Modifications of Commercial Mortgage Loans Held by a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC), 63523-63527 [E7-21987]

Agencies

• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 217 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63523-63527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21987]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG-127770-07]
RIN 1545-BG77


Modifications of Commercial Mortgage Loans Held by a Real Estate 
Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC)

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations that would expand 
the list of permitted loan modifications to include certain 
modifications of commercial mortgages. Changes to the regulations are 
necessary to better accommodate evolving commercial mortgage industry 
practices. These changes will affect lenders, borrowers, servicers, and 
sponsors of securitizations of mortgages in REMICs.

DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing 
must be received by February 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-127770-07), room 
5203, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, 
Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through 
Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-
127770-07), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, or sent electronically via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (IRS REG-127770-07).

[[Page 63524]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations, 
Diana Imholtz or Susan Thompson Baker, (202) 622-3930; concerning 
submissions of comments and requests for a public hearing, Kelly D. 
Banks, (202) 622-7180 (not toll free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the collection of information should be 
sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies to the Internal Revenue 
Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, 
Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collection of information should 
be received by January 8, 2008.
    Comments are specifically requested concerning:
    Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the Internal Revenue Service, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed 
collection of information;
    How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected may be enhanced;
    How the burden of complying with the proposed collections of 
information may be minimized, including through the application of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and
    Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of service to provide information.
    The collection of information in this proposed regulation is in 
Sec.  1.860G-2(b)(7). This information is required in order to show 
that modifications to mortgages permitted by the proposed regulation 
will not cause the modified mortgage to cease to be a qualified 
mortgage. The collection of information is voluntary to obtain a 
benefit. The likely respondents are businesses or other for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 3000 hours.
    Estimated average annual burden hours per respondent: 8.
    Estimated annual frequency of responses: 1.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Books or records relating to a collection of information must be 
retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Background

    This document contains proposed amendments to 26 CFR part 1 under 
section 860G of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The REMIC provisions 
under sections 860A through 860G provide for a pass-through vehicle 
that issues multiple classes of interests in pools of residential and 
commercial mortgage loans. All income from the mortgage loans in the 
REMIC is taxed to the holders of the regular and residual interests in 
the REMIC. Among the requirements for qualification are that the 
mortgage loans held by the REMIC must consist of ``qualified 
mortgages'' that are principally secured by an interest in real 
property. All loans must be acquired on the startup day of the REMIC or 
within three months thereafter, except that the REMIC may exchange a 
defective loan for a ``qualified replacement mortgage'' for up to two 
years.
    Section 1.860G-2(b)(1) of the Income tax regulations (the 
regulations) provides that, subject to certain exceptions described in 
Sec.  1.860G-2(b)(3), if an obligation is significantly modified, then 
the modified obligation is treated as one that was newly issued in 
exchange for the unmodified obligation that it replaced. If such a 
significant modification occurs after the obligation has been 
contributed to the REMIC and the modified obligation is not a qualified 
replacement mortgage, the modified obligation will not be a qualified 
mortgage and the deemed disposition of the unmodified obligation will 
be a prohibited transaction under section 860F(a)(2). Section 1.860G-
2(b)(2) defines a ``significant modification'' as any change in the 
terms of an obligation that would be treated as an exchange of 
obligations under section 1001 and the related regulations. The 
treatment of specific loan modifications as deemed exchanges is 
addressed in Sec.  1.1001-3. Section 1.1001-3 defines a loan 
modification and provides that a modification that is significant will 
be treated as a deemed exchange of the original loan for a new loan.
    Section 1.860G-2(b)(3) of the regulations sets forth four types of 
loan modifications that are expressly permitted without regard to the 
section 1001 modification rules. The four permitted modifications are: 
(i) Changes in the terms of the obligation occasioned by default or a 
reasonably foreseeable default; (ii) assumption of the obligation; 
(iii) waiver of a due-on-sale clause or a due on encumbrance clause; 
and (iv) conversion of an interest rate by a mortgagor pursuant to the 
terms of a convertible mortgage.
    The present REMIC regulations were adopted in 1992 at a time when 
the mortgage-backed securities market involved primarily residential 
mortgage loans. Since that time, the securitization of commercial 
mortgage loans has become more common. The four types of modifications 
that are expressly permitted without regard to the section 1001 
modification rules cover the most common changes affecting residential 
mortgage loans, but may not cover the range of likely changes in 
commercial mortgage loans.
    In Notice 2007-17, IRB 2007-12, the IRS and Treasury Department 
solicited input on whether the present REMIC regulations should be 
amended to permit additional types of modifications incurred in 
connection with the commercial mortgage loans. In response to Notice 
2007-17, the IRS and Treasury Department received three comments. See 
Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b).
    The first comment set forth a proposal to add six new types of 
permissible modifications: (1) A modification that releases, adds, 
substitutes or otherwise alters any portion of the collateral for, a 
guarantee of, or other form of credit enhancement for the obligation, 
whether recourse or nonrecourse (other than an alteration that causes 
the obligation not to be principally secured by an interest in real 
property); (2) a change in the obligation from recourse (or 
substantially all recourse) to nonrecourse (or substantially all 
nonrecourse), or vice versa; (3) a change in the date on which the 
obligation may be prepaid or defeased in whole or in part, or addition 
of a defeasance provision; (4) substitution of a new obligor or 
addition or deletion of a co-obligor on the obligation; (5) imposition 
or waiver of a prepayment penalty or other fee; and (6) a change of the 
principal payment schedule of a loan following a voluntary or 
involuntary prepayment of principal. The second comment set forth a 
proposal to add two new types of permissible modifications

