Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 35524-35526 [2017-16042]
Download as PDF
35524
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Notices
wishes to comment concerning the
termination of the receivership, such
comment must be made in writing and
sent within thirty days of the date of
this notice to: Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, Division of Resolutions
and Receiverships, Attention:
Receivership Oversight Department
34.6, 1601 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX
75201.
No comments concerning the
termination of this receivership will be
considered which are not sent within
this time frame.
Dated: July 26, 2017.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–16038 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Notice to All Interested Parties of the
Termination of the Receivership of
10397—Citizens Bank of Northern
California; Nevada City, California
Notice is hereby given that the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (‘‘FDIC’’)
as Receiver for Citizens Bank of
Northern California, Nevada City,
California (‘‘the Receiver’’) intends to
terminate its receivership for said
institution. The FDIC was appointed
receiver of Citizens Bank of Northern
California on September 23, 2011. The
liquidation of the receivership assets
has been completed. To the extent
permitted by available funds and in
accordance with law, the Receiver will
be making a final dividend payment to
proven creditors.
Based upon the foregoing, the
Receiver has determined that the
continued existence of the receivership
will serve no useful purpose.
Consequently, notice is given that the
receivership shall be terminated, to be
effective no sooner than thirty days after
the date of this Notice. If any person
wishes to comment concerning the
termination of the receivership, such
comment must be made in writing and
sent within thirty days of the date of
this Notice to: Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, Division of
Resolutions and Receiverships,
Attention: Receivership Oversight
Department 34.6, 1601 Bryan Street,
Dallas, TX 75201.
No comments concerning the
termination of this receivership will be
considered which are not sent within
this time frame.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
17:38 Jul 28, 2017
Jkt 241001
[No. 2017–N–07]
[FR Doc. 2017–16067 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
BILLING CODE 6714–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
Notice to All Interested Parties of the
Termination of the Receivership of
10395—The First National Bank of
Florida Milton, Florida
Notice is hereby given that the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as
Receiver for The First National Bank of
Florida, Milton, Florida (‘‘the Receiver’’)
intends to terminate its receivership for
said institution. The FDIC was
appointed Receiver of The First
National Bank of Florida, Milton,
Florida on September 9, 2011. The
liquidation of the receivership assets
has been completed. To the extent
permitted by available funds and in
accordance with law, the Receiver will
be making a final dividend payment to
proven creditors.
Based upon the foregoing, the
Receiver has determined that the
continued existence of the receivership
will serve no useful purpose.
Consequently, notice is given that the
receivership shall be terminated, to be
effective no sooner than thirty days after
the date of this notice. If any person
wishes to comment concerning the
termination of the receivership, such
comment must be made in writing and
sent within thirty days of the date of
this notice to: Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, Division of Resolutions
and Receiverships, Attention:
Receivership Oversight Department
34.6, 1601 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX
75201.
No comments concerning the
termination of this receivership will be
considered which are not sent within
this time frame.
Dated: July 26, 2017.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–16039 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714–01–P
Dated: July 26, 2017.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE
AGENCY
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Federal Housing Finance
Agency.
ACTION: 30-Day notice of submission of
information collection for approval from
Office of Management and Budget.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA
or the Agency) is seeking public
comments concerning an information
collection known as the ‘‘Monthly
Survey of Rates and Terms on
Conventional 1-Family Nonfarm
Mortgage Loans (MIRS),’’ which has
been assigned control number 2590–
0004 by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). FHFA intends to submit
the information collection to OMB for
review and approval of a three-year
extension of the control number, which
is due to expire on July 31, 2017.
DATES: Interested persons may submit
comments on or before August 30, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs of the Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the
Federal Housing Finance Agency,
Washington, DC 20503, Fax: (202) 395–
3047, Email: OIRA_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please also submit
comments to FHFA, identified by
‘‘Proposed Collection; Comment
Request: ‘Monthly Survey of Rates and
Terms on Conventional 1-Family
Nonfarm Mortgage Loans (MIRS), (No.
