. 524, 63 Stat. 681; Oct. 25, 1949, ch. 729, §1(4), 63 Stat. 905; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §§119, 122, 64 Stat. 57, 59; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(1), (3), (4), (n), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17, 19.)

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b)(1), (2), (b)(2)(D), (b)(3), (4), (6), (7), (c), and (d).

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(1), (n), substituted “Department of Housing and Urban Development” for “Federal Housing Administration” and “by” for “in any field office of” after “received”, in third par., respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(4), substituted “Secretary's” for “Commissioner's” wherever appearing.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, §122, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a). Act Apr. 20, 1950, §119, added last two pars.

**1949**—Subsec. (a). Joint Res. Oct. 25, 1949, substituted “$6,150,000,000” for “$5,750,000,000” and “$6,650,000,000” for “$6,150,000,000” in first proviso, and extended section to “March 1, 1950” by substituting the same for “October 31, 1949” in second proviso.

Act Aug. 30, 1949, extended section from “August 31, 1949” to “October 31, 1949”.

Act July 15, 1949, extended section from “June 30, 1949” to “August 31, 1949”.

Act Mar. 30, 1949, extended section from “March 30, 1949” to “June 30, 1949”.

**1948**—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 10, 1948, struck out “$5,350,000,000” and inserted in lieu thereof “$5,750,000,000 except that with the approval of the President such aggregate amount may be increased to not to exceed $6,150,000,000”, and struck out the second proviso and inserted in lieu thereof the present second proviso.

Act Mar. 31, 1948, increased the insurance authorization from $4,950,000,000 to $5,350,000,000, and provided for an extension from Mar. 31, 1948, to Apr. 30, 1948.

Subsec. (b)(2). Act Mar. 31, 1948, changed the emergency necessary current-cost formula to the appraised- value formula.

Subsec. (c). Act Aug. 10, 1948, struck out of next to last sentence “and a mortgage on the same property is accepted for insurance at the time of such payment”.

**1947**—Subsec. (a). Act Dec. 27, 1947, increased the mortgage obligation from $4,000,000,000 to $4,450,000,000, and increased the amount of obligation from $4,200,000,000 to $4,950,000,000 with the President's approval.

Act Aug. 5, 1947, increased mortgage obligation from $2,800,000,000 to $4,000,000,000 and the amount of obligation from $3,800,000,000 to $4,200,000,000 with the President's approval.

Act June 30, 1947, extended limitation dates in second proviso from June 30, 1947, to Mar. 31, 1948.

**1946**—Subsec. (a). Act May 22, 1946, amended provisions generally, and among other changes, increased the mortgage obligation from $1,800,000,000 to $2,800,000,000, and extended the limitation date from July 1, 1946, to June 30, 1947.

Subsec. (b)(2). Act May 22, 1946, amended provisions generally, and among other changes, inserted proviso.

Subsec. (b)(5). Act May 22, 1946, lowered interest rate from 5 to 4 per centum and struck out provision allowing Administrator to increase the rate in certain cases.

Subsec. (c). Act May 22, 1946, substituted “shortage of housing” for “emergency” in third sentence and amended last sentence.

**1945**—Subsec. (a). Act Mar. 31, 1945, increased the limit of obligations from $1,700,000,000 to $1,800,000,000 and extended the limitation date from 1945 to 1946.

**1944**—Subsec. (a). Act June 30, 1944, substituted “$1,700,000,000” for “$1,600,000,000” and inserted the provision contained in cl. (B).

**1943**—Subsec. (a). Act Oct. 15, 1943, substituted “$1,600,000,000” for “$1,200,000,000” and “July 1, 1945” for “July 1, 1944”.

Act Mar. 23, 1943, substituted “$1,200,000,000” for “$800,000,000” and “July 1, 1944” for “July 1, 1943”.

**1942**—Act May 21, 1942, §14(b), substituted “War” and “war” for “Defense” and “defense” wherever occurring.

Subsec. (a). Act May 26, 1942, §1, substituted “$800,000,000” for “$300,000,000”, among other changes.

Subsec. (b)(2). Act May 26, 1942, §2, increased limitations on amount of obligations.

Subsec. (b)(3). Act May 26, 1942, §3, substituted “twenty-five” for “twenty”.

Subsec. (c). Act May 26, 1942, §4, amended subsec. (c).

**1941**—Subsec. (a). Act Sept. 2, 1941, substituted “$300,000,000” for “$100,000,000”.

Amendment by act July 15, 1949, effective June 30, 1949, see section 202 of that act, set out as a note under section 1703 of this title.

Section 2 of act Dec. 27, 1947, provided: “Title VI of the National Housing Act, as amended [this subchapter], shall be employed to assist in maintaining a high volume of new residential construction without supporting unnecessary or artificial costs. In estimating necessary current cost for the purposes of said title, the Federal Housing Commissioner shall therefore use every feasible means to assure that such estimates will approximate as closely as possible the actual costs of efficient building operations.”

In any case in which the mortgagee under a mortgage insured under section 1738 of this title shall have foreclosed and taken possession of the mortgaged property, in accordance with regulations of, and within a period to be determined by, the Secretary, or shall, with the consent of the Secretary, have otherwise acquired such property from the mortgagor after default, the mortgagee shall be entitled to receive the benefit of the insurance as hereinafter provided, upon (1) the prompt conveyance to the Secretary of title to the property which meets the requirements of rules and regulations of the Secretary in force at the time the mortgage was insured, and which is evidenced in the manner prescribed by such rules and regulations; and (2) the assignment to him of all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagor or others, arising out of the mortgage transaction or foreclosure proceedings, except such claims as may have been released with the consent of the Secretary. Upon such conveyance and assignment the obligation of the mortgagee to pay the premium charges for insurance shall cease and the Secretary shall, subject to the cash adjustment hereinafter provided, issue to the mortgagee debentures having a total face value equal to the value of the mortgage and a certificate of claim, as hereinafter provided. For the purposes of this subsection, the value of the mortgage shall be determined, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary, by adding to the amount of the original principal obligation of the mortgage which was unpaid on the date of the institution of foreclosure proceedings, or on the date of the acquisition of the property after default other than by foreclosure, the amount of all payments which have been made by the mortgagee for taxes, ground rents, and water rates, which are liens prior to the mortgage, special assessments which are noted on the application for insurance or which become liens after the insurance of the mortgage, insurance of the mortgaged property, and any mortgage insurance premiums and by deducting from such total amount any amount received on account of the mortgage after either of such dates, and any amount received as rent or other income from the property, less reasonable expenses incurred in handling the property, after either of such dates: *Provided*, That with respect to mortgages which are foreclosed before there shall have been paid on account of the principal obligation of the mortgage a sum equal to 10 per centum of the appraised value of the property as of the date the mortgage was accepted for insurance, there may be included in the debentures issued by the Secretary, on account of the cost of foreclosure (or of acquiring the property by other means) actually paid by the mortgagee and approved by the Secretary an amount—

