Definitions — Us Code Code § 3802

Us Code Code § 3802 — Definitions. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 3802. Definitions

As used in this chapter—

(1) the term "alternative mortgage transaction" means a loan or credit sale secured by an interest in residential real property, a dwelling, all stock allocated to a dwelling unit in a residential cooperative housing corporation, or a residential manufactured home (as that term is defined in section 5402(6) of title 42), in which the interest rate or finance charge may be adjusted or renegotiated, described and defined by applicable regulation; and

(2) the term "housing creditor" means—

(A) a depository institution, as defined in section 501(a)(2) of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980;

(B) a lender approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for participation in any mortgage insurance program under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.];

(C) any person who regularly makes loans, credit sales, or advances secured by interests in properties referred to in paragraph (1); or

(D) any transferee of any of them.


A person is not a "housing creditor" with respect to a specific alternative mortgage transaction if, except for this chapter, in order to enter into that transaction, the person would be required to comply with licensing requirements imposed under State law, unless such person is licensed under applicable State law and such person remains, or becomes, subject to the applicable regulatory requirements and enforcement mechanisms provided by State law.

(Pub. L. 97–320, title VIII, §803, Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1545; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, §1083(a)(1), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2080.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 501(a)(2) of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980, referred to in par. (2)(A), is section 501(a)(2) of Pub. L. 96–221, title V, Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 161, which is set out as a note under section 1735f–7 of this title.

The National Housing Act, referred to in par. (2)(B), is act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246, which is classified principally to chapter 13 (§1701 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1701 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–203 substituted "section 5402(6) of title 42), in which the interest rate or finance charge may be adjusted or renegotiated, described and defined by applicable regulation; and" for "section 5402(6) of title 42)—

"(A) in which the interest rate or finance charge may be adjusted or renegotiated;

"(B) involving a fixed-rate, but which implicitly permits rate adjustments by having the debt mature at the end of an interval shorter than the term of the amortization schedule; or

"(C) involving any similar type of rate, method of determining return, term, repayment, or other variation not common to traditional fixed-rate, fixed-term transactions, including without limitation, transactions that involve the sharing of equity or appreciation;

described and defined by applicable regulation; and".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–203, title X, §1083(b), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2081, provided that: "This section [amending this section and section 3803 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section shall become effective on the designated transfer date."

[For definition of "designated transfer date", see section 5481 of this title.]

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 15, 1982, see section 807(a) of Pub. L. 97–320, set out as a note under section 3801 of this title.

Construction of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–203, title X, §1083(c), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2081, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 3803 of this title] shall not affect any transaction covered by the Alternative Mortgage Transaction Parity Act of l982 (12 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) and entered into on or before the designated transfer date."

[For definition of "designated transfer date", see section 5481 of this title.]

About This Section

12 U.S.C. § 3802 is part of Title 12 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 12 U.S.C. § 3802. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official United States Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

Common questions

What is the source of United States Code § 3802?

The text above is transcribed from the United States Code, the codified statutes of Us Code. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does United States Code § 3802 address?

It addresses "Definitions". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is United States Code § 3802 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Us Code source before relying on this text.

Can this page be used as legal advice?

No. This is a reference transcription for research. Applying Us Code law to your facts requires a licensed Us Code attorney who can review the specifics.