Mortgage laws by state: closing practice, homestead, recording taxes, prepayment and licensing

Federal law decides what a lender must disclose and when; state law decides who sits at the closing table, whether a spouse must sign, what the county charges to record the lien, whether the loan may carry a prepayment penalty, how predatory lending is defined and who licenses the lender. 15 states follow attorney-closing practice, 9 are community property states, and a dozen tax the mortgage itself. Pick your state.

Related state pages: foreclosure law by state · hard money rules by state · first-time buyer programs by state. Federal layer: all regulations.

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