(1) not in excess of 2 per centum of the unpaid principal of the mortgage as of the date of the institution of foreclosure proceedings and not in excess of $75; or

(2) not in excess of two-thirds of such cost, whichever is the greater: *Provided further*, That with respect to any debentures issued on or after September 2, 1964, the Secretary may, with the consent of the mortgagee (in lieu of issuing a certificate of claim as provided in subsection (e) of this section), include in debentures, in addition to amounts otherwise allowed for such costs, an amount not to exceed one-third of the total foreclosure, acquisition, and conveyance costs actually paid by the mortgagee and approved by the Secretary, but in no event may the total allowance for such costs exceed the amount actually paid by the mortgagee: *And provided further*, That with respect to mortgages to which the provisions of sections 532 and 536 of the Appendix to title 50 1 apply and which are insured under section 1738 of this title and subject to such regulations and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, there shall be included in the debentures an amount which the Secretary finds to be sufficient to compensate the mortgagee for any loss which it may have sustained on account of interest on debentures and the payment of insurance premiums by reason of its having postponed the institution of foreclosure proceedings or the acquisition of the property by other means during any part or all of the period of such military service and three months thereafter.

The Secretary may at any time, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, consent to the release of the mortgagor from his liability under the mortgage or the credit instrument secured thereby, or consent to the release of parts of the mortgaged property from the lien of the mortgage: *Provided*, That the mortgagor shall not be released from such liability in any case until the Secretary is satisfied that the mortgaged property has been sold to a purchaser satisfactory to the Secretary, and that such purchaser has paid on account of the purchase price, in cash or its equivalent, at least 10 per centum of the Secretary's estimate of the value as of the date the mortgage is accepted for insurance.

Debentures issued under this subchapter shall be in such form and denominations in multiples of $50, shall be subject to such terms and conditions, and shall include such provisions for redemption, if any, as may be prescribed by the Secretary with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and may be in coupon or registered form. Any difference between the value of the mortgage determined as herein provided and the aggregate face value of the debentures issued, not to exceed $350, shall be adjusted by the payment of cash by the Secretary to the mortgagee from the General Insurance Fund.

The debenture issued under this section to any mortgagee shall be executed in the name of the General Insurance Fund as obligor, shall be signed by the Secretary by either his written or engraved signature, and shall be negotiable. All such debentures shall be dated as of the date foreclosure proceedings were instituted, or the property was otherwise acquired by the mortgagee after default, except that debentures issued pursuant to claims for insurance filed on or after September 2, 1964, shall be dated as of the date of default or as of such later date as the Secretary, in his discretion, may establish by regulation. The debentures shall bear interest from such date at a rate determined by the Secretary, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, at the time the mortgage was accepted for insurance, but not to exceed 3 per centum per annum, payable semiannually on the 1st day of January and the 1st day of July of each year. Such debentures as are issued in exchange for property covered by mortgages accepted for insurance under this section on or after May 26, 1942, shall mature ten years after the date thereof. Such debentures as are issued in exchange for property covered by mortgages accepted for insurance under this section prior to May 26, 1942, shall mature three years after the 1st day of July following the maturity date of the mortgage on the property in exchange for which the debentures were issued: *Provided*, That any mortgagee entitled to receive such debentures may elect to receive in lieu thereof debentures which shall mature ten years after the date thereof. Such debentures shall be exempt, both as to principal and interest, from all taxation (except surtaxes, estate, inheritance, and gift taxes) now or hereafter imposed by any Territory, dependency, or possession of the United States, or by the District of Columbia, or by any State, county, municipality, or local taxing authority, and shall be paid out of the General Insurance Fund, which shall be primarily liable therefor, and they shall be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States, and such guaranty shall be expressed on the face of the debentures. In the event that the General Insurance Fund fails to pay upon demand, when due, the principal of or interest on any debentures issued under this subchapter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the holders the amount thereof which is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and thereupon to the extent of the amount so paid the Secretary of the Treasury shall succeed to all the rights of the holders of such debentures.

The certificate of claim issued by the Secretary to any mortgagee shall be for an amount which the Secretary determines to be sufficient, when added to the face value of the debentures issued and the cash adjustment paid to the mortgagee, to equal the amount which the mortgagee would have received if, at the time of the conveyance to the Secretary of the property covered by the mortgage, the mortgagor had redeemed the property and paid in full all obligations under the mortgage and a reasonable amount for necessary expenses incurred by the mortgagee in connection with the foreclosure proceedings, or the acquisition of the mortgaged property otherwise, and the conveyance thereof to the Secretary. Each such certificate of claim shall provide that there shall accrue to the holder of such certificate with respect to the face amount of such certificate, an increment at the rate of 3 per centum per annum which shall not be compounded. The amount to which the holder of any such certificate shall be entitled shall be determined as provided in subsection (f) of this section.