[[Page 63525]]

relating to changes in collateral and defeasance that are substantially 
similar to proposals (1) and (3) of the first comment. In addition, the 
second comment set forth a proposal to revise the existing exception 
for assumptions of the obligation to include any substitution of a 
guarantor for a guarantee on, or other form of credit enhancement for, 
an obligation. The first and second comments also set forth examples of 
the most common changes to commercial loans requested by commercial 
borrowers to assist the IRS and Treasury Department in understanding 
the particular business need served by each proposed modification.
    Finally, the third comment requested that the IRS and Treasury 
Department consider a prior proposal advocating a new standard to 
measure materiality for modifications to loans held by a REMIC. Rather 
than adding specific types of loan modifications to the list of 
permitted modifications, the prior proposal recommended that the REMIC 
regulations be revised to provide that any change in the terms of a 
qualified mortgage will not cause it to cease to be a qualified 
mortgage so long as the change does not increase the principal amount 
or extend the maturity of the mortgage.
    IRS and Treasury Department personnel, including personnel from 
Large & Mid-Size Business (LMSB) and LMSB Division Counsel, reviewed 
all comments and met with certain of the submitting parties to explore 
the proposals and the analysis supporting those proposals. After 
consideration of all comments received, the IRS and Treasury Department 
believe that it is appropriate at this time to propose amendments to 
the REMIC regulations to permit certain additional types of 
modifications to commercial mortgages.

Explanation of Provisions

1. General

    The proposed regulations are intended to address the concerns 
raised by the commercial real estate industry that the existing REMIC 
regulations do not adequately accommodate legitimate business practices 
existing in the commercial mortgage securitization market. Submitting 
parties have indicated that the real property that secures a commercial 
mortgage loan is typically an active, income-generating, business 
property of the commercial loan borrower. Thus, in contrast to 
residential mortgage loans, there is a greater need to make ongoing 
changes to the terms of a commercial mortgage loan. For example, a 
borrower may request a release of a parcel of land from the lien of the 
mortgage to either sell or develop the land. Although the mortgage 
continues to be principally secured by an interest in real property 
following the release, such a change under the existing REMIC 
regulations might cause the mortgage to cease to be a qualified 
mortgage.
    The legislative history indicates that REMICs ``should be flexible 
enough to accommodate most legitimate business concerns while 
preserving the desired certainty of income tax treatment.'' S. Rep. No. 
99-313, 99th Cong., 2d Sess., at 792. The legislative history also 
indicates that a REMIC, to preserve its tax status, must consist of a 
substantially fixed pool of real estate mortgages and related assets 
and have ``no powers to vary the composition of its mortgage assets.'' 
S. Rep. No. 99-313, 99th Cong., 2d Sess., at 791-792. Accordingly, the 
proposed regulations are intended to strike a balance between 
accommodating the legitimate business concerns of the commercial real 
estate industry with the requirement that a REMIC remain a 
substantially fixed pool of mortgages and not be engaged in an active 
lending business.
    In weighing the business needs of the industry against 
Congressional intent that a REMIC consist of a fixed pool of qualified 
mortgages that are principally secured by real property and whose 
income can be accurately calculated as of the startup day, the IRS and 
Treasury Department applied four core concepts to each of the proposed 
modifications. First, to minimize changes to REMIC cash flows after the 
startup day, the IRS and Treasury Department analyzed whether a 
particular modification would be likely to produce any significant gain 
or loss to the REMIC. Second, the IRS and Treasury Department 
considered whether a mortgage loan, if permitted to be modified as 
requested by submitting parties, would remain principally secured by 
real property after the modification. Third, the IRS and Treasury 
Department examined the ability of the IRS to review and administer 
compliance with the requirements of a particular modification. Finally, 
the IRS and Treasury Department considered the business needs indicated 
by the industry for a borrower requesting a particular modification to 
the terms of the loan and whether that business need was adequately 
addressed by the current regulations.

