source:
  type: guide
  id: usda-hb-3555-4.8
  authority: USDA SFH Guaranteed Loan Program Technical Handbook HB-1-3555 ¶4.8 —
    Adhere To Sfhglp Guidelines
  description: USDA SFH Guaranteed Loan Program Technical Handbook HB-1-3555 ¶4.8
    — Adhere To Sfhglp Guidelines.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: usda-hb-3555-4.8-full
  canonical_id: usda-hb-3555-4.8-full
  section: USDA SFH Guaranteed Loan Program Technical Handbook HB-1-3555 ¶4.8 — Adhere
    To Sfhglp Guidelines
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - usda
  - usda-handbook
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: USDA SFH Guaranteed Loan Program Technical Handbook HB-1-3555 ¶4.8
      — Adhere To Sfhglp Guidelines
    source_class: usda-handbook
    source_url: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/hb-1-3555_consolidated.pdf
    snapshot_id: 0466acd1ea2d17a4
    fetched_at: '2026-05-25T14:10:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:22ac6f998ff72578e318fca138ebe80fb18ae2fc701eb5936172f1842679a13a
    paragraph_quote: '4.8 ADHERE TO SFHGLP GUIDELINES The lender must follow all SFHGLP
      guidelines. Failure to comply could result in reduction or denial of a loss
      claim or revocation of approval to participate in the program. These program
      guidelines include: x Approved Forms. The lender must use forms approved by
      the FHA, Fannie HB-1-3555 (03-09-16) SPECIAL PN 4-5 Revised (08-05-25) PN 649
      Guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, unless expressly authorized
      by statute or incorporated into a contract. USDA may not cite, use, or rely
      on any guidance that is not available through their guidance portal, except
      to establish historical facts Mae, Freddie Mac, or Farm Credit System (FCS)
      lenders when forms are not provided by the Agency. x Eligibility Requirements.
      The lender is responsible for ensuring that the loan applicant and property
      meet all SFHGLP eligibility requirements. x Underwriting Requirements. The Agency
      approved lender is responsible for underwriting the loan even if an agent originates
      the loan. x Servicing Requirements. The lender must comply with the loan servicing
      requirements in this Handbook. The approved lender is responsible for proper
      servicing even if it has sub-contracted the servicing. x Counterparty Management
      and Third-party Providers. Lenders are responsible for managing all counterparty
      and third-party providers that may assist to the processing, underwriting, and
      servicing of SFHGLP loans. x Monitoring Requirements. The lender must submit
      all required reports and cooperate with all Agency monitoring efforts and information
      requests.'
  judgment: false
