2025-12-16 | 2025-22875Added · Updated
The OCC, Federal Reserve Board, and CFPB are finalizing amendments to update the exemption threshold for appraisal requirements on higher-priced mortgage loans. Based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the threshold increases from $33,500 to $34,200 for transactions occurring in 2026. This adjustment, effective January 1, 2026, relieves smaller loan transactions from specific appraisal mandates under the Truth in Lending Act.
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Rules and Regulations Federal Register 58141 Vol. 90, No. 239 Tuesday, December 16, 2025 1Public Law 111–203, sec. 1471, 124 Stat. 1376, 2185–87 (2010), codified at TILA sec. 129H, 15 U.S.C. 1639h. 2 78 FR 10368 (Feb. 13, 2013). 3 78 FR 48548 (Aug. 8, 2013). 4 78 FR 78520 (Dec. 26, 2013). 5See NCUA: 12 CFR 722.3; FHFA: 12 CFR part
1222. Although the FDIC adopted the Bureau’s
version of the regulation, the FDIC did not issue its own regulation containing a cross-reference to the Bureau’s version. See 78 FR 10368 at 10370. 6 12 CFR 34.203(b)(2) (OCC); 12 CFR 226.43(b)(2) (Board); and 12 CFR 1026.35(c)(2)(ii) (Bureau). 7 12 CFR part 34, appendix C to subpart G, comment 203(b)(2)–1 (OCC); 12 CFR part 226, supplement I, comment 43(b)(2)–1 (Board); and 12 CFR part 1026, supplement I, comment 35(c)(2)(ii)– 1 (Bureau). 8See 12 CFR part 34, appendix C to subpart G, comment 203(b)(2)–1 and –2 (OCC); 12 CFR part 226, supplement I, comment 43(b)(2)–1 and –2 (Board); and 12 CFR part 1026, supplement I, comment 35(c)(2)(ii)–1 and –2 (Bureau). 9See 81 FR 86250 (Nov. 30, 2016). DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 12 CFR Part 34 [Docket No. OCC–2025–0306] RIN 1557–AF39 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 12 CFR Part 226 [Docket No. R–1878] RIN 7100–AH12 CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU 12 CFR Part 1026 Appraisals for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans Exemption Threshold AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (OCC); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau). ACTION: Final rules and official interpretations. SUMMARY: The OCC, the Board, and the Bureau are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations for their regulations that implement section 129H of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Section 129H of TILA establishes special appraisal requirements for ‘‘higher-risk mortgages,’’ termed ‘‘higher-priced mortgage loans’’ or ‘‘HPMLs’’ in the agencies’ regulations. A December 2013 rulemaking exempted transactions of $25,000 or less and required that this loan amount be adjusted annually based on any annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI–W). Based on the CPI–W in effect as of June 1, 2025, the exemption threshold will increase from $33,500 to $34,200, effective January 1, 2026. DATES: This final rule is effective January 1, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
OCC: Maria Riegger, Counsel, Chief Counsel’s Office, at (202) 649–5490. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. Board: Lorna M. Neill, Senior Counsel, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at (202) 452–3667. For users of text telephone systems (TTY) or any TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services, please call 711 from any telephone, anywhere in the United States. Bureau: Dave Gettler, Paralegal Specialist, Office of Regulations, at 202– 435–7700 or at: https://reginquiries. consumerfinance.gov/. If you require this document in an alternative electronic format, please contact CFPB_ Accessibility@cfpb.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) amended TILA to add special appraisal requirements for ‘‘higher-risk mortgages.’’ 1 In January 2013, the OCC, the Board, the Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (collectively, the Agencies) jointly issued a final rule implementing these requirements and adopted the term ‘‘higher-priced mortgage loan’’ (HPML) instead of ‘‘higher-risk mortgage’’ (January 2013 Final Rule).2 In July 2013, the Agencies proposed additional exemptions from the January 2013 Final Rule.3 In December 2013, the Agencies issued a supplemental final rule with additional exemptions from the January 2013 Final Rule (December 2013 Supplemental Final Rule).4 Among other exemptions, the Agencies adopted an exemption from the new HPML appraisal rules for transactions of $25,000 or less, to be adjusted annually for inflation. The OCC’s, Board’s, and Bureau’s versions of the January 2013 Final Rule and December 2013 Supplemental Final Rule and corresponding official interpretations are substantively identical. The FDIC, NCUA, and FHFA adopted the Bureau’s version of the regulations under the January 2013 Final Rule and December 2013 Supplemental Final Rule.5 The OCC’s, Board’s, and Bureau’s regulations,6 and their accompanying official interpretations,7 provide that the exemption threshold for smaller loans will be adjusted effective January 1 of each year based on any annual percentage increase in the CPI–W that was in effect on the preceding June 1. Any increase in the threshold amount will be rounded to the nearest $100 increment. For example, if the annual percentage increase in the CPI–W would result in a $950 increase in the threshold amount, the threshold amount will be increased by $1,000. However, if the annual percentage increase in the CPI–W would result in a $949 increase in the threshold amount, the threshold amount will be increased by $900. If there is no annual percentage increase in the CPI–W, the OCC, the Board, and the Bureau will not adjust the threshold amounts from the prior year.8 On November 30, 2016, the OCC, the Board, and the Bureau published a final rule in the Federal Register to memorialize the calculation method used by the OCC, the Board, and the Bureau each year to adjust the exemption threshold to ensure that the values for the exemption threshold keep pace with the CPI–W (HPML Small Dollar Adjustment Calculation Rule).9 The HPML Small Dollar Adjustment Calculation Rule memorialized the
