Fannie Wants Second Credit Report Pulled

Beginning June 1, lenders originating mortgages being sold to Fannie Mae will have to pull a second credit report just before the loan closes. The new quality control requirement is designed to prevent a type of mortgage fraud called "shotgunning," but the guidelines could occasionally send lenders on wild goose chases. By pulling a second credit report, lenders can find out whether other creditors have recently requested information about the mortgage applicant-a red flag indicating someone might be trying to obtain several loans (from multiple, unwitting lenders) on the same property. Typically, a shotgun fraudster skips town with the proceeds of all his loans. Most of the lenders do not recoup a cent because their mortgages are subordinate to the first one recorded and the home will not fetch enough in a sale to cover the junior liens. Will Dillard, a vice president of operations at SettlementOne Credit Corp., a San Diego reseller of credit data, told American Banker that pulling a second credit report would help stop such frauds but that lenders might also waste time checking out false alarms. "If they see another inquiry, Fannie would like to see lenders query those creditors," Dillard said. "If you're at the funding table ready to fund and you see a new inquiry popping up, the question is, do you send your underwriter out...to track down Honda Motor if the borrower is also trying to buy a new car?"