2. Proposed Modifications

    In applying the four core concepts, the IRS and Treasury Department 
determined that proposals relating to changes in collateral, guarantees 
and credit enhancement of an obligation and changes to the recourse 
nature of an obligation should be added to the list of permitted 
exceptions under section 860G to the section 1001 modification rules. 
These changes would be permitted so long as the obligation continues to 
be principally secured by an interest in real property. The proposed 
regulations also would clarify that a release of a lien on real 
property collateral securing a mortgage does not disqualify a mortgage 
so long as the mortgage continues to be principally secured by an 
interest in real property after giving effect to any releases, 
substitutions, additions or other alterations to the collateral.
    Section 1.860G-2(a)(1) of the current regulations provides that an 
obligation is principally secured by an interest in real property if 
the fair market value of the real property that secures the obligation 
equals at least 80 percent of the adjusted issue price of the 
obligation. The current regulations require the 80-percent test to be 
satisfied either at the time the obligation was originated or at the 
time the sponsor contributes the obligation to the REMIC. To ensure 
that a modified mortgage loan continues to be principally secured by an 
interest in real property, the proposed regulations require the 80-
percent test to be satisfied at the time the mortgage loan is modified 
as determined by an appraisal performed by an independent appraiser.
    To support their proposals, commentators provided examples of loan 
modification requests that arise with some frequency in commercial 
mortgage loan securitizations. The majority of those examples involved 
requests to change the security or credit enhancement of an obligation. 
Accordingly, the IRS and Treasury Department expect that, by permitting 
changes to collateral and changes to the recourse nature of an 
obligation without regard to the section 1001 modification rules, the 
proposed regulations will resolve many of the industry's business 
concerns arising from borrower requests to modify commercial mortgage 
loans.

3. Other Modifications

    In balancing the competing interests noted in the preceding 
discussion, however, the IRS and Treasury Department determined that 
the remainder of the changes requested by commentators to accommodate 
business needs of the industry could not be adopted in the proposed 
regulations. First, commentators set forth a proposal to permit changes 
to the date on which

[[Page 63526]]