10The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates consumer-based indices for each month but does not report those indices until the middle of the following month. As such, the most recently reported indices as of June 1, 2025, were reported on May 13, 2025, and reflect economic conditions in April 2025. 11 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). 12 5 U.S.C. 553(d). 13 5 U.S.C. 603(a), 604(a). 14 44 U.S.C. 3506; 5 CFR part 1320. 15 2 U.S.C. 1532. policy that, if there is no annual percentage increase in the CPI–W, the OCC, Board, and Bureau will not adjust the exemption threshold from the prior year. The HPML Small Dollar Adjustment Calculation Rule also provided that, in years following a year in which the exemption threshold was not adjusted because there was a decrease in the CPI–W from the previous year, the threshold is calculated by applying the annual percentage change in the CPI–W to the dollar amount that would have resulted, after rounding, if the decreases and any subsequent increases in the CPI–W had been taken into account. If the resulting amount calculated, after rounding, is greater than the current threshold, then the threshold effective January 1 the following year will increase accordingly; if the resulting amount calculated, after rounding, is equal to or less than the current threshold, then the threshold effective January 1 the following year will not change, but future increases will be calculated based on the amount that would have resulted, after rounding.
II. 2026 Adjustment and Official
Interpretations Revision Effective January 1, 2026, the exemption threshold amount is increased from $33,500 to $34,200. This amount is based on the CPI–W in effect on June 1, 2025, which was reported on May 13, 2025 (based on April 2025 data).10 The CPI–W is a subset of the CPI–U index (based on all urban consumers) and represents approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population. The CPI–W reported on May 13, 2025, reflects a 2.1 percent increase in the CPI–W from April 2024 to April 2025. Accordingly, the 2.1 percent increase in the CPI–W from April 2024 to April 2025 results in an exemption threshold amount of $34,200, after rounding. The OCC, the Board, and the Bureau are revising the official interpretations to their respective regulations to add new comments as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Authority and Issuance For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the OCC amends 12 CFR part 34 as set forth below:
PART 34—REAL ESTATE LENDING
AND APPRAISALS
Section 34.203—Appraisals for Higher-Priced
Mortgage Loans
Paragraph 34.203(b)(2).
Threshold amount. For purposes of § 34.203(b)(2), the threshold amount in effect during a particular period is the amount stated in comment 203(b)(2)–3 for that period. The threshold amount is adjusted effective January 1 of each year by any annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI–W) that was in effect on the preceding June 1. Comment 203(b)(2)– 3 will be amended to provide the threshold amount for the upcoming year after the annual percentage change in the CPI–W that was in effect on June 1 becomes available. Any increase in the threshold amount will be rounded to the nearest $100 increment. For example, if the annual percentage increase in the CPI–W would result in a $950 increase in the threshold amount, the threshold amount will be increased by $1,000. However, if the annual percentage increase in the CPI–W would result in a $949 increase in the threshold amount, the threshold amount will be increased by $900.
2. No increase in the CPI–W. If the CPI–W
in effect on June 1 does not increase from the CPI–W in effect on June 1 of the previous year, the threshold amount effective the following January 1 through December 31 will not change from the previous year. When this occurs, for the years that follow, the threshold is calculated based on the annual percentage change in the CPI–W applied to the dollar amount that would have resulted, after rounding, if decreases and any subsequent increases in the CPI–W had been taken into account.
i. Net increases. If the resulting amount
calculated, after rounding, is greater than the current threshold, then the threshold effective January 1 the following year will increase accordingly.
ii. Net decreases. If the resulting amount
calculated, after rounding, is equal to or less than the current threshold, then the threshold effective January 1 the following year will not change, but future increases will be calculated based on the amount that would have resulted.
