source:
  type: regulation
  id: respa-12usc-2604
  authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604 — Home buying information booklets
  description: 'RESPA Special Information Booklet ("Your Home Loan Toolkit") section.

    Two operative lender duties: (1) include with the booklet a good-faith

    estimate of charges plus a list of certified homeownership counselors

    in the lender''s area (subsec c); and (2) deliver the booklet to every

    federally related mortgage loan applicant for purchase of residential

    real estate not later than 3 business days after the lender receives

    the application (subsec d), unless the application is denied within

    that 3-day window.

    '
obligations:
- id: respa-12usc-2604-a
  canonical_id: respa-12usc-2604-a
  section: 12 U.S.C. §2604(a)
  description: '(a): (a) Preparation and distribution The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial
    Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall prepare, at least once
    every 5 years, a booklet to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage loans to understand
    the nature and co…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
    source_class: respa-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/2604
    snapshot_id: 73896d34c4e0cb82
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T16:52:38Z'
    content_hash: sha256:eed1ed20a71fe80591d75f18cf18c533ad071cab298e7398e15a7325ebf20ae2
    paragraph_quote: (a) Preparation and distribution The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial
      Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall prepare, at least once
      every 5 years, a booklet to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage loans to understand
      the nature and costs of real estate settlement services. The Director shall prepare the booklet
      in various languages and cultural styles, as the Director determines to be appropriate, so that
      the booklet is understandable and accessible to homebuyers of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
      The Director shall distribute such booklets to all lenders that make federally related mortgage
      loans . The Director shall also distribute to such lenders lists, organized by location, of homeownership
      counselors certified under section 1701x(e) of this title for use in complying with the requirement
      under subsection (c) of this section.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 U.S.C. §2604 from Cornell LII snapshot 73896d34c4e0cb82;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: respa-12usc-2604-b
  canonical_id: respa-12usc-2604-b
  section: 12 U.S.C. §2604(b)
  description: '(b): (b) Contents Each booklet shall be in such form and detail as the Director shall
    prescribe and, in addition to such other information as the Director may provide, shall include in
    plain and understandable language the following information: (1) A description and explanation of
    the nature and purpose…'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
    source_class: respa-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/2604
    snapshot_id: 73896d34c4e0cb82
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T16:52:38Z'
    content_hash: sha256:eed1ed20a71fe80591d75f18cf18c533ad071cab298e7398e15a7325ebf20ae2
    paragraph_quote: '(b) Contents Each booklet shall be in such form and detail as the Director shall
      prescribe and, in addition to such other information as the Director may provide, shall include
      in plain and understandable language the following information: (1) A description and explanation
      of the nature and purpose of the costs incident to a real estate settlement or a federally related
      mortgage loan . The description and explanation shall provide general information about the mortgage
      process as well as specific information concerning, at a minimum— (A) balloon payments; (B) prepayment
      penalties; (C) the advantages of prepayment; and (D) the trade-off between closing costs and the
      interest rate over the life of the loan. (2) An explanation and sample of the uniform settlement
      statement required by section 2603 of this title . (3) A list and explanation of lending practices,
      including those prohibited by the Truth in Lending Act or other applicable Federal law, and of other
      unfair practices and unreasonable or unnecessary charges to be avoided by the prospective buyer
      with respect to a real estate settlement. (4) A list and explanation of questions a consumer obtaining
      a federally related mortgage loan should ask regarding the loan, including whether the consumer
      will have the ability to repay the loan, whether the consumer sufficiently shopped for the loan,
      whether the loan terms include prepayment penalties or balloon payments, and whether the loan will
      benefit the borrower. (5) An explanation of the right of rescission as to certain transactions provided
      by sections 125 and 129 of the Truth in Lending Act [ 15 U.S.C. 1635 , 1639]. (6) A brief explanation
      of the nature of a variable rate mortgage and a reference to the booklet entitled “Consumer Handbook
      on Adjustable Rate Mortgages”, published by the Director, or to any suitable substitute of such
      booklet that the Director may subsequently adopt pursuant to such section. (7) A brief explanation
      of the nature of a home equity line of credit and a reference to the pamphlet required to be provided
      under section 127A of the Truth in Lending Act [ 15 U.S.C. 1637a ]. (8) Information about homeownership
      counseling services made available pursuant to section 1701x(a)(4) of this title , a recommendation
      that the consumer use such services, and notification that a list of certified providers of homeownership
      counseling in the area, and their contact information, is available. (9) An explanation of the nature
      and purpose of escrow accounts when used in connection with loans secured by residential real estate
      and the requirements under section 2609 of this title regarding such accounts. (10) An explanation
      of the choices available to buyers of residential real estate in selecting persons to provide necessary
      services incidental to a real estate settlement. (11) An explanation of a consumer’s responsibilities,
