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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67740</law_id><section_number>38.2-1437</section_number><catch_line>Limitations on mortgages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-1434</reference><reference>38.2-1435</reference><reference>38.2-1437.1</reference><reference>38.2-1438</reference><reference>38.2-212</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Investments</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Category 1 Investments</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The amount of any loan secured by a mortgage or deed of trust referred to in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Mortgage loans" href="/38.2-1434/">38.2-1434</a> through <a class="law" title="Mortgage participations" href="/38.2-1436/">38.2-1436</a> shall not exceed the following percentages of the <span class="dictionary">fair market value</span> of the real estate: <a id="paragraph-245376" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Seventy-five percent for a leasehold loan made pursuant to subdivision 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Mortgage loans" href="/38.2-1434/">38.2-1434</a>; <a id="paragraph-245377" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Ninety percent for a loan made to an employee of the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>, other than a director or trustee thereof, whether such loan be made in connection with the initial employment of the employee or in connection with the transfer of the place of employment of the employee; or <a id="paragraph-245378" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Eighty percent for all other loans.
				However, the percentage limits specified in this subsection may be exceeded if the excess is (i) insured or guaranteed or is to be insured or guaranteed by the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, any <span class="dictionary">state</span> or any agency of either or (ii) insured by an <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> licensed to insure mortgage guaranty risks in this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-245379" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any loan made pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Mortgage loans" href="/38.2-1434/">38.2-1434</a> through <a class="law" title="Mortgage participations" href="/38.2-1436/">38.2-1436</a> not in compliance with the requirements of subsection A of this section shall be classified as a Category 2 investment in its entirety. <a id="paragraph-245380" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">fair market value</span> of the real estate interest mortgaged shall be determined by a written appraisal of at least one competent real estate appraiser as of the date of the initial loan commitment, which appraiser shall not be an employee of the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> nor an employee of any <span class="dictionary">company</span> controlled by or under common control with the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. If the loan commitment is revised to reflect a change in the value of the real estate, the <span class="dictionary">fair market value</span> shall be determined as of the date of that revision. <a id="paragraph-245381" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Buildings and other improvements on the mortgaged premises shall be insured against fire loss for the benefit of the mortgagee in an amount not less than the lesser of their insurable value or the unpaid principal balance of the <span class="dictionary">obligation</span>. <a id="paragraph-245382" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The maximum term of any mortgage or deed of trust referred to in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Mortgage loans" href="/38.2-1434/">38.2-1434</a> through <a class="law" title="Mortgage participations" href="/38.2-1436/">38.2-1436</a> secured by real property primarily improved by a single-family residence shall not exceed thirty years. <a id="paragraph-245383" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A domestic <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall not invest, under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Mortgage loans" href="/38.2-1434/">38.2-1434</a> through <a class="law" title="Mortgage participations" href="/38.2-1436/">38.2-1436</a>, more than two percent of its admitted <span class="dictionary">assets</span>, directly or indirectly, in mortgages covering any one secured location, nor more than four percent in the mortgages of any one obligor. <a id="paragraph-245384" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1437/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1983, c. 457, &#xA7; 38.1-217.40; 1986, c. 562; 1992, c. 588.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