2017–N–07)’ ’’ by any of the following
methods:
• Agency Web site: www.fhfa.gov/
open-for-comment-or-input.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. If
you submit your comment to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also
send it by email to FHFA at
RegComments@fhfa.gov to ensure
timely receipt by the agency.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Federal
Housing Finance Agency, Eighth Floor,
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington,
DC 20219, ATTENTION: Proposed
Collection; Comment Request: ‘‘Monthly
Survey of Rates and Terms on
Conventional 1-Family Nonfarm
Mortgage Loans (MIRS), (No. 2017–N–
07)’’.
We will post all public comments we
receive without change, including any
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Notices
personal information you provide, such
as your name and address, email
address, and telephone number, on the
FHFA Web site at https://www.fhfa.gov.
In addition, copies of all comments
received will be available for
examination by the public on business
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and
3 p.m., at the Federal Housing Finance
Agency, Eighth Floor, 400 Seventh
Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. To
make an appointment to inspect
comments, please call the Office of
General Counsel at (202) 649–3804.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David L. Roderer, Senior Financial
Analyst, David.L.Roderer@fhfa.gov,
(202) 649–3206; or Eric Raudenbush,
Associate General Counsel,
Eric.Raudenbush@fhfa.gov, (202) 649–
3084 (these are not toll-free numbers);
Federal Housing Finance Agency, 400
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC
20219. The Telecommunications Device
for the Hearing Impaired is (800) 877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES
A. Need for and Use of the Information
Collection
FHFA’s Monthly Survey of Rates and
Terms on Conventional 1-Family
Nonfarm Mortgage Loans, commonly
referred to as the ‘‘Monthly Interest Rate
Survey’’ or ‘‘MIRS,’’ is a monthly survey
of mortgage lenders that solicits
information on the terms and conditions
on all conventional, single-family, fully
amortized, purchase-money mortgage
loans closed during the last five working
days of the preceding month. The MIRS
collects monthly information on interest
rates, loan terms, and house prices by
property type (i.e., new or previously
occupied), by loan type (i.e., fixed- or
adjustable-rate), and by lender type (i.e.,
mortgage companies, savings
associations, commercial banks, and
savings banks), as well as information
on 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate loans.
In addition, the survey collects quarterly
information on conventional loans by
major metropolitan area and by Federal
Home Loan Bank district. The MIRS
does not collect information on loans
insured by the Federal Housing
Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by
the Veterans Administration (VA), loans
secured by multifamily property or
manufactured housing, or loans created
by refinancing another mortgage. The
MIRS is one of the most timely and
comprehensive sources of information
on conventional mortgage rates and
terms in the United States.
The MIRS originated with one of
FHFA’s predecessor agencies, the
former Federal Home Loan Bank Board
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:38 Jul 28, 2017
Jkt 241001
(FHLBB), in the 1960s and was
conducted by the former Federal
Housing Finance Board from 1989
through 2008. Data collected through
the MIRS was used to derive the
FHLBB’s National Average Contract
Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of
Previously Occupied Homes by
Combined Lenders (ARM Index), which
was used by lenders to set mortgage
rates on adjustable rate mortgages
(ARMs). For a period of years, Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac were required by
statute to use MIRS data in making
annual adjustments to their conforming
loan limits.
Since 2008, FHFA has continued to
conduct the MIRS and to produce the
ARM Index.1 For various reasons, the
number of loans reported to MIRS has
fallen dramatically over the long term,
which has resulted in the data sample
sizes becoming deficient.2 Although the
volume of loans reported has increased
moderately over the last several years,
FHFA possesses limited means to
compel survey recipients to provide
additional data. Despite this, the agency
believes it has a legal obligation to
continue to carry out the survey, and its
results continue to be relied upon by
many outside parties.
While adjustments in the conforming
loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac are no longer based solely on data
collected through the MIRS, MIRS data
remains one of the factors that FHFA is
required to consider in assessing the
national average one-family house price
for purposes of making those
adjustments.3 A few lenders use FHFA’s
ARM Index, derived from MIRS data, to
set interest rates on fixed rate loans. In
addition, businesses, trade associations,
and government agencies at both the
federal and state level rely upon the
MIRS data for various business and
regulatory purposes. For example,
economic policy makers have used the
MIRS data to determine trends in the
mortgage markets, including interest
rates, down payments, terms to
maturity, terms on ARMs, and initial
fees and charges on mortgage loans.