(1) If, after deducting (in such manner and amount as the Secretary shall determine to be equitable and in accordance with sound accounting practice) the expenses incurred by the Secretary, the net amount realized from any property conveyed to the Secretary under this section and the claims assigned therewith exceed the face value of the debentures issued and the cash paid in exchange for such property plus all interest paid on such debentures, such excess shall be divided as follows:

(i) If such excess is greater than the total amount payable under the certificate of claim issued in connection with such property, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of such certificate the full amount so payable, and any excess remaining thereafter shall be paid to the mortgagor of such property: *Provided*, That on and after September 2, 1964, any excess remaining after payment to the holder of the full amount of the certificate of claim shall be retained by the Secretary and credited to the General Insurance Fund; and

(ii) If such excess is equal to or less than the total amount payable under such certificate of claim, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of such certificate the full amount of such excess.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the Secretary is authorized, with the consent of the mortgagee or mortgagor, as the case may be, to effect the settlement of certificates of claim and refunds at any time after the sale or transfer of title to the property conveyed to the Secretary under this section and without awaiting the final liquidation of such property for the purpose of determining the net amount to be realized therefrom: *Provided*, That the settlement authority created by the Housing Amendments of 1955 shall be terminated with respect to any certificate of claim outstanding as of September 2, 1964.

(3) With the consent of the holder thereof, the Secretary is authorized to settle, without awaiting the final liquidation of the Secretary's interest in the property, any certificate of claim issued pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, with respect to which a settlement had not been effected prior to September 2, 1964, by making payment in cash to the holder thereof of such amount, not exceeding the face amount of the certificate of claim, together with the accrued interest increment thereon, as the Secretary may consider appropriate: *Provided*, That in any case where the certificate of claim is settled in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, any amounts realized after September 2, 1964, in the liquidation of the Secretary's interest in the property, shall be retained by the Secretary and credited to the applicable insurance fund.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the acquisition, handling, or disposal of real property by the United States, the Secretary shall have power to deal with, complete, rent, renovate, modernize, insure, make contracts or establish suitable agencies for the management of, or sell for cash or credit, in his discretion, any properties conveyed to him in exchange for debentures and certificates of claim as provided in this subchapter; and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall also have power to pursue to final collection, by way of compromise or otherwise, all claims against mortgagors assigned by mortgagees to the Secretary as provided in this subchapter, except that no suit or action shall be commenced by the Secretary against any such mortgagor on account of any claim so assigned with respect to mortgages insured under section 1738 of this title unless such suit or action is commenced within six months after the assignment of such claim to the Secretary, or within six months after the last payment was made to the Secretary with respect to the claim so assigned, whichever is later: *Provided*, That section 6101 of title 41 shall not be construed to apply to any contract for hazard insurance, or to any purchase or contract for services or supplies on account of such property if the amount thereof does not exceed $1,000. The power to convey and to execute in the name of the Secretary deeds of conveyances, deeds of release, assignments, and satisfactions of mortgages, and any other written instrument relating to real property or any interest therein heretofore or hereafter acquired by the Secretary pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, may be exercised by an officer appointed by him, without the execution of any express delegation of power or power of attorney: *Provided*, That nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the Secretary from delegating such power by order or by power of attorney in his discretion, to any officer, agent, or employee he may appoint.

No mortgagee or mortgagor shall have and no certificate of claim shall be construed to give to any mortgagee or mortgagor, any right or interest in any property conveyed to the Secretary or in any claim assigned to him; nor shall the Secretary owe any duty to any mortgagee or mortgagor with respect to the handling or disposal of any such property or the collection of any such claim.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §604, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 58; amended May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §§5–8, 14(b), 56 Stat. 302, 305; Oct. 14, 1943, ch. 258, §2, 57 Stat. 570; May 22, 1946, ch. 268, §10(e), 60 Stat. 213; Mar. 31, 1948, ch. 165, §1(d), 62 Stat. 101; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 783, title I, §104, 69 Stat. 637; Pub. L. 88–560, title I, §105(d), (f), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 772, 774; Pub. L. 89–117, title XI, §1108(p), Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), (4), (d), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17, 18.)

The General Insurance Fund, referred to in text, was established by section 1735c of this title.

Sections 532 and 536 of the Appendix to title 50, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was in the original a reference to sections 302 and 306, respectively, of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, 54 Stat. 1178. That Act was amended generally and renamed the “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act” by Pub. L. 108–189, §1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2835. As so amended, provisions of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that are similar to those contained in former sections 532 and 536 of the Appendix to title 50 are now contained in sections 533 and 538 of the Appendix to Title 50.

The Housing Amendments of 1955, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), is act Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 783, 69 Stat. 635, as amended. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1955 Amendments note set out under section 1701 of this title and Tables.

In subsec. (g), “section 6101 of title 41” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, §6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (a)(2), (b) to (e), (f)(1), (f)(1)(i), (ii), (f)(2), (3), (g), and (h).

Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(4), substituted “Secretary's” for “Commissioner's” wherever appearing in subsecs. (b) and (f)(3) of this section.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 90–19, §1(d), substituted “an officer” for “the Commissioner or by any Assistant Commissioner”.

**1965**—Subsecs. (c), (d), (f)(1)(i). Pub. L. 89–117 substituted “General Insurance Fund” for “War Housing Insurance Fund”.

**1964**—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–560, §105(d)(1), (f), inserted “*Provided further*, That with respect to any debentures issued on or after September 2, 1964, the Commissioner may, with the consent of the mortgagee (in lieu of issuing a certificate of claim as provided in subsection (e)), include in debentures, in addition to amounts otherwise allowed for such costs, an amount not to exceed one-third of the total foreclosure, acquisition, and conveyance costs actually paid by the mortgagee and approved by the Commissioner, but in no event may the total allowance for such costs exceed the amount actually paid by the mortgagee:” and struck out of third sentence “paid after either of such dates” after “mortgage insurance premiums”, respectively.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 88–560, §105(d)(2), increased limitation on difference between value of mortgage and aggregate face value of debentures issued from $50 to $350.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 88–560, §105(d)(3), substituted in second sentence “default, except that debentures issued pursuant to claims for insurance filed on or after September 2, 1964, shall be dated as of the date of default or as of such later date as the Commissioner, in his discretion, may establish by regulation. The debentures” for “default, and”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 88–560, §105(d)(4)–(8), designated introductory par. as par. (1) and substituted “If, after deducting (in such manner and amount as the Commissioner shall determine to be equitable and in accordance with sound accounting practice) the expenses incurred by the Commissioner, the net amount realized from any property conveyed to the Commissioner under this section and the claims assigned therewith exceed the face value” for “If the net amount realized from any property conveyed to the Commissioner under this section and the claims assigned therewith, after deducting all expenses incurred by the Commissioner in handling, dealing with, and disposing of such property and in collecting such claims, exceeds the face value”; redesignated former par. (1) as (i) and substituted “property: *Provided*, That on and after September 2, 1964, any excess remaining after payment to the holder of the full amount of the certificate of claim shall be retained by the Commissioner and credited to the War Housing Insurance Fund; and” for “property; and”; redesignated former par. (2) as (ii); designated concluding par. as par. (2) and inserted proviso; and added par. (3), respectively.

