Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2025-16 (Bulletin) announcing revisions to the Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide. Per the Bulletin, Freddie Mac:

• Announced baseline conforming loan limit values and designated High-Cost Area loan limit values for 2026;
• Updated requirements related to insurance coverage limits, deductibles, documentation, reporting, and compliance obligations to clarify requirements and better align with market practices;
• Updated requirements for determining the value used for certain mortgages secured by properties subject to resale restrictions;
• Revised language related to calculating tax-exempt income and included examples in the Selling Guide;
• Updated Exhibit 40 (Duty to Serve High-Needs Areas) to reflect the areas based on FHFA’s updated Rural Areas and High Needs Rural Regions Data, as a result of the updates published in Bulletin 2025-F;
• Added flexibility for CHOICEReno eXPress mortgages that are related to the updates made to Exhibit 40 (Duty to Serve High-Needs Areas);
• Updated fraud identification requirements by:
  • Adding property data collectors to the list of 3rd parties that must be approved, evaluated, and monitored;
  • Identifying fraud risk trends to guide selection of discretionary samples to broaden the populations of loans that may be at higher risk for fraud; and
  • Updating the frequency of updates to quality control policies and procedures to clarify that periodically means at least annually;
• Updated Guide Section 5602.3 (Automated Collateral Evaluation (ACE)-Appraisal Waiver) to identify conditions that prevent the lender from accepting an appraisal waiver offer;
• Updated Exhibit 5A (Authorized Changes to Notes, Riders, Security Instruments and the Uniform Residential Loan Application) to add an authorized change to permit originators to delete paragraph 30 from the Maryland Deed of Trust (Form 3021 07/2021 rev.06/2025) and the Maryland Short Form (Form 3021-SF 07/2021 rev. 06/2025), if it is not required;
• Retired Home Value Explorer (HVE) from external commercial availability as of July 31, 2025 and removed corresponding references from the Selling Guide; and
• Refactored Chapters 6201 (Guarantor and MultiLender Swap Programs), 6301 (Documentation Delivery), 6304 (Document Custody), and 6305 (Warehouse Financing Arrangements).

Revisions related to conforming loan limit values and designated HCA loan limit values are effective January 1, 2026. Revisions related to insurance are effective June 8, 2026. Revisions related to updated resale restriction requirements are effective for mortgages with application received dates on or after March 3, 2026 (lenders, however, are encouraged to implement immediately). Revisions related to Exhibit 40 are effective January 1, 2026. For CHOICEReno eXPress mortgages with application received dates on or before December 31, 2025 that are impacted by the amended Rural Areas and High Needs Rural Regions Data with Settlement Dates before April 1, 2026, lenders may determine the maximum financed renovation costs based on whether the mortgaged premises was located in a designated Duty to Serve high-needs area listed on Exhibit 40 in effect as of August 13, 2025. For CHOICEReno eXPress mortgages with application received dates on or after January 1, 2026, the lender must determine the maximum financed renovation costs based on whether the mortgaged premises is located in a designated Duty to Serve high-needs area listed on Exhibit 40 in effect as of January 1, 2026. Revisions related to fraud identification are effective December 10, 2025. Revision related to HVE are effective December 10, 2025. All other revisions are effective December 3, 2025.

Click to view the Freddie Mac Guide Bulletin 2025-16: https://www.tenaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Freddie-Mac-Guide-Bulletin-2025-16-12-3-25.pdf