Other federal banking agencies, such as
the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and the Council of
Economic Advisors, have used the MIRS
results for research purposes. The
Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S.
Department of Commerce uses MIRS as
1 The MIRS and the ARM Index are described at
12 CFR 906.5.
2 All publications of MIRS data include a note
stating, ‘‘The indices are based on a small monthly
survey of mortgage lenders, which may not be
representative. The sample is not a statistical
sample but is rather a convenience sample.’’
3 See 12 U.S.C. 4542.
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
35525
a key component of some of the
economic statistics it is responsible for
tracking. In addition, statutes in several
states and U.S. territories refer to, or rely
upon, the MIRS or the ARM Index for
various purposes.4
The OMB control number for this
information collection is 2590–0004.
The current clearance for the
information collection expires on July
31, 2017.
B. Burden Estimate
The Agency received a total of 1,369
monthly MIRS data submissions from
45 unique survey respondents over the
period 2014–2016, representing an
average of 456.3 monthly submissions
per year from all respondents. Based on
that figure and the expectation that it
may receive slightly fewer data
submissions going forward as compared
to the last three years, FHFA estimates
that it will receive an average of 450
data submissions annually over the next
three years.
Most MIRS respondents submit their
monthly MIRS data electronically
through FHFA’s MIRS web interface.
Several, primarily larger, respondents
transmit an electronic data file to FHFA,
which then uploads the data to the same
web interface. A few respondents still
elect to complete FHFA Form #075 and
submit it by facsimile. FHFA believes
that, on average, a respondent will
spend 20 minutes transmitting each
monthly MIRS data set.
Thus, FHFA estimates that the
annualized hour burden on all
respondents imposed by this
information collection over the next
three years will be 150 hours (450
submissions x 0.33 hours).
C. Comments Request
In accordance with the requirements
of 5 CFR 1320.8(d), FHFA published a
request for public comments regarding
this information collection in the
Federal Register on May 25, 2017.5 The
60-day comment period closed on July
24, 2017. FHFA received one comment
letter, from the Bureau of Economic
Analysis of the U.S. Department of
Commerce (BEA). In its letter, BEA
states that it strongly supports FHFA’s
continued collection of data for the
MIRS, noting that the data are ‘‘crucial
to key components of BEA’s economic
statistics.’’ Specifically, BEA uses MIRS
data to track contract rates of interest
4 See, e.g., Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1916.7(b)(5)(A) and
1916.8(b)(1) (mortgage rates); Mich. Comp. Laws
§ 445.1621(d), 445.1624 (mortgage index rates); N.J.
Rev. Stat. 31:1–1(d) (interest rates); Wis. Stat.
§ 138.056(1)(a) (variable loan rates); V.I. Code Ann.
tit. 11, § 951(b)(2) (legal rate of interest).
5 See 82 FR 24127 (May 25, 2017).
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
35526
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Notices
and to estimate financial costs as part of
its estimate of rental income of persons
in the national income and product
accounts (NIPAs). Indirectly, the data
are used in the industry annual and
quarterly Input-Output and GDP-byIndustry accounts in the estimates of
gross output and value added for the
real estate sub-sector.
In accordance with the requirements
of 5 CFR 1320.10(a), FHFA is publishing
this second notice to request comments
regarding the following: (1) Whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of FHFA
functions, including whether the
information has practical utility; (2) the
accuracy of FHFA’s estimates of the
burdens of the collection of information;
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments should be submitted in
writing to both OMB and FHFA as
instructed above in the COMMENTS
section.
Dated: July 25, 2017.
Kevin Winkler,
Chief Information Officer, Federal Housing
Finance Agency.
1. Scott H. Soderberg, Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, individually and as trustee
of the Elizabeth Ann Soderberg
Irrevocable Trust dated 12/20/12, New
Richmond, Wisconsin, and Elizabeth A.