**1955**—Subsec. (f). Act Aug. 11, 1955, authorized the Commissioner to effect the settlement of certificates of claim and refunds at any time after the sale or transfer of title to the property.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

**1948**—Subsec. (b). Act Mar. 31, 1948, substituted “value” for “necessary current cost”.

**1946**—Subsec. (b). Act May 22, 1946, substituted “Administrator's estimate of the necessary current cost” after “10 per centum of the” for “appraised value of such property as determined by the Administrator”.

**1943**—Subsec. (a). Act Oct. 14, 1943, inserted proviso dealing with losses due to nonforeclosure of mortgages to last sentence.

**1942**—Act May 26, 1942, §14(b), substituted “War” and “war” for “Defense” and “defense” wherever occurring.

Subsec. (a). Act May 26, 1942, §5, substituted “section 1738 of this title” for “this subchapter”.

Subsec. (c). Act May 26, 1942, §6, substituted “subchapter” for “section”.

Subsec. (d). Act May 26, 1942, §7, amended subsec. (d).

Subsec. (g). Act May 26, 1942, §8, substituted “subchapter” for “section” and inserted “with respect to mortgages insured under section 1738 of this title”.

1 See References in Text note below.

Section, act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §605, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 61; amended May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §§9, 14(b), 56 Stat. 303, 305; 1947 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §3, eff. July 27, 1947, 12 F.R. 4981, 61 Stat. 954; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59, provided for disposition and investment of surplus money in the War Housing Insurance Fund and for credit and payment of charges and fees.

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to exempt any real property acquired and held by the Secretary under this subchapter from taxation by any State or political subdivision thereof, to the same extent, according to its value, as other real property is taxed.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §606, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 61; amended Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner”.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator”.

The Secretary is authorized and directed to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §607, as added Mar. 28, 1941, ch. 31, §1, 55 Stat. 61; amended Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner”.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator”.

In addition to mortgages insured under section 1738 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to insure mortgages as defined in section 1736 of this title (including advances on such mortgages during construction) which are eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided.

To be eligible for insurance under this section a mortgage shall meet the following conditions:

(1) The mortgaged property shall be held by a mortgagor approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may, in his discretion, require such mortgagor to be regulated or restricted as to rents or sales, charges, capital structure, rate of return, and methods of operation. The Secretary may make such contracts with, and acquire for not to exceed $100 stock or interest in any such mortgagor, as the Secretary may deem necessary to render effective such restriction or regulation. Such stock or interest shall be paid for out of the General Insurance Fund, and shall be redeemed by the mortgagor at par upon the termination of all obligations of the Secretary under the insurance.

(2) Preference or priority of opportunity in the occupancy of the mortgaged property for veterans of World War II and their immediate families, and for hardship cases as defined by the Secretary, shall be provided under such regulations and procedures as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

(3) The mortgage shall involve a principal obligation in an amount—

(A) not to exceed $5,000,000; and

(B) not to exceed 90 per centum of the amount which the Secretary estimates will be the necessary current cost of the completed property or project, including the land; the proposed physical improvements; utilities within the boundaries of the property or project; architects’ fees; taxes and interest accruing during construction; and other miscellaneous charges incidental to construction and approved by the Secretary: *Provided*, That such mortgage shall not in any event exceed the amount which the Secretary estimates will be the cost of the completed physical improvements on the property or project, exclusive of off-site public utilities and streets, and organization and legal expenses: *And provided further*, That the principal obligation of the mortgage shall not, in any event, exceed 90 per centum of the Secretary's estimate of the replacement cost of the property or project on the basis of the costs prevailing on December 31, 1947, for properties or projects of comparable quality in the locality where such property or project is to be located; and

(C) not to exceed $8,100 per family unit for such part of such property or project as may be attributable to dwelling use.

The mortgage shall provide for complete amortization by periodic payment within such term as the Secretary shall prescribe, and shall bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insurance) at not to exceed 4½ per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time. The Secretary may consent to the release of a part or parts of the mortgaged property from the lien of the mortgage upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe and the mortgage may provide for such release.

