RESPA: Explaining The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

5 Min Read
Updated Dec. 19, 2023
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Written By
Ashley Kilroy
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The world of real estate can be confusing for both first-time buyers and sellers. Newcomers may not know about all of the closing costs involved. Unfortunately, some servicers have taken advantage of people’s lack of knowledge about real estate.

To combat these kinds of abusive practices, the RESPA, or Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, was created. This measure ensures that both buyers and sellers know exactly what costs to expect throughout their real estate transactions.

If you’re considering purchasing or selling real estate, it’s important to know what RESPA is, how it benefits both buyers and sellers and what the penalties are for violations.

What Is RESPA In Real Estate?

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) was passed by Congress in 1974 and ensures that home buyers and sellers receive complete disclosures on real estate settlement costs. The purpose of RESPA in real estate is to limit the use of escrow accounts and to prohibit abusive practices like kickbacks and referral fees.

There have been some changes to RESPA in the last several decades, all designed to protect both buyers and sellers. One of the most substantial amendments is the 2008 RESPA Reform Rule. This included a standard Good Faith Estimate form and streamlined mortgage servicing disclosure language. It also required an “average charge” line to be added to the Good Faith Estimate.

Finally, this amendment clarified that all disclosures required by RESPA can be provided electronically. This and other adjustments to RESPA helped to modernize the act while still maintaining its integrity.

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How Does RESPA Work?

RESPA is advantageous to all parties involved in a real estate transaction. Let’s take a look at how it protects both buyers and sellers by requiring that information is available to all parties.

Educates Borrowers

The first aim of RESPA is to educate borrowers on the various settlement costs that come with a mortgage. This helps to prevent unexpected fees that some lenders would otherwise allow. Therefore, all mortgage lenders, brokers or servicers must provide any and all information regarding the transaction to their clients so there are no unpleasant surprises they are legally bound to pay for. In other words, there can be no hidden costs in a real estate transaction under RESPA.

Prevents Kickbacks

RESPA also outlaws scams like referral fees between agents, or “kickbacks.” Kickbacks are bribes between real estate representatives and, when unregulated, can become a huge expense to buyers. Examples of kickbacks that could violate RESPA include gifts, promotional items or prizes to referral sources.

Any person who gives or accepts a fee, kickback or other valuable resources may be subject to civil liability of up to three times the amount they were paid and any associated court costs. In some cases, a violation of this law can include jail time of up to 1 year.

Regulates Escrow Accounts

RESPA manages the use of escrow accounts and prevents loan servicers from requiring larger accounts. The amount of escrow funds allowed to be collected at the time of an account’s creation is limited to the amount of sufficient funds to pay for closing costs. These charges include taxes, insurance and other reasonable payments.

Prohibits Sellers To Require Title Insurance

Finally, RESPA prohibits home sellers from requiring mortgage loan borrowers to purchase title insurance. This means that sellers may not force a buyer to purchase title insurance from a specific title insurance company as a selling condition. This provision is specifically stated in Section 9 of RESPA.

What Is RESPA Section 8(a)?

RESPA Section 8(a) prohibits a person from paying or accepting money or other bribes with the understanding that they will receive business in return. The act goes on to state that no referral or other fees may be incurred for services that are not performed.

Section 8(a) is one of the most important parts of RESPA for both individuals and businesses because it specifically prohibits the aforementioned kickbacks and referral fees. This addition to the law also prohibits “unearned fees,” such as a servicer splitting a portion of their fee with a third party that provided no service in the transaction. Therefore, it protects the buyer from paying for services that are not provided, or not necessary to pay for.

RESPA Violations And Penalties

RESPA violations include bribes between real estate representatives, inflating costs, the use of shell entities and referrals in exchange for settlement services. The fees for RESPA violation penalties can be very steep and even include some jail time depending on the seriousness of the violation and if it was intentional.

If the person who violated Section 8(a) settles their case, they may be required to pay an amount of up to three times the amount they charged for their service.

When purchasing a property, it’s wise to leverage the help of a real estate lawyer to protect you from an incident. If you don’t use a lawyer throughout your real estate transaction, it’s best to get in touch with one immediately if you believe a RESPA violation has occurred. A real estate lawyer will know who to contact and will help you navigate the legal process.

RESPA FAQs

Review the following frequently asked questions for more information about RESPA.

How is RESPA enforced?

While the act was passed in 1974, it took effect in 1975 and was first governed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is now responsible for enforcing RESPA.

What types of loans are covered by RESPA?

RESPA covers all federally regulated mortgage loans including purchase loans, refinances, home improvement loans, land contracts and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

What payments are not prohibited under RESPA?

According to RESPA Section 8(c), acceptable payments and arrangements include attorney fees, fees paid by a title company and fees paid by a mortgage lender, all covering services that were actually performed.  

The Bottom Line: RESPA Provides Important Protection

RESPA was created to protect real estate buyers and sellers by limiting the use of escrow accounts and prohibiting various abusive practices. This protection comes through full disclosure of any fees associated with the real estate transaction. There are also serious consequences if any RESPA violations occur which is why it’s important to stay educated so you’re aware of what to look out for during the buying or selling process.

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