Soderberg, Minnetonka, Minnesota,
individually and as trustee of the Scott
H. Soderberg Irrevocable Trust dated
12/20/12, New Richmond, Wisconsin; to
acquire voting shares of One
Corporation and thereby indirectly
acquire shares of First National
Community Bank, both of New
Richmond, Wisconsin.
B. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas
City (Dennis Denney, Assistant Vice
President) 1 Memorial Drive, Kansas
City, Missouri 64198–0001:
1. Robert L. Lampert Trust No. 1 and
the Andra V. Lampert Trust No. 1, both
of Beloit, Kansas; individually and part
of the Lamber Family Group to retain
voting shares of First National
Bankshares of Beloit, Inc. (the
company), and thereby indirectly retain
shares of The First National Bank of
Beloit, both of Beloit, Kansas.
Additionally, the Larry D. Lampert
Trust No. 1, Beloit, Kansas, to join the
the Lampert Family Group, which
acting in concert controls the company.
[FR Doc. 2017–16042 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, July 26, 2017.
Yao-Chin Chao,
Assistant Secretary of the Board.
BILLING CODE 8070–01–P
[FR Doc. 2017–16065 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Change in Bank Control Notices;
Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or
Bank Holding Company
[File No. 171 0052]
The notificants listed below have
applied under the Change in Bank
Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and
§ 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12
CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank
or bank holding company. The factors
that are considered in acting on the
notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of
the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The notices are available for
immediate inspection at the Federal
Reserve Bank indicated. The notices
also will be available for inspection at
the offices of the Board of Governors.
Interested persons may express their
views in writing to the Reserve Bank
indicated for that notice or to the offices
of the Board of Governors. Comments
must be received not later than August
15, 2017.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis (Brendan S. Murrin,
Assistant Vice President) 90 Hennepin
Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55480–0291:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:38 Jul 28, 2017
Jkt 241001
Baxter International Inc., Claris
Lifesciences Limited, and Arjun
Handa; Analysis To Aid Public
Comment
Federal Trade Commission.
Proposed Consent Agreement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The consent agreement in this
matter settles alleged violations of
federal law prohibiting unfair methods
of competition. The attached Analysis to
Aid Public Comment describes both the
allegations in the complaint and the
terms of the consent orders—embodied
in the consent agreement—that would
settle these allegations.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before August 21, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a
comment online or on paper, by
following the instructions in the
Request for Comment part of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below. Write: ‘‘In the Matter of Baxter
International Inc., File No. 171–0052’’
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
on your comment, and file your
comment online at https://
ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/
baxterclarisconsent by following the
instructions on the web-based form. If
you prefer to file your comment on
paper, write ‘‘In the Matter of Baxter
International Inc., File No. 171–0052’’
on your comment and on the envelope,
and mail your comment to the following
address: Federal Trade Commission,
Office of the Secretary, 600
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite CC–
5610 (Annex D), Washington, DC 20580,
or deliver your comment to the
following address: Federal Trade
Commission, Office of the Secretary,
Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW.,
5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex D),
Washington, DC 20024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kari
Wallace (202–326–3085), Bureau of
Competition, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20580.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Section 6(f) of the Federal Trade
Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and
FTC Rule 2.34, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is
hereby given that the above-captioned
consent agreement containing a consent
order to cease and desist, having been
filed with and accepted, subject to final
approval, by the Commission, has been
placed on the public record for a period
of thirty (30) days. The following
Analysis to Aid Public Comment
describes the terms of the consent
agreement, and the allegations in the
complaint. An electronic copy of the
full text of the consent agreement
package can be obtained from the FTC
Home Page (for July 20, 2017), on the
World Wide Web, at https://
www.ftc.gov/news-events/commissionactions.
You can file a comment online or on
paper. For the Commission to consider
your comment, we must receive it on or
before August 21, 2017. Write ‘‘In the
Matter of Baxter International Inc., File
No. 171–0052’’ on your comment. Your
comment—including your name and
your state—will be placed on the public
record of this proceeding, including, to
the extent practicable, on the public
Commission Web site, at https://
www.ftc.gov/policy/public-comments.