The failure of the mortgagor to make any payment due under or provided to be paid by the terms of a mortgage insured under this section shall be considered a default under such mortgage, and if such default continues for a period of thirty days, the mortgagee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of the insurance as hereinafter provided, upon assignment, transfer, and delivery to the Secretary, within a period and in accordance with rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of (1) all rights and interests arising under the mortgage so in default; (2) all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagors or others, arising out of the mortgage transaction; (3) all policies of title or other insurance or surety bonds or other guaranties and any and all claims thereunder; (4) any balance of the mortgage loan not advanced to the mortgagor; (5) any cash or property held by the mortgagee, or to which it is entitled, as deposits made for the account of the mortgagor and which have not been applied in reduction of the principal of the mortgage indebtedness; and (6) all records, documents, books, papers, and accounts relating to the mortgage transaction. Upon such assignment, transfer, and delivery the obligation of the mortgagee to pay the premium charges for mortgage insurance shall cease, and the Secretary shall, subject to the cash adjustment provided for in section 1739(c) of this title, issue to the mortgagee debentures having a total face value equal to the value of the mortgage, and a certificate of claim as hereinafter provided. For the purposes of this subsection, the value of the mortgage shall be determined in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary, by adding to the amount of the original principal obligation of the mortgage which was unpaid on the date of default, the amount the mortgagee may have paid for (A) taxes, special assessments, and water rates, which are liens prior to the mortgage; (B) insurance on the property; and (C) reasonable expenses for the completion and preservation of the property and any mortgage insurance premiums paid after default; less the sum of (i) an amount equivalent to 1 per centum of the unpaid amount of such principal obligation on the date of default; (ii) any amount received on account of the mortgage after such date; and (iii) any net income received by the mortgagee from the property after such date: *Provided*, That the mortgagee in the event of a default under the mortgage may, at its option and in accordance with regulations of, and in a period to be determined by the Secretary, proceed to foreclose on and obtain possession of or otherwise acquire such property from the mortgagor after default, and receive the benefits of the insurance as herein provided, upon (1) the prompt conveyance to the Secretary of title to the property which meets the requirements of the rules and regulations of the Secretary in force at the time the mortgage was insured, and which is evidenced in the manner prescribed by such rules and regulations; and (2) the assignment to him of all claims of the mortgagee against the mortgagor or others, arising out of the mortgage transaction or foreclosure proceedings, except such claims that may have been released with the consent of the Secretary. Upon such conveyance and assignment, the obligation of the mortgagee to pay the premium charges for insurance shall cease and the mortgagee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of the insurance as provided in this subsection, except that in such event the 1 per centum deduction, set out in (i) hereof, shall not apply.

The certificate of claim issued by the Secretary to any mortgagee in connection with the insurance of mortgages under this section shall be for an amount determined in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of section 1739 of this title, except that any amount remaining after the payment of the full amount under the certificate of claim shall be retained by the Secretary and credited to the General Insurance Fund.

Debentures issued under this section shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1739 (d) of this title except that such debentures shall be dated as of the date of default as determined in subsection (c) of this section, and shall bear interest from such date.

The provisions of section 1713(k) of this title shall be applicable to mortgages insured under this section, except that, as applied to such mortgages, the reference therein to subsection (g) shall be construed to refer to subsection (c) of this section.

The Secretary shall also have power to insure under this subchapter or subchapter I, II, VIII, or X of this chapter any mortgage executed in connection with the sale by him of any property acquired under any of such subchapters without regard to limitations upon eligibility, time, or aggregate amount contained therein.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §608, as added May 26, 1942, ch. 319, §11, 56 Stat. 303; amended Mar. 31, 1945, ch. 48, §2, 59 Stat. 47; May 22, 1946, ch. 268, §10(f), (g), 60 Stat. 214; Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title I, §101(b), (c), 62 Stat. 1269; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Sept. 1, 1951, ch. 378, title II, §206, 65 Stat. 303; Pub. L. 89–117, title XI, §1108(q), Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), (4), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

The General Insurance Fund, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (d), was established by section 1735c of this title.

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b)(1), (2), (3)(B), following (C), (c), (d), and (g).

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(4), substituted “Secretary's” for “Commissioner's”.

**1965**—Subsecs. (b)(1), (d). Pub. L. 89–117, §1108(q)(1), substituted “General Insurance Fund” for “War Housing Insurance Fund”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 89–117, §1108(q)(2), struck out provisions that, as applied to mortgages insured under this section, all references in section 1713(k) of this title to the “Housing Fund” shall be construed to refer to the “War Housing Insurance Fund”.

**1951**—Subsec. (g). Act Sept. 1, 1951, inserted references to subchapters I, VIII and X of this chapter.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

**1948**—Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 10, 1948, inserted second proviso in par. (3)(B), substituted “$8,100 per family unit” for “$1,500 per room” and struck out proviso relating to authority to increase “$1,500” to “$1,800” per room.

**1946**—Subsec. (b)(2). Act May 22, 1946, substituted “Preference or priority of opportunity in the occupancy of the mortgaged property for veterans of World War II and their immediate families, and for hardship cases as defined by the Administrator, shall be provided under such regulations and procedures as may be prescribed by the Administrator” for “The mortgaged property shall be designed for rent for residential use by warworkers”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Act May 22, 1946, substituted “necessary current cost” after “estimates will be the” for “reasonable replacement cost” in par. (B), and increased mortgage per room from $1,350 to $1,500 and inserted proviso in par. (C).

Subsec. (c). Act May 22, 1946, inserted “and any mortgage insurance premiums paid after default” before semicolon in cl. (C) of third sentence.

**1945**—Subsec. (g). Act Mar. 31, 1945, inserted provisions empowering Commissioner to insure mortgages without regard to any limitations upon time or aggregate amount contained in this subchapter.

Section 12 of act May 26, 1942, provided that nothing contained in act May 26, 1942 [amending this subchapter] shall be construed to supersede or be inconsistent with the provisions of Ex. Ord. No. 9070, Feb. 24, 1942.

In order to assist in relieving the acute shortage of housing which now exists and to promote the production of housing for veterans of World War II at moderate prices or rentals within their reasonable ability to pay, through the application of modern industrial processes, the Secretary is authorized to insure loans to finance the manufacture of housing (including advances on such loans) when such loans are eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided.

