VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6

Name: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — machine-readable register
Creator: Claude for Compliance
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

va-m26-4-ch06

VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6, verbatim from VA KnowVA (article 554400000314375, updated Dec 16, 2025).

This register: .xlsx .csv

source:
  type: regulation
  id: va-m26-4-ch06
  authority: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6
  description: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6, verbatim from VA KnowVA (article 554400000314375, updated Dec 16, 2025).
  coverage_tier: operative
  effective_date: '2025-12-16'
  relocation_note:
    headline: Source relocated — VA decommissioned WARMS
    detail: VA's Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS) was decommissioned in 2026. Every benefits.va.gov/WARMS URL now redirects to a KnowVA welcome page, so citations pointing there no longer resolve — including in most published rule libraries and in AI search results. This register was rebuilt from VA's current KnowVA source and is verbatim against a snapshot taken at that time.
    links:
      - label: How the M26-4 source moved, and what changed
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      - label: VA KnowVA (current source)
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obligations:
  - id: va-m26-4-ch06-6-01
    canonical_id: va-m26-4-ch06-6-01
    section: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — 6.01
    description: 6.01 PRE-APPROVAL a. VA requires servicers to follow VA regulatoryrequirements for servicing loans guaranteed by VA, unless extenuatingcircumstances prevent them from doing so. If servicers must deviate from aregulatory requirement, they can submit a pre-approval request to VA for review. A pre-approval means “prior approval” to deviate f
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      - m26
      - '4'
      - ch06
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — PRE-APPROVAL
      source_class: va-handbook-m26-4
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      paragraph_quote: "6.01\_ PRE-APPROVAL\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ a.\_ VA requires servicers to follow VA regulatoryrequirements for servicing loans guaranteed by VA, unless extenuatingcircumstances prevent them from doing so. \_If servicers must deviate from aregulatory requirement, they can submit a pre-approval request to VA for review.\_A pre-approval means “prior approval” to deviate from a regulation based onthe circumstances of the loan.\_\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ b.\_ Servicers may request to deviate from a regulationmore than once if circumstances change during the life of the loan.\_ If aservicer needs to deviate from multiple regulations at a given time, theyshould submit all requests to deviate in one pre-approval request.\_ It is theservicer’s responsibility to adhere to all other regulatory requirements andensure all actions are in the best interest of the Veteran and Government.\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ c.\_ Servicers must submit a pre-approval request to theVA Loan Electronic Reporting Interface (VALERI) through the Servicer Web Portal(SWP), along with supporting documentation to justify the need to deviate froma VA regulation."
      drafter_attestation: Verbatim §6.01 from KnowVA article 554400000314375 (updated Dec 16, 2025), snapshot 2c17fa21b37f7f39. Boundaries derived by last-occurrence section heading rule; substring-, tiling- and conservation-verified against the snapshot. No text added, removed or reordered.
      effective_date: '2025-12-16'
      effective_date_source: va-article-updated
  - id: va-m26-4-ch06-6-02
    canonical_id: va-m26-4-ch06-6-02
    section: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — 6.02
    description: '6.02 PRE-APPROVAL REGULATIONS a. Pre-approval regulations are: 1. Modifyinga current loan (36.4315(a)(1)). 2. Modifyinga loan with less than 12 payments (36.4315(a)(4)). 3. Modifyinga loan more than once in a 3-year period (36.4315(7)). 4. Modifyinga loan more than 3 times (36.4315(7)). 5. Modifyinga loan with questionable credit history'
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    tags:
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    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — PRE-APPROVAL REGULATIONS
      source_class: va-handbook-m26-4
      source_url: https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000314375
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      paragraph_quote: "6.02\_ PRE-APPROVAL REGULATIONS\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ a.\_ Pre-approval regulations are:\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 1.\_ Modifyinga current loan (36.4315(a)(1)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 2.\_ Modifyinga loan with less than 12 payments (36.4315(a)(4)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 3.\_ Modifyinga loan more than once in a 3-year period (36.4315(7)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 4.\_ Modifyinga loan more than 3 times (36.4315(7)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 5.\_ Modifyinga loan with questionable credit history (36.4315(a)(3)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 6.\_ Modifyinga loan with an interest rate exceeding Freddie Mac rate requirements\n\n(36.4315(a)(8)(i)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 7.\_ Modifyinga loan with an interest rate more than 1 percent higher than an existing rate\n\n(36.4315(a)(8)(ii)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 8.\_ Modifyinga loan with a term longer than allowable (36.4315(a)(9)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 9.\_ Acceptanceof a compromise sale for less than net value (36.4322(e)(1)(ii)).\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ 10.\_ Other regulatoryrequirement.\_ Any deviation from regulatory requirements caused\n\nby unusual circumstances.\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ b.\_ The VA-assigned technician will review thedocumentation provided by the servicer, as well as their pre-approval request.\_If further clarification is needed during the review from the servicer, thetechnician will contact the servicer. \_The technician will notify the servicerof VA’s pre-approval decision by email or telephone.\_ VA’s decision can also beviewed on the Pre-Approval Status Report and on the individual case in the SWP.\n\n\_\n\n\_\_ c.\_ VA will only complete an underwriting review on aloan modification if the servicer is requesting to modify a loan withquestionable credit history or requests VA to review underwriting as part oftheir justification."
      drafter_attestation: Verbatim §6.02 from KnowVA article 554400000314375 (updated Dec 16, 2025), snapshot 2c17fa21b37f7f39. Boundaries derived by last-occurrence section heading rule; substring-, tiling- and conservation-verified against the snapshot. No text added, removed or reordered.
      effective_date: '2025-12-16'
      effective_date_source: va-article-updated