Postal mail addressed to the
Commission is subject to delay due to
heightened security screening. As a
result, we encourage you to submit your
comments online. To make sure that the
Commission considers your online
comment, you must file it at https://
ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/
baxterclarisconsent by following the
instructions on the web-based form. If
this Notice appears at https://
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 145 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35524-35526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16042]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY
[No. 2017-N-07]
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency.
ACTION: 30-Day notice of submission of information collection for
approval from Office of Management and Budget.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA or the
Agency) is seeking public comments concerning an information collection
known as the ``Monthly Survey of Rates and Terms on Conventional 1-
Family Nonfarm Mortgage Loans (MIRS),'' which has been assigned control
number 2590-0004 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FHFA
intends to submit the information collection to OMB for review and
approval of a three-year extension of the control number, which is due
to expire on July 31, 2017.
DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on or before August 30,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer
for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Washington, DC 20503, Fax:
(202) 395-3047, Email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please also submit
comments to FHFA, identified by ``Proposed Collection; Comment Request:
`Monthly Survey of Rates and Terms on Conventional 1-Family Nonfarm
Mortgage Loans (MIRS), (No. 2017-N-07)' '' by any of the following
methods:
Agency Web site: www.fhfa.gov/open-for-comment-or-input.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. If you submit your
comment to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also send it by email
to FHFA at RegComments@fhfa.gov to ensure timely receipt by the agency.
Mail/Hand Delivery: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Eighth
Floor, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20219, ATTENTION:
Proposed Collection; Comment Request: ``Monthly Survey of Rates and
Terms on Conventional 1-Family Nonfarm Mortgage Loans (MIRS), (No.
2017-N-07)''.
We will post all public comments we receive without change,
including any
[[Page 35525]]
personal information you provide, such as your name and address, email
address, and telephone number, on the FHFA Web site at https://www.fhfa.gov. In addition, copies of all comments received will be
available for examination by the public on business days between the
hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Federal Housing Finance Agency,
Eighth Floor, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. To make an
appointment to inspect comments, please call the Office of General
Counsel at (202) 649-3804.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Roderer, Senior Financial
Analyst, David.L.Roderer@fhfa.gov, (202) 649-3206; or Eric Raudenbush,
Associate General Counsel, Eric.Raudenbush@fhfa.gov, (202) 649-3084
(these are not toll-free numbers); Federal Housing Finance Agency, 400
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. The Telecommunications Device
for the Hearing Impaired is (800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Need for and Use of the Information Collection
FHFA's Monthly Survey of Rates and Terms on Conventional 1-Family
Nonfarm Mortgage Loans, commonly referred to as the ``Monthly Interest
Rate Survey'' or ``MIRS,'' is a monthly survey of mortgage lenders that
solicits information on the terms and conditions on all conventional,
single-family, fully amortized, purchase-money mortgage loans closed
during the last five working days of the preceding month. The MIRS
collects monthly information on interest rates, loan terms, and house
prices by property type (i.e., new or previously occupied), by loan
type (i.e., fixed- or adjustable-rate), and by lender type (i.e.,
mortgage companies, savings associations, commercial banks, and savings
banks), as well as information on 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate loans.
In addition, the survey collects quarterly information on conventional
loans by major metropolitan area and by Federal Home Loan Bank
district. The MIRS does not collect information on loans insured by the
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Veterans
Administration (VA), loans secured by multifamily property or
manufactured housing, or loans created by refinancing another mortgage.
The MIRS is one of the most timely and comprehensive sources of
information on conventional mortgage rates and terms in the United
States.
The MIRS originated with one of FHFA's predecessor agencies, the
former Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB), in the 1960s and was
conducted by the former Federal Housing Finance Board from 1989 through
2008. Data collected through the MIRS was used to derive the FHLBB's
National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously
Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders (ARM Index), which was used by
lenders to set mortgage rates on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). For
a period of years, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were required by statute
to use MIRS data in making annual adjustments to their conforming loan
limits.
Since 2008, FHFA has continued to conduct the MIRS and to produce
the ARM Index.\1\ For various reasons, the number of loans reported to
MIRS has fallen dramatically over the long term, which has resulted in
the data sample sizes becoming deficient.\2\ Although the volume of
loans reported has increased moderately over the last several years,
FHFA possesses limited means to compel survey recipients to provide
additional data. Despite this, the agency believes it has a legal
obligation to continue to carry out the survey, and its results
continue to be relied upon by many outside parties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The MIRS and the ARM Index are described at 12 CFR 906.5.