      liabilities, and obligations in a mortgage transaction. (12) An explanation of the nature and purpose
      of real estate appraisals, including the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection.
      (13) Notice that the Office of Housing of the Department of Housing and Urban Development has made
      publicly available a brochure regarding loan fraud and a World Wide Web address and toll-free telephone
      number for obtaining the brochure. (14) An explanation of flood insurance and the availability of
      flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program or from a private insurance company,
      whether or not the real estate is located in an area having special flood hazards, and the following
      statement: “Although you may not be required to maintain flood insurance on all structures, you
      may still wish to do so, and your mortgage lender may still require you to do so to protect the
      collateral securing the mortgage. If you choose to not maintain flood insurance on a structure,
      and it floods, you are responsible for all flood losses relating to that structure.”. The booklet
      prepared pursuant to this section shall take into consideration differences in real estate settlement
      procedures that may exist among the several States and territories of the United States and among
      separate political subdivisions within the same State and territory.'
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 U.S.C. §2604 from Cornell LII snapshot 73896d34c4e0cb82;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: respa-12usc-2604-c
  canonical_id: respa-12usc-2604-c
  section: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
  description: '(c): (c) Estimate of charges Each lender shall include with the booklet a good faith estimate
    of the amount or range of charges for specific settlement services the borrower is likely to incur
    in connection with the settlement as prescribed by the Bureau. Each lender shall also include with
    the booklet a…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
    source_class: respa-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/2604
    snapshot_id: 73896d34c4e0cb82
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T16:52:38Z'
    content_hash: sha256:eed1ed20a71fe80591d75f18cf18c533ad071cab298e7398e15a7325ebf20ae2
    paragraph_quote: (c) Estimate of charges Each lender shall include with the booklet a good faith estimate
      of the amount or range of charges for specific settlement services the borrower is likely to incur
      in connection with the settlement as prescribed by the Bureau. Each lender shall also include with
      the booklet a reasonably complete or updated list of homeownership counselors who are certified
      pursuant to section 1701x(e) of this title and located in the area of the lender.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 U.S.C. §2604 from Cornell LII snapshot 73896d34c4e0cb82;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: respa-12usc-2604-d
  canonical_id: respa-12usc-2604-d
  section: 12 U.S.C. §2604(d)
  description: '(d): (d) Distribution by lenders to loan applicants at time of receipt or preparation
    of applications Each lender referred to in subsection (a) shall provide the booklet described in such
    subsection to each person from whom it receives or for whom it prepares a written application to borrow
    money to fina…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
    source_class: respa-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/2604
    snapshot_id: 73896d34c4e0cb82
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T16:52:38Z'
    content_hash: sha256:eed1ed20a71fe80591d75f18cf18c533ad071cab298e7398e15a7325ebf20ae2
    paragraph_quote: (d) Distribution by lenders to loan applicants at time of receipt or preparation
      of applications Each lender referred to in subsection (a) shall provide the booklet described in
      such subsection to each person from whom it receives or for whom it prepares a written application
      to borrow money to finance the purchase of residential real estate. The lender shall provide the
      booklet in the version that is most appropriate for the person receiving it. Such booklet shall
      be provided by delivering it or placing it in the mail not later than 3 business days after the
      lender receives the application, but no booklet need be provided if the lender denies the application
      for credit before the end of the 3-day period.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 U.S.C. §2604 from Cornell LII snapshot 73896d34c4e0cb82;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: respa-12usc-2604-e
  canonical_id: respa-12usc-2604-e
  section: 12 U.S.C. §2604(e)
  description: '(e): (e) Printing and distribution by lenders of booklets approved by Bureau Booklets
    may be printed and distributed by lenders if their form and content are approved by the Bureau as
    meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. ( Pub. L. 93–533, § 5 , Dec. 22, 1974
    , 88 Stat. 1725 ; Pub. …'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 U.S.C. §2604(c)
    source_class: respa-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/2604
    snapshot_id: 73896d34c4e0cb82
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T16:52:38Z'
    content_hash: sha256:eed1ed20a71fe80591d75f18cf18c533ad071cab298e7398e15a7325ebf20ae2
    paragraph_quote: (e) Printing and distribution by lenders of booklets approved by Bureau Booklets
      may be printed and distributed by lenders if their form and content are approved by the Bureau as
      meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. ( Pub. L. 93–533, § 5 , Dec. 22, 1974
      , 88 Stat. 1725 ; Pub. L. 94–205, § 4 , Jan. 2, 1976 , 89 Stat. 1158 ; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX,
      § 951 , Oct. 28, 1992 , 106 Stat. 3892 ; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1098(3) , title XIV, § 1450,
      July 21, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2104 , 2174; Pub. L. 112–141, div. F, title II, § 100222 , July 6, 2012
      , 126 Stat. 934 ; Pub. L. 113–89, § 13(b) , Mar. 21, 2014 , 128 Stat. 1026 .)
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 U.S.C. §2604 from Cornell LII snapshot 73896d34c4e0cb82;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