a commercial mortgage loan may be defeased and to permit the addition 
of a defeasance provision where the original terms of the mortgage loan 
do not otherwise provide. By defeasing a commercial mortgage loan, the 
borrower replaces the underlying real property collateral securing the 
mortgage with government securities whose payments match the mortgage's 
payments. Section 1.860G-2(a)(8) of the current regulations permits 
defeasance of a mortgage loan, under certain conditions, including the 
condition that the defeasance not occur within 2 years of the startup 
date of the REMIC. These conditions are intended to ensure that the 
defeasance transaction is undertaken as part of a customary commercial 
transaction and not as part of an arrangement to collateralize a REMIC 
with obligations that are not real estate mortgages.
    Commentators indicated that while defeasance is currently the 
preferred means by which a borrower can obtain an early release from 
liability on a commercial mortgage, the original terms of commercial 
loan documents do not always satisfy the current defeasance exception. 
Submitting parties maintain that expanding the borrower's ability to 
defease does not violate the policy against replacing real property 
securing a commercial mortgage with other collateral so long as the 
defeasance does not occur within two years of the startup date. The IRS 
and Treasury Department believe, however, that the current defeasance 
exception already adequately accommodates the legitimate business need 
of providing borrowers with the ability to defease a mortgage loan if 
certain conditions are met. Expanding the defeasance exception is not 
warranted given Congress' intent that REMICs consist of a substantially 
fixed pool of real estate mortgages and related assets.
    Second, commentators set forth a proposal to expand the existing 
exception for assumptions of the obligation such that any changes to 
the obligor on a commercial mortgage loan, including the addition or 
deletion of a co-obligor, would be permitted. In general, a change to 
the obligor on a nonrecourse debt instrument is not a significant 
modification for purposes of the section 1001 modification rules. The 
submitting parties indicated that the vast majority of commercial 
mortgage loans are nonrecourse. As a result, permitting a borrower to 
make changes to the obligor on a commercial mortgage would not 
generally cause the mortgage to cease to be a qualified mortgage. For 
this reason, the IRS and Treasury Department do not believe that 
expanding the existing exception for assumptions of the obligation is 
necessary to address a business need of the industry that was not 
already addressed by the current regulations.
    Third, the commentators set forth a proposal to allow for the 
imposition or waiver of a prepayment penalty. The imposition or waiver 
of a prepayment penalty generally results in a change in yield on an 
obligation and can further result in a significant modification under 
Sec.  1.1001-3(e)(2) of the regulations if the annual yield of the 
modified obligation varies from the unmodified obligation by more than 
the greater of 25 basis points or 5 percent of the yield of the 
unmodified instrument. Commentators indicated that although there is an 
administrative burden imposed on the servicer because the yield change 
computations are complicated and are performed frequently due to 
borrower requests, the change in yield resulting from an imposition or 
waiver of a prepayment penalty does not generally cause a significant 
modification and does not cause the mortgage to cease to be a qualified 
mortgage. Accordingly, the IRS and Treasury Department do not believe 
that adoption of this proposal is necessary to address a business need 
of the industry that was not already addressed by the current 
regulations.
    Fourth, commentators set forth a proposal to permit changes in the 
principal payment schedule following a partial prepayment of a 
mortgage. Commentators indicated that loan documents do not always 
provide for a reamortization or other adjustment of a principal payment 
schedule after a partial principal payment on a loan. In general, a 
material deferral of scheduled principal payments is a significant 
modification under the section 1001 modification rules. Section 1.1001-
3(e)(3)(ii) of the regulations, however, provides a safe harbor period 
that begins on the original due date of the first deferred payment and 
extends for a period equal to the lesser of 5 years or 50 percent of 
the original term of the obligation. In addition, a pro rata prepayment 
of all of the remaining payments on an obligation does not result in a 
modification of the portion of the obligation that remains outstanding.
    In light of the safe harbor and the rule for pro rata prepayments, 
it is not clear to the IRS and Treasury Department whether permitting 
changes to the timing of principal payments is necessary. In addition, 
it is not clear whether a change in the principal payment schedule of a 
commercial mortgage loan could result in a change in yield more than 
the greater of 25 basis points or 5 percent of the yield of the 
unmodified loan.
    Finally, one commentator advocated a new standard to measure 
materiality for modifications to loans held by a REMIC that departs 
from the standards set forth under section 1001. The IRS and Treasury 
Department continue to believe that the section 1001 standard should 
generally govern modifications of mortgage loans held by a REMIC. The 
IRS and Treasury Department further believe that adding to the list of 
exceptions expressly permitted without regard to the section 1001 
modifications strikes the appropriate balance between accommodating the 
business needs of the industry with the requirement that a REMIC remain 
a substantially fixed pool of mortgages.

4. Interaction With Section 1001

    The additional types of modifications permitted by the proposed 
regulations will exempt the modified obligation from deemed exchange 
treatment for purposes of Sec.  1.860G-2(b)(1) of the regulations only. 
For example, a commercial mortgage loan that is modified from 
nonrecourse to recourse and continues to be principally secured by an 
interest in real property will continue to be a qualified mortgage and 
will not be subject to the prohibited transaction tax under section 
860F(a)(2). Such a modification, however, is significant under Sec.  
1.1001-3 and will be treated as a deemed exchange of the original 
mortgage loan for a new mortgage loan for purposes of section 1001. 
Accordingly, any resulting gain or loss under section 1001 must be 
included in the computation of the REMIC's taxable income.

Effective Date

    These regulations are proposed to apply to modifications made to 
the terms of an obligation on or after publication of this document in 
the Federal Register as a Treasury decision.

