Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Extend URLA Implementation Timeline
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced yesterday they will extend the implementation timeline for the redesigned Uniform Residential Loan Application and automated underwriting systems to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new mandate date for use of the redesigned URLA and AUS specifications is March 1, 2021.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said the extension provides lenders and other stakeholders additional time to prepare and implement the redesigned URLA (Freddie Mac Form 65 and Fannie Mae Form 1003) and the updated automated underwriting system (AUS) data specifications (Freddie Mac Loan Product Advisor v5.0.06 and Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter (DU) DU Specification MISMO V. 3.4) based on Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) v3.4.
August 1: Limited Production Begins
As announced in December 2019, the Limited Production Period can be thought of as a “test and learn” period. The GSEs will begin accepting the MISMO v3.4 loan application submission files in production on a limited basis. Lenders will have controlled access to the GSEs’ AUS production environments based upon validation of eligibility requirements and completion of the Partner Readiness Questionnaire. Only participants who have completed these prerequisites and received GSE approval will be allowed to submit loans using the redesigned URLA prior to its new effective date of January 1, 2021.
January 1, 2021: Open Production Begins
Starting January 1, 2021, all lenders may submit the MISMO v3.4 loan application submission files to GSE-specific AUS production environments using the redesigned URLA.
NOTE: Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are updating the effective date in the footer of the redesigned URLA to 1/2021.
March 1, 2021: Mandate and Pipeline Transition Period Begins
All lenders are required to submit the MISMO v3.4 loan application submission files to the GSEs’ AUS production environments using the redesigned URLA beginning March 1, 2021.
NOTE: Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will continue to process applications received prior to the mandate date within the AUS format on which they were initially submitted. If a legacy AUS file was submitted prior to the mandate, the submitted file may remain in the legacy format and the lender may complete the loan using the 07/05 (Rev. 06/09) URLA, even after the mandate date.
March 1, 2022: Retirement Date
On March 1, 2022, no current URLA and loan application submission files based on previous AUS specifications, regardless whether they are dated before March 1, 2021, will be accepted.
A complete implementation timeline can be found at (https://sf.freddiemac.com/content/_assets/resources/pdf/other/urla_ulad-implementation-timeline_fre.pdf)
Supporting materials: Freddie Mac URLA web page: https://sf.freddiemac.com/tools-learning/uniform-mortgage-data-program/ulad#business-resources
Supporting materials: Fannie Mae URLA web page: https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/delivering/uniform-mortgage-data-program/uniform-residential-loan-application
Lenders who have questions about these updates can contact their GSE representative or ULAD@FreddieMac.com; or ULAD@FannieMae.com.