Loans for the manufacture of houses shall be eligible for insurance under this section if at the time of such insurance, the Secretary determines they meet the following conditions:

(1) The manufacturer shall establish that binding purchase contracts have been executed satisfactory to the Secretary providing for the purchase and delivery of the houses to be manufactured, which contracts shall provide for the payment of the purchase price at such time as may be agreed to by the parties thereto, but, in no event, shall the purchase price be payable on a date in excess of thirty days after the date of delivery of such houses, unless not less than 20 per centum of such purchase price is paid on or before the date of delivery and the lender has accepted and discounted or has agreed to accept and discount, pursuant to subsection (i) of this section a promissory note or notes, executed by the purchaser, representing the unpaid portion of such purchase price, in which event such unpaid portion of the purchase price may be payable on a date not in excess of one hundred and eighty days from the date of delivery of such houses;

(2) Such houses to be manufactured shall meet such requirements of sound quality, durability, livability, and safety as may be prescribed by the Secretary;

(3) The borrower shall establish to the satisfaction of the Secretary that he has or will have adequate plant facilities, sufficient capital funds, taking into account the loan applied for, and the experience necessary, to achieve the required production schedule;

(4) The loan shall involve a principal obligation in an amount not to exceed 90 per centum of the amount which the Secretary estimates will be the necessary current cost, exclusive of profit, of manufacturing the houses, which are the subject of such purchase contracts assigned to secure the loan, less any sums paid by the purchaser under said purchase contracts prior to the assignment thereof. The loan shall be secured by an assignment of the aforesaid purchase contracts and of all sums payable thereunder on or after the date of such assignment, with the right in the assignee to proceed against such security in case of default as provided in the assignment, which assignment shall be in such form and contain such terms and conditions, as may be prescribed by the Secretary; and the Secretary may require such other agreements and undertakings to further secure the loan as he may determine, including the right, in case of default or at any time necessary to protect the lender, to compel delivery to the lender of any houses then owned and in the possession of the borrower. The loan shall have a maturity not in excess of one year from the date of the note, except that any such loan may be refinanced and extended in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe for an additional term not to exceed one year, and shall bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insurance) at not to exceed 4 per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time.

The Secretary may consent to the release of a part or parts of the property assigned or delivered as security for the loan, upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe and the security documents may provide for such release.

The failure of the borrower to make any payment due under or provided to be paid by the terms of a loan under this section, or the failure to perform any other covenant or obligation contained in any assignment, agreement, or undertaking executed by the borrower in connection with such loan, shall be considered as a default under this section, and if such default continues for a period of thirty days, the lender shall be entitled to receive the benefits of the insurance hereinafter provided upon assignment, transfer, and delivery to the Secretary within a period and in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of (1) all rights and interest arising with respect to the loan so in default; (2) all claims of the lender against the borrower or others arising out of the loan transaction; (3) any cash or property held by the lender, or to which it is entitled, as deposits made for the account of the borrower and which have not been applied in reduction of the principal of the loan; and (4) all records, documents, books, papers, and accounts relating to the loan transaction. Upon such assignment, transfer, and delivery, the Secretary shall, subject to the cash adjustment provided for in section 1739(c) of this title, issue to the lender debentures having a face value equal to the unpaid principal balance of the loan.

Debentures issued under this section shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1739(d) of this title except that such debentures shall be dated as of the date of default as determined in subsection (d) of this section and shall bear interest from such date.

The provisions of sections 1713(k) and 1738(a) of this title shall be applicable to loans insured under this section, except that as applied to such loans (1) the reference in section 1713(k) of this title to “subsection (g)” shall be construed to refer to “subsection (d)” of this section; (2) the references in section 1713(k) of this title to insured mortgages shall be construed to refer to the assignment or other security for loans insured under this section; and (3) the references in section 1738(a) of this title to a mortgage or mortgages shall be construed to include a loan or loans under this section. The provisions of section 1738(d) of this title shall also be applicable to loans insured under this section and the reference in section 1738(d) of this title to a mortgage shall be construed to include a loan or loans with respect to which a contract of insurance is issued pursuant to this section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall have the power to assign or sell at public or private sale, or otherwise dispose of, any evidence of debt, contract, claim, personal property, or security assigned to or held by him in connection with the payment of insurance heretofore or hereafter granted under this section, and to collect or compromise all obligations assigned to or held by him and all legal or equitable rights accruing to him in connection with the payment of such insurance until such time as such obligations may be referred to the Attorney General for suit or collection.

The Secretary shall fix a premium charge for the insurance granted under this section, but such premium charge shall not exceed an amount equivalent to 1 per centum of the original principal of such loan, and such premium charge shall be payable in advance by the financial institution and shall be paid at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary. In addition to the premium charge herein provided for, the Secretary is authorized to charge and collect such amounts as he may deem reasonable for examining and processing applications for the insurance of loans under this section, including such additional inspections as the Secretary may deem necessary.

(1) In addition to the insurance of the principal loan to finance the manufacture of housing, as provided in this section, and in order to provide short-term financing in the sale of houses to be delivered pursuant to the purchase contract or contracts assigned as security for such principal loan, the Secretary is authorized, under such terms and conditions and subject to such limitations as he may prescribe, to insure the lender against any losses it may sustain resulting from the acceptance and discount of a promissory note or notes executed by a purchaser of any such houses representing an unpaid portion of the purchase price of any such houses. No such promissory note or notes accepted and discounted by the lender pursuant to this subsection shall involve a principal obligation in excess of 80 per centum of the purchase price of the manufactured house or houses; have a maturity in excess of one hundred and eighty days from the date of the note or bear interest in excess of 4 per centum per annum; nor may the principal amount of such promissory notes, with respect to any individual principal loan, outstanding and unpaid at any one time, exceed in the aggregate an amount prescribed by the Secretary.

(2) The Secretary is authorized to include in any contract of insurance executed by him with respect to the insurance of a loan to finance the manufacture of houses, provisions to effectuate the insurance against any such losses under this subsection.

(3) The failure of the purchaser to make any payment due under or provided to be paid by the terms of any note or notes executed by the purchaser and accepted and discounted by the lender under the provisions of this subsection, shall be considered as a default under this subsection, and if such default continues for a period of thirty days, the lender shall be entitled to receive the benefits of the insurance, as provided in subsection (d) of this section except that debentures issued pursuant to this subsection shall have a face value equal to the unpaid principal balance of the loan plus interest at the rate of 4 per centum per annum from the date of default to the date the application is filed for the insurance benefits.

(4) Debentures issued with respect to the insurance granted under this subsection shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1739(d) of this title except that such debentures shall be dated as of the date application is filed for the insurance benefits and shall bear interest from such date.