Special Analyses

    It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is 
not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 
12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also 
been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act 
(5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to this regulation.
    It is hereby certified that the collection of information 
requirement in this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small business entities. This 
certification is based on the fact that the REMICs affected by this

[[Page 63527]]

regulation will not be classified as small business entities. According 
to the Small Business Administration definition of a ``small 
business,'' 13 CFR 121.201, a REMIC is classified under Sector 52 
(Finance and Insurance), Subsector 525 (Funds, Trusts and Other 
Financial Vehicles) under the category ``Other Financial Vehicle'', 
NAICS code 525990, and is only considered a small business entity if it 
accumulates less than 6.5 million dollars in annual receipts. REMICs 
affected by this regulation generally hold pools of commercial mortgage 
loans with an average loan size of 18.1 million dollars, and have 
greater than 6.5 million dollars in annual receipts. Therefore, a 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required.
    Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this 
regulation has been submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small 
business.

Comments and Requests for Public Hearing

    Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any written (a signed original and 8 
copies) or electronic comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. 
The IRS and Treasury Department request comments on the clarity of the 
proposed rules and how they can be made easier to understand. All 
comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public 
hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that 
timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, 
notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be 
published in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these proposed regulations is Diana Imholtz 
of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and 
Products). Other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department 
participated, however, in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

    Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding 
entries in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

    Section 1.860A-0 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 860G(e).
    Section 1.860A-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 860G(e).
    Section 1.860G-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 860G(e). * * *

    Par. 2. Section 1.860A-0 is amended by adding an entry for Sec.  
1.860G-2(b)(7) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.860A-0  Outline of REMIC provisions.

* * * * *


Sec.  1.860G-2  Other rules.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (7) Principally secured test; appraisal requirement.
* * * * *
    Par. 3. Section 1.860A-1 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(6) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.860A-1  Effective dates and transition rules.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (6) Exceptions for certain modified obligations. Paragraphs 
(b)(3)(v), (b)(3)(vi) and (b)(7) of Sec.  1.860G-2 apply to 
modifications made to the terms of an obligation on or after the date 
of publication of this document in the Federal Register as a Treasury 
decision.
    Par. 4. Section 1.860G-2 is amended by:
    1. Revising paragraphs (a)(8), (b)(3)(iii) and (b)(3)(iv).
    2. Adding paragraphs (b)(3)(v), (b)(3)(vi) and (b)(7).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.860G-2  Other rules.

    (a) * * *
    (8) Release of interest in real property securing a qualified 
mortgage; defeasance. If a REMIC releases its lien on real property 
that secures a qualified mortgage, that mortgage ceases to be a 
qualified mortgage on the date the lien is released unless--
    (i) The REMIC releases its lien pursuant to a modification 
described in paragraph (b)(3)(v) of this section addressing changes to 
the collateral for, guarantees on, or other form of credit enhancement 
on a mortgage; or
    (ii) The mortgage is defeased in the following manner--
    (A) The mortgagor pledges substitute collateral that consists 
solely of government securities (as defined in section 2(a)(16) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a-1));
    (B) The mortgage documents allow such a substitution;
    (C) The lien is released to facilitate the disposition of the 
property or any other customary commercial transaction, and not as part 
of an arrangement to collateralize a REMIC offering with obligations 
that are not real estate mortgages; and
    (D) The release is not within 2 years of the startup day.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) Waiver of a due-on-sale clause or a due on encumbrance 
clause;
    (iv) Conversion of an interest rate by a mortgagor pursuant to the 
terms of a convertible mortgage;
    (v) A modification that releases, substitutes, adds or otherwise 
alters a substantial amount of the collateral for, a guarantee on, or 
other form of credit enhancement for a recourse or nonrecourse 
obligation, so long as the obligation continues to be principally 
secured by an interest in real property following such release, 
substitution, addition or other alteration; and
    (vi) A change in the nature of the obligation from recourse (or 
substantially all recourse) to nonrecourse (or substantially all 
nonrecourse), so long as the obligation continues to be principally 
secured by an interest in real property following such a change.
* * * * *
    (7) Principally secured test; appraisal requirement. For purposes 
of paragraph (b)(3)(v) and (vi) of this section, in determining whether 
an obligation continues to be principally secured by an interest in 
real property, the fair market value of the interest in real property 
securing the obligation, determined as of the date of the modification, 
must be equal to at least 80 percent of the adjusted issue price of the 
modified obligation, determined as of the date of the modification. For 
purposes of this test, the fair market value of the interest in real 
property securing the obligation must be determined by an appraisal 
performed by an independent appraiser.
* * * * *

Linda E. Stiff,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E7-21987 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P