N.M. Stat. § 58-21A-5
Limitations and prohibited practices for high-cost home
loans.
A. No creditor or mortgage loan originator making a high-cost home loan shall
directly or indirectly finance any points or fees in excess of two percent of the principal
loan amount.
B. No creditor shall make a high-cost home loan that contains a provision that
increases the interest rate after default, provided that this provision does not apply to
interest rate changes in a variable rate loan otherwise consistent with the provisions of
the loan documents if the change in the interest rate is not triggered by the event of
default or the acceleration of the indebtedness.
C. Without regard to whether a borrower is acting individually or on behalf of others
similarly situated, a provision of a high-cost home loan agreement that allows a party to
require a borrower to assert any claim or defense in a forum that is less convenient,
more costly or more dilatory for the resolution of a dispute than a judicial forum where
the borrower may otherwise properly bring a claim or defense or limits in any way any
claim or defense the borrower may have is unconscionable and void.
D. No creditor or mortgage loan originator shall make a high-cost home loan without
first receiving certification from a third-party, nonprofit counselor approved by the United
States department of housing and urban development, the New Mexico mortgage
finance authority or the director of the financial institutions division of the regulation and
licensing department that the borrower has received counseling on the advisability of
the loan transaction.
E. A creditor or mortgage loan originator shall not make a high-cost home loan
unless the creditor has given the following notice, or a substantially similar notice, in
writing, to the borrower, acknowledged in writing and signed by the borrower not later
than the time the notice is required under the notice provision contained in 12 C.F.R.
s.226.31(c):
NOTICE TO BORROWER
YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A LOAN AT A
LOWER COST. YOU SHOULD SHOP AROUND AND COMPARE LOAN RATES AND
FEES. MORTGAGE LOAN RATES AND CLOSING COSTS AND FEES VARY BASED
ON MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING YOUR PARTICULAR CREDIT AND FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, THE LOAN-TO-VALUE
REQUESTED AND THE TYPE OF PROPERTY THAT WILL SECURE YOUR LOAN.
THE LOAN RATE AND FEES COULD ALSO VARY BASED ON WHICH CREDITOR
OR BROKER YOU SELECT.
IF YOU ACCEPT THE TERMS OF THIS LOAN, THE CREDITOR WILL HAVE A
MORTGAGE LIEN ON YOUR HOME. YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HOME AND ANY
MONEY YOU PUT INTO IT IF YOU DO NOT MEET YOUR PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
UNDER THE LOAN.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW AND A QUALIFIED
INDEPENDENT CREDIT COUNSELOR OR OTHER EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL
ADVISOR REGARDING THE RATE, FEES AND PROVISIONS OF THIS MORTGAGE
LOAN BEFORE YOU PROCEED. A LIST OF QUALIFIED COUNSELORS IS
AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING THE NEW MEXICO REGULATION AND LICENSING
DEPARTMENT.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS LOAN AGREEMENT MERELY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS DISCLOSURE OR HAVE SIGNED A LOAN
APPLICATION. REMEMBER, PROPERTY TAXES AND HOMEOWNER'S
INSURANCE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. NOT ALL CREDITORS PROVIDE
ESCROW SERVICES FOR THESE PAYMENTS. YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR
CREDITOR ABOUT THESE SERVICES.
ALSO, YOUR PAYMENTS ON EXISTING DEBTS CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CREDIT
RATINGS. YOU SHOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY ADVICE TO IGNORE YOUR REGULAR
PAYMENTS TO YOUR EXISTING CREDITORS.