(5) The Secretary is authorized to fix a premium charge for the insurance granted under this subsection, in addition to the premium charge authorized under subsection (h) of this section. Such premium charge shall not exceed an amount equivalent to 1 per centum of the original principal of such promissory note or notes and shall be paid at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §609, as added June 30, 1947, ch. 163, title I, §3, 61 Stat. 193; amended Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title I, §101(d), 62 Stat. 1269; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Pub. L. 89–117, title XI, §1108(r), Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b), (b)(1) to (4), (c), (d), (g), (h), and (i)(1), (2), (5).

**1965**—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 89–117, struck out cl. (1) of the first sentence which provided that all references in section 1713(k) of this title to the “Housing Fund” shall be construed to refer to the “War Housing Insurance Fund” and redesignated cls. (2), (3), and (4) thereof as cls. (1), (2), and (3), respectively.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

**1948**—Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 10, 1948, §101(d)(1), (2), struck out par. (1) and inserted new par. (1), and struck out first two sentences of par. (4) and inserted two new sentences.

Subsec. (f). Act Aug. 10, 1948, §101(d)(3), inserted last sentence.

Subsec. (i). Act Aug. 10, 1948, §101(d)(4), added subsec. (i).

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary is authorized, upon application by the mortgagee, to insure or to make commitments to insure under section 1738 or section 1743 of this title any mortgage executed in connection with the sale by the Government, or any agency or official thereof, of any housing acquired or constructed under Public Law 849, Seventy-sixth Congress, as amended; Public Law 781, Seventy-sixth Congress, as amended; or Public Laws 9, 73, or 353, Seventy-seventh Congress, as amended (including any property acquired, held or constructed in connection with such housing or to serve the inhabitants thereof), without regard to—

(1) any limit as to the time when any mortgage may be insured under this subchapter;

(2) any limit as to the aggregate amount of principal obligations of all mortgages insured under this subchapter, but the aggregate amount of principal obligations of all mortgages insured pursuant to this section shall not exceed $750,000,000;

(3) any requirement that the obligation be approved for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction or that the construction be new construction;

(4) any of the provisions of subsections (b)(2) or (b)(5) of section 1738 of this title or paragraphs (B) and (C) of the first sentence of section 1743(b)(3) of this title:

*Provided*, That such mortgage shall (1) otherwise be eligible for insurance under section 1738 or section 1743 of this title as the case may be, (2) have a maturity not exceeding twenty-five years from the date of insurance, (3) involve a principal obligation (including such initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Secretary shall approve) in an amount not exceeding 90 per centum of the appraised value of the mortgage property as determined by the Secretary, and (4) bear interest (exclusive of premium charges) at not to exceed 5 per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time if such mortgage covers property on which there is located a dwelling designed principally for residential use for not more than four families in the aggregate, irrespective of whether such dwelling or dwellings have a party wall or are otherwise physically connected with another dwelling or dwellings, or bear interest at not to exceed 4½ per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time if such mortgage covers property upon which there is located a dwelling or dwellings designed principally for residential use for more than four families.

The Secretary is further authorized to insure or to make commitments to insure in accordance with the provisions of this section any mortgage executed in connection with the sale by the Secretary, or by any public housing agency with the approval of the Secretary, of any housing (including any property acquired, held, or constructed in connection with such housing or to serve the inhabitants thereof) owned or financially assisted pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 671, Seventy-sixth Congress.

The Secretary is further authorized to insure or to make commitments to insure in accordance with the provisions of this section any mortgage executed in connection with the sale by the Government, or any agency or official thereof, of any of the so-called Greenbelt towns, or parts thereof, including projects, or parts thereof, known as Greenhills, Ohio; Greenbelt, Maryland; and Greendale, Wisconsin, developed under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, or of any of the village properties under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and any mortgage executed in connection with the first resale, within two years from the date of its acquisition from the Government, of any portion of a project or property of the character described in this section.

The Secretary is further authorized to insure or to make commitments to insure under section 1743 of this title in accordance with the provisions of this section any mortgage executed in connection with the sale by a State or municipality, or an agency, instrumentality, or body politic of either, of any permanent housing (including any property acquired, held, or constructed in connection therewith or to serve the inhabitants thereof), constructed by or on behalf of such State, municipality, agency, instrumentality or body politic, for the occupancy of veterans of World War II, their families, and others: *Provided*, That the principal obligation of any such mortgage does not exceed either 85 per centum of the appraised value of the mortgage property as determined by the Secretary or $8,100 per family unit for such part of such property as may be attributable to dwelling use.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §610, as added Aug. 5, 1947, ch. 495, §2, 61 Stat. 777; amended Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title I, §101(e), 62 Stat. 1270; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §§120, 122, 64 Stat. 58, 59; July 14, 1952, ch. 723, §14, 66 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), (*o*), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17, 19.)

Public Law 849, Seventy-sixth Congress, as amended, referred to in text, is act Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 862, 54 Stat. 1125, as amended, known as the “Lanham Public War Housing Act”, which is classified generally to subchapters II to VII (§§1521 et seq., 1531 et seq., 1541 et seq., 1561 et seq., 1571 et seq., and 1581 et seq.) of chapter 9 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1501 of Title 42 and Tables.

Public Law 781, Seventy-sixth Congress, as amended, referred to in text, is the Second Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1941, act Sept. 9, 1940, ch. 717, 54 Stat. 872. Section 201 thereof appropriated $100,000,000 to the President for allocation to the former “War” Department, and to the Navy Department, for the construction of housing necessary to the national defense program. This provision was not classified to the code.

Public Laws 9, 73, or 353, Seventy-seventh Congress, as amended, referred to in text, refer to the following acts, respectively: Public Law 9, Urgent Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1941, act Mar. 1, 1941, ch. 9, 55 Stat. 14; Public Law 73, Additional Urgent Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1941, act May 24, 1941, ch. 132, 55 Stat. 197; and Public Law 353, Third Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1942, act Dec. 17, 1941, ch. 591, 55 Stat. 810. These three acts appropriated a total of $320,000,000 to the President for the purpose of providing housing necessary because of national defense activities and conditions arising out of World War II. These provisions were not classified to the code, although all three acts are cited in a “Prior Additional Appropriations” note under section 1523 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Public Law 671, Seventy-sixth Congress, referred to in text, is act June 28, 1940, ch. 440, 54 Stat. 676, as amended. Provisions of the Act relating to housing are contained in title II, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§1501 et seq.) of chapter 9 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, referred to in text, is Joint Res. Apr. 8, 1935, ch. 48, 49 Stat. 115. It was a temporary legislation, and was formerly set out in a note in former chapter 16 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. See notes under sections 721 to 728 of that title.

