Priority of Common Expense Assessments
Fannie Mae allows a limited amount of regular common expense assessments (typically known as HOA fees) to have priority over Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien for mortgage loans secured by units in a condo or PUD project. This applies if the condo or PUD project is located in a jurisdiction that has enacted
- the Uniform Condominium Act,
- the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, or
- a similar statue that provides for unpaid assessments to have priority over first mortgage liens.
The table below describes the permitted priority of common expense assessments for purposes of determining the eligibility of a mortgage loan secured by a unit in a condo or PUD project for purchase by Fannie Mae.
| If the condo or PUD project... | Then... |
|---|---|
| is located in a jurisdiction that enacted a law on or before January 14, 2014, that provides that regular common expense assessments will have priority over Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien for a maximum amount greater than six months, | the maximum number of months of regular common expense assessments permitted under the applicable jurisdiction’s law as of January 14, 2014, may have priority over Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien, provided that if the applicable jurisdiction’s law as of that date referenced an exception for Fannie Mae’s requirements, then no more than six months of regular common expense assessments may have priority over Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien. |
| is located in any other jurisdiction, | no more than six months of regular common expense assessments may have priority over Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien, even if applicable law provides for a longer priority period. |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Guide, which do not require the lender to represent or warrant compliance with Fannie Mae project legal document requirements, the condo or PUD project legal documents must evidence compliance with the above priority of common expense assessment requirements.
For additional information, see B4-2.1-01, General Information on Project Standards.