Verbatim regulatory text (2)

Verbatim provisions from VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — each quote is a verified substring of the regulator-published source snapshot, not retyped. Quoted for reference; this is not legal advice. The operational layer (P&P updates, prompts) lives in the regulation update kits.

VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — 6.01

Effective 2025-12-16 · VA article last updated

6.01 PRE-APPROVAL a. VA requires servicers to follow VA regulatoryrequirements for servicing loans guaranteed by VA, unless extenuatingcircumstances prevent them from doing so. If servicers must deviate from aregulatory requirement, they can submit a pre-approval request to VA for review. A pre-approval means “prior approval” to deviate from a regulation based onthe circumstances of the loan. b. Servicers may request to deviate from a regulationmore than once if circumstances change during the life of the loan. If aservicer needs to deviate from multiple regulations at a given time, theyshould submit all requests to deviate in one pre-approval request. It is theservicer’s responsibility to adhere to all other regulatory requirements andensure all actions are in the best interest of the Veteran and Government. c. Servicers must submit a pre-approval request to theVA Loan Electronic Reporting Interface (VALERI) through the Servicer Web Portal(SWP), along with supporting documentation to justify the need to deviate froma VA regulation.

Source: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — PRE-APPROVAL · source URL · snapshot 2c17fa21b37f7f39

VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — 6.02

Effective 2025-12-16 · VA article last updated

6.02 PRE-APPROVAL REGULATIONS a. Pre-approval regulations are: 1. Modifyinga current loan (36.4315(a)(1)). 2. Modifyinga loan with less than 12 payments (36.4315(a)(4)). 3. Modifyinga loan more than once in a 3-year period (36.4315(7)). 4. Modifyinga loan more than 3 times (36.4315(7)). 5. Modifyinga loan with questionable credit history (36.4315(a)(3)). 6. Modifyinga loan with an interest rate exceeding Freddie Mac rate requirements (36.4315(a)(8)(i)). 7. Modifyinga loan with an interest rate more than 1 percent higher than an existing rate (36.4315(a)(8)(ii)). 8. Modifyinga loan with a term longer than allowable (36.4315(a)(9)). 9. Acceptanceof a compromise sale for less than net value (36.4322(e)(1)(ii)). 10. Other regulatoryrequirement. Any deviation from regulatory requirements caused by unusual circumstances. b. The VA-assigned technician will review thedocumentation provided by the servicer, as well as their pre-approval request. If further clarification is needed during the review from the servicer, thetechnician will contact the servicer. The technician will notify the servicerof VA’s pre-approval decision by email or telephone. VA’s decision can also beviewed on the Pre-Approval Status Report and on the individual case in the SWP. c. VA will only complete an underwriting review on aloan modification if the servicer is requesting to modify a loan withquestionable credit history or requests VA to review underwriting as part oftheir justification.

Source: VA Servicer Handbook M26-4 Chapter 6 — PRE-APPROVAL REGULATIONS · source URL · snapshot 2c17fa21b37f7f39

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