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing, and “Secretary” for “Public Housing Administration” and “said Administration” in second par., respectively.

**1952**—Act July 14, 1952, inserted last par.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, §120, made the insurance authority of this section applicable to sale by the Public Housing Administration, or any public housing agency, of any housing owned or financially assisted pursuant to the provisions of sections 1501 to 1505 of Title 42. The Public Health and Welfare, which provided for the construction of war housing out of prior authorizations for low-rent public housing on the condition that such housing would be converted to low-rent use after termination of its use for war housing.

Act Apr. 20, 1950, §122, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

**1948**—Act Aug. 10, 1948, inserted last par. relating to the Greenbelt towns.

In addition to mortgages insured under other sections of this subchapter, and in order to assist and encourage the application of cost-reduction techniques through large-scale modernized site construction of housing and the erection of houses produced by modern industrial processes, the Secretary is authorized to insure mortgages (including advances on such mortgages during construction) which are eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided.

To be eligible for insurance under this section, a mortgage shall—

(1) have been made to and be held by a mortgagee approved by the Secretary as responsible and able to service the mortgage properly;

(2) cover property, held by a mortgagor approved by the Secretary, upon which there is to be constructed or erected dwelling units for not less than twenty-five families consisting of a group of single-family dwellings approved by the Secretary for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction: *Provided*, That during the course of construction there may be located upon the mortgaged property a plant for the fabrication or storage of such dwellings or sections or parts thereof, and the Secretary may consent to the removal or release of such plant from the lien of the mortgage upon such terms and conditions as he may approve;

(3) involve a principal obligation in an amount—

(A) not to exceed 85 per centum of the amount which the Secretary estimates will be the value of the completed property or project, exclusive of any plant of the character described in paragraph (2) of this subsection located thereon, and

(B) not to exceed a sum computed on the individual dwellings comprising the total project as follows: $5,950 or 85 per centum of the valuation, whichever is the lower amount, with respect to each single-family dwelling: *Provided*, That if the Secretary finds that it is not feasible, within the dollar amount limitation in this clause on the principal obligation of the mortgage, to construct dwellings containing three or four bedrooms without sacrifice of sound standards of construction, design, and livability, he may increase such dollar amount limitation by not exceeding $850 for each additional bedroom (as defined by the Secretary) in excess of two contained in each such dwelling if he finds that such dwelling meets sound standards of design and livability as a three-bedroom unit or a four-bedroom unit, as the case may be, but the amount computed under this clause for each such dwelling shall not exceed, in any event, $7,650.

With respect to the insurance of advances during construction, the Secretary is authorized to approve advances by the mortgagee to cover the cost of materials delivered upon the mortgaged property and labor performed in the fabrication or erection thereof;

(4) provide for complete amortization by periodic payments within such term as the Secretary shall prescribe and shall bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insurance) as not to exceed 4 per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time: *Provided*, That the Secretary with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, may prescribe by regulation a higher maximum rate of interest, not exceeding 4½ per centum per annum on the amount of the principal obligation outstanding at any time, if he finds that the mortgage market demands it. The Secretary may consent to the release of a part or parts of the mortgaged property from the lien of the mortgage upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe and the mortgage may provide for such release, and the mortgage may provide that, upon the completion of the construction of the project, such mortgage may be replaced by individual mortgages covering each individual dwelling in the project. Each such individual mortgage may be insured under this section with the mortgagor being either the builder who constructed the dwellings or the owner and occupant of the dwelling at the time, and where the mortgagor is the owner and occupant, may involve a principal obligation in such amount and have such maturity and interest rate as a mortgage eligible for insurance under section 1709(b)(2)(D) of this title.

Preference or priority of opportunity in the occupancy of the mortgaged property for veterans of World War II and their immediate families and for hardship cases as defined by the Secretary shall be provided under such regulations and procedures as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

The provisions of subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 1743 of this title shall be applicable to mortgages insured under this section covering a project described in subsection (b) of this section, and the provisions of subsections (a) to (f), and (h) of section 1739 of this title shall be applicable to the individual mortgages insured pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section covering individual dwellings in the project.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §611, as added Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title I, §101(f), 62 Stat. 1271; amended Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §§121, 122, 64 Stat. 58, 59; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

Section 1709(b)(2)(D) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(4), is a reference to subsec. (b)(2)(D) of section 1709 prior to amendment by section 104 of act Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, 68 Stat. 590.

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b), and (c).

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, §122, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b)(3). Act Apr. 20, 1950, §121(1), (2), substituted “85” for “80” in cl. (A), and inserted entirely new material in cl. (B).

Subsec. (b)(4). Act Apr. 20, 1950, §121(2), inserted “, and the mortgage may provide that, upon the completion of the construction of the project, such mortgage may be replaced by individual mortgages covering each individual dwelling in the project. Each such individual mortgage may be insured under this section with the mortgagor being either the builder who constructed the dwellings or the owner and occupant of the dwelling at the time, and where the mortgagor is the owner and occupant, may involve a principal obligation in such amount and have such maturity and interest rate as a mortgage eligible for insurance under section 1709(b)(2)(D) of this title”.

Subsec. (d). Act Apr. 20, 1950, §121(3), inserted “covering a project described in subsection (b) of this section, and the provisions of subsections (a) to (f), and (h) of section 1739 of this title shall be applicable to the individual mortgages insured pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section covering individual dwellings in the project”.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, no mortgage or loan shall be insured under any section of this subchapter after August 2, 1954 except pursuant to a commitment to insure issued on or before such date.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VI, §612, as added Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title I, §127, 68 Stat. 609.)