3. Threshold. For purposes of
§ 34.203(b)(2), the threshold amount in effect during a particular period is the amount stated in the following for that period.
i. From January 18, 2014, through
December 31, 2014, the threshold amount is $25,000.
ii. From January 1, 2015, through
December 31, 2015, the threshold amount is $25,500.
iii. From January 1, 2016, through
December 31, 2016, the threshold amount is $25,500.
iv. From January 1, 2017, through
December 31, 2017, the threshold amount is $25,500.
v. From January 1, 2018, through December
31, 2018, the threshold amount is $26,000.
vi. From January 1, 2019, through
December 31, 2019, the threshold amount is $26,700.
vii. From January 1, 2020, through
December 31, 2020, the threshold amount is $27,200.
viii. From January 1, 2021, through
December 31, 2021, the threshold amount is $27,200.
ix. From January 1, 2022, through
December 31, 2022, the threshold amount is $28,500.
x. From January 1, 2023, through December
31, 2023, the threshold amount is $31,000.
xi. From January 1, 2024, through
December 31, 2024, the threshold amount is $32,400.
xii. From January 1, 2025, through
December 31, 2025, the threshold amount is $33,500.
xiii. From January 1, 2026, through
December 31, 2026, the threshold amount is $34,200.
4. Qualifying for exemption—in general. A
transaction is exempt under § 34.203(b)(2) if the creditor makes an extension of credit at consummation that is equal to or below the threshold amount in effect at the time of consummation.
5. Qualifying for exemption—subsequent
changes. A transaction does not meet the condition for an exemption under § 34.203(b)(2) merely because it is used to satisfy and replace an existing exempt loan unless the amount of the new extension of credit is equal to or less than the applicable threshold amount. For example, assume a closed-end loan that qualified for a § 34.203(b)(2) exemption at consummation in year one is refinanced in year ten and that the new loan amount is greater than the threshold amount in effect in year ten. In these circumstances, the creditor must comply with all of the applicable requirements of § 34.203 with respect to the year ten transaction if the original loan is satisfied and replaced by the new loan unless another exemption from the requirements of § 34.203 applies. See § 34.203(b) and (d)(7).
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Authority and Issuance For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board amends Regulation Z, 12 CFR part 226, as set forth below:
PART 226—TRUTH IN LENDING
(REGULATION Z)
Section 226.43—Appraisals for Higher-Risk
Mortgage Loans
Paragraph 43(b)(2).
than the current threshold, then the threshold effective January 1 the following year will not change, but future increases will be calculated based on the amount that would have resulted.
3. Threshold. For purposes of
§ 226.43(b)(2), the threshold amount in effect during a particular period is the amount stated in the following for that period.
i. From January 18, 2014, through
December 31, 2014, the threshold amount is $25,000.
ii. From January 1, 2015, through
December 31, 2015, the threshold amount is $25,500.
iii. From January 1, 2016, through
December 31, 2016, the threshold amount is $25,500.
iv. From January 1, 2017, through
December 31, 2017, the threshold amount is $25,500.
v. From January 1, 2018, through December
31, 2018, the threshold amount is $26,000.
vi. From January 1, 2019, through
December 31, 2019, the threshold amount is $26,700.
vii. From January 1, 2020, through
December 31, 2020, the threshold amount is $27,200.
viii. From January 1, 2021, through
December 31, 2021, the threshold amount is $27,200.
ix. From January 1, 2022, through
December 31, 2022, the threshold amount is $28,500.
x. From January 1, 2023, through December
31, 2023, the threshold amount is $31,000.
xi. From January 1, 2024, through
December 31, 2024, the threshold amount is $32,400.
xii. From January 1, 2025, through
December 31, 2025, the threshold amount is $33,500.
xiii. From January 1, 2026, through
December 31, 2026, the threshold amount is $34,200.
4. Qualifying for exemption—in general. A
transaction is exempt under § 226.43(b)(2) if the creditor makes an extension of credit at consummation that is equal to or below the threshold amount in effect at the time of consummation.
5. Qualifying for exemption—subsequent
changes. A transaction does not meet the condition for an exemption under § 226.43(b)(2) merely because it is used to satisfy and replace an existing exempt loan unless the amount of the new extension of credit is equal to or less than the applicable threshold amount. For example, assume a closed-end loan that qualified for a § 226.43(b)(2) exemption at consummation in year one is refinanced in year ten and that the new loan amount is greater than the threshold amount in effect in year ten. In these circumstances, the creditor must comply with all of the applicable requirements of § 226.43 with respect to the year ten transaction if the original loan is satisfied and replaced by the new loan unless another exemption from the requirements of § 226.43 applies. See § 226.43(b) and (d)(7).
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU Authority and Issuance For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Bureau amends Regulation Z, 12 CFR part 1026, as set forth below:
PART 1026—TRUTH IN LENDING
(REGULATION Z)
Section 1026.35—Requirements for HigherPriced Mortgage Loans
Paragraph 35(c)(2)(ii).
requirements of § 1026.35(c) applies. See § 1026.35(c)(2) and (c)(4)(vii).
Jonathan V. Gould,
Comptroller of the Currency.
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, acting through the Secretary of the Board under delegated authority. Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary of the Board. Russell Vought, Acting Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [FR Doc. 2025–22875 Filed 12–15–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–33–P; 6210–01–P; 4810–AM–P
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