Freddie Mac Optigo | 2026-10-06

Freddie Mac Chain-of-Title Review Starts Before Final Delivery

Freddie Mac's current Guide ties the 36-month title history to underwriting consistency and acquisition-document review.

Freddie Mac's Multifamily Seller/Servicer Guide, Chapter 32, updated August 25, 2026, requires the Final Delivery Package to include a title-company informational report and copies of the documents evidencing the property's chain of title for the 36 months before mortgage origination, subject to the Guide's stated alternative. The package must include deeds, tax affidavits, and security instruments affecting all or part of the property during that period.

The Seller/Servicer must analyze both the source documents and the title-company report. Freddie Mac approval is required for inconsistencies with the Underwriting Package, evidence of a non-arm's-length transaction, and other irregularities or inconsistencies that would be material to a prudent lender.

For an acquisition mortgage origination, the review also reaches the fully executed deed or other conveyance document. The Seller/Servicer must confirm that it matches the draft previously supplied by the borrower, that its signature blocks align with the purchase agreement, and that it does not reveal an unexplained intervening transfer or an undisclosed affiliation. An inconsistency with the Purchase Agreement Analysis calls for an updated analysis and Freddie Mac approval.

Borrower-side counsel can reduce late delivery issues by requesting the title history at file opening, indexing each transfer and lien document, and comparing the final deed, purchase agreement, organizational parties, and underwriting disclosures before execution. Any mismatch should have a named owner, written explanation, and approval status on the closing checklist. This note is informational only and is not legal advice for any specific transaction.