Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2026-2 (Bulletin) announcing revisions to the Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide. Per the Bulletin, Freddie Mac:

• Updated a loss mitigation policy related to a forbearance term requirement by requiring forbearance plans, including those for borrowers whose hardship is the result of an eligible disaster, to be applied in increments of 1 to 3 months (all other forbearance terms described in Guide Section 9203.3(a) (Forbearance Plans and Requirements) and disaster-specific requirements described in Section 8404.1(d)(ii) (Servicing Mortgages Impacted by a Disaster) will remain in effect, including delinquency limits and cumulative forbearance terms, as applicable);
• Updated Freddie Mac’s disaster loss mitigation policy by requiring the servicer to make a recommendation to Freddie Mac by submitting a forbearance extension request in Resolve if the borrower requests additional forbearance beyond a total of 12 months or beyond a total that would cause the borrower to exceed 12 months of delinquency and the request for additional forbearance is due to an eligible disaster;
• Updated a loss mitigation policy related to Special Freddie Mac Flex Modification eligibility requirements in Section 9206.1(c)(v) (Freddie Mac Flex Modification Overview, Eligibility, and Requirements);
• Updated a loss mitigation policy related to foreclosure protection for borrowers impacted by an eligible disaster in Section 9301.2(e)(i) (Preforeclosure and Referral Requirements);
• Updated Section 9201.2 (Freddie Mac Loss Mitigation Evaluation Hierarchy) to improve alignment with Fannie Mae and provide clearer guidance for servicers, who are now required to do the following:
  • Classify borrower hardships as temporary or permanent;
  • Assess hardship status and ability to repay; and
  • Select the most appropriate workout option accordingly;
• Added streamlined eligibility requirements into Section 9201.2 (Freddie Mac Loss Mitigation Evaluation Hierarchy) for easier reference and to clarify evaluation hierarchy standards for borrowers impacted by disasters;
• Adjusted requirements related to evaluation hierarchy standards for when the borrower has indicated a desire to sell or vacate the property to allow the servicer to consider the borrower for a short sale without first evaluating the borrower for a home retention option based on any eligible hardship;
• Enhanced Resolve to allow servicers to submit repayment plans and forbearance agreements through the Resolve user interface (UI);
• Updated Directory 9 to replace references to “Investor Reporting” to “Securities Operations” by changing the e-mail address associated with delivery of Guide Form 1034T (Document Custodial Certification Schedule for Transfer of Custody and Subsequent Transfers of Servicing) to Loan_Delivery_Funding_Ops@FreddieMac.com;
• Updated Exhibit 61 (Calculating Interest Due to Freddie Mac) to remove the delinquent interest calculation when the prior cycle Due Date of Last Paid Installment (DDLPI) is on or before the inactivation date; and
• Updated Section 3201.2 (Fraud and Other Suspicious Activity Reporting Requirements) to provide additional specificity related to fraud reporting requirements as well as what servicers are required to self-report.

Revisions related to loss mitigation updates to forbearance term requirements and Freddie Mac’s disaster loss mitigation policy are effective May 1, 2026. Revisions related to enhancements made to Resolve to allow servicers to submit repayment plans and forbearance agreements through the Resolve UI are effective October 1, 2026 (servicers, however, may implement as soon as April 27, 2026 if they are operationally ready to do so). All other revisions went into effect February 11, 2026.

Click to view the Freddie Mac Guide Bulletin 2026-02: https://www.tenaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Freddie-Mac-Guide-Bulletin-2026-02-02-11-26.pdf