\2\ All publications of MIRS data include a note stating, ``The
indices are based on a small monthly survey of mortgage lenders,
which may not be representative. The sample is not a statistical
sample but is rather a convenience sample.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While adjustments in the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac are no longer based solely on data collected through the
MIRS, MIRS data remains one of the factors that FHFA is required to
consider in assessing the national average one-family house price for
purposes of making those adjustments.\3\ A few lenders use FHFA's ARM
Index, derived from MIRS data, to set interest rates on fixed rate
loans. In addition, businesses, trade associations, and government
agencies at both the federal and state level rely upon the MIRS data
for various business and regulatory purposes. For example, economic
policy makers have used the MIRS data to determine trends in the
mortgage markets, including interest rates, down payments, terms to
maturity, terms on ARMs, and initial fees and charges on mortgage
loans. Other federal banking agencies, such as the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and the Council of Economic Advisors,
have used the MIRS results for research purposes. The Bureau of
Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce uses MIRS as a key
component of some of the economic statistics it is responsible for
tracking. In addition, statutes in several states and U.S. territories
refer to, or rely upon, the MIRS or the ARM Index for various
purposes.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See 12 U.S.C. 4542.
\4\ See, e.g., Cal. Civ. Code Sec. Sec. 1916.7(b)(5)(A) and
1916.8(b)(1) (mortgage rates); Mich. Comp. Laws Sec. 445.1621(d),
445.1624 (mortgage index rates); N.J. Rev. Stat. 31:1-1(d) (interest
rates); Wis. Stat. Sec. 138.056(1)(a) (variable loan rates); V.I.
Code Ann. tit. 11, Sec. 951(b)(2) (legal rate of interest).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The OMB control number for this information collection is 2590-
0004. The current clearance for the information collection expires on
July 31, 2017.
B. Burden Estimate
The Agency received a total of 1,369 monthly MIRS data submissions
from 45 unique survey respondents over the period 2014-2016,
representing an average of 456.3 monthly submissions per year from all
respondents. Based on that figure and the expectation that it may
receive slightly fewer data submissions going forward as compared to
the last three years, FHFA estimates that it will receive an average of
450 data submissions annually over the next three years.
Most MIRS respondents submit their monthly MIRS data electronically
through FHFA's MIRS web interface. Several, primarily larger,
respondents transmit an electronic data file to FHFA, which then
uploads the data to the same web interface. A few respondents still
elect to complete FHFA Form #075 and submit it by facsimile. FHFA
believes that, on average, a respondent will spend 20 minutes
transmitting each monthly MIRS data set.
Thus, FHFA estimates that the annualized hour burden on all
respondents imposed by this information collection over the next three
years will be 150 hours (450 submissions x 0.33 hours).
C. Comments Request
In accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.8(d), FHFA
published a request for public comments regarding this information
collection in the Federal Register on May 25, 2017.\5\ The 60-day
comment period closed on July 24, 2017. FHFA received one comment
letter, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of
Commerce (BEA). In its letter, BEA states that it strongly supports
FHFA's continued collection of data for the MIRS, noting that the data
are ``crucial to key components of BEA's economic statistics.''
Specifically, BEA uses MIRS data to track contract rates of interest
[[Page 35526]]
and to estimate financial costs as part of its estimate of rental
income of persons in the national income and product accounts (NIPAs).
Indirectly, the data are used in the industry annual and quarterly
Input-Output and GDP-by-Industry accounts in the estimates of gross
output and value added for the real estate sub-sector.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See 82 FR 24127 (May 25, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.10(a), FHFA is
publishing this second notice to request comments regarding the
following: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of FHFA functions, including whether the
information has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FHFA's estimates
of the burdens of the collection of information; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be
submitted in writing to both OMB and FHFA as instructed above in the
COMMENTS section.
Dated: July 25, 2017.
Kevin Winkler,
Chief Information Officer, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2017-16042 Filed 7-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P