residential real estate

FinCEN’s proposed reporting rule targets residential real estate cash closings

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On February 7, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the stated purpose of combatting money laundering in residential real estate transactions. You can review the proposed rule and a related fact sheet here.

The proposed rule would require certain professionals, including attorneys, involved in real estate closings to report information to FinCEN about cash transfers of residential real estate to legal entities and trusts. The agency’s press release indicates the proposal is tailored to target transfers that are high-risk for money laundering. No reporting would be required for transfers to individuals.

The information to be reported would include:

  • Beneficial ownership information for the legal entity or trust receiving the property;
  • Information about individuals representing the transferee legal entity or transferee trust;
  • Information about the business filing the report;
  • Information about the real property being sold or transferred;
  • Information about the seller; and
  • Information about any payments made.

A Geographic Targeting Order program has been in place for several years requiring this type of reporting in certain high-priced locations. The new rule would replace the Geographic Targeting Order with nationwide reporting.

FinCEN recognizes that the beneficial ownership information required under this proposed rule is also collected under the new Corporate Transparency Act, but states that the information will serve two different purposes.

The proposed rule would require reporting on single-family houses, townhouses, condominiums and buildings designed for occupancy by one to four families. It would also require reporting on transfers on unimproved land that is zoned or permitted for occupancy by one to four families.

Transfers would be reportable regardless of price. Gifts and other transactions where no consideration is exchanged are reportable. Exempted transactions include easements, transfers resulting from the death of the property owner, transfers resulting from divorce, and transfers made to a bankruptcy estate.

The agency encourages written comments in response to the proposed rule for 60 days. Closing lawyers, I encourage you to read the information at the links above and to make comments.    

Two positive articles for dirt lawyers from national sources

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REALTOR®Mag is reporting that although financing remains the top roadblock to successful closings, fewer real estate agents are reporting financing as an issue today as opposed to previous months. This trend is a good one! Check out the article here.

The article indicates that, according to the REALTORS® Confidence Index, which is based on the responses from 2,500 real estate agents nationwide, the decline in complaints about financing may reflect an improvement in the economy, better credit histories from buyers and an improvement in loan evaluation processes.

But the article does report that appraisals are becoming a growing concern. Real estate agents indicated that a shortage of appraisers, valuations that are not in line with market conditions and “out-of-town” appraisers who are not familiar with local markets create the difficulties.

And for the first time in eleven years, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming loan limit has increased to $424,100, allowing more home buyers to avoid jumbo loans, obtain lower interest rates and deliver lower down payments. The non-conforming loan limit had previously been stuck at $417,000. Read the article from INFOGRAPHIC here.

The economic news surrounding real estate closings is generally positive nationally. And the news is good in South Carolina, too. I’ve traveled around the state a good bit since the beginning of the year, and everywhere I go, I ask lawyers about business.

Early in the year, it seemed residential practices were sluggish in some markets while commercial practices were extremely busy statewide. In the last few weeks, I’m hearing much more encouraging news about residential practices, and commercial lawyers continue to report that business is excellent.

Our office is in the middle of a seminar series we have entitled “The future’s so bright, we have to wear shades.” We’re drinking the Kool-Aid and enjoying these economic good times. Those of us who weathered 2008 – 2012 deserve it!