17:16F-15. Definitions

As used in this act:

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

"Duplicate copy" means a duplicate of the original property tax bill which duplicate is generated by the collector of a taxing district.

"Mortgagee" means the holder of a mortgage loan.

"Mortgage escrow account" or "escrow account" means an account which is part of a mortgage loan agreement, whether incorporated into the agreement or as part of a separately executed document, whereby: the mortgagor is obligated to make periodic payment to the mortgagee or his agent for taxes, insurance premiums, or other charges with respect to the real property which secures the mortgage loan; and the mortgagee or his agent is obligated to make payments for taxes, insurance premiums or other charges with respect to the real property which secures the mortgage loan.

"Mortgage loan" means a loan made to a natural person or persons to whom credit is offered or extended primarily for personal, family or household purposes which is secured by a mortgage constituting a lien upon real property located in this State on which there is erected or to be erected a structure containing one, two, three, four, five or six dwelling units, a portion of which structure may be used for nonresidential purposes, in the making of which the mortgagee relies primarily upon the value of the mortgaged property.

"Mortgagor" includes any person liable for the payment of a mortgage loan, and the owner of real property which secures the payment of a mortgage loan.

"Original tax bill" means the property tax bill as originally prepared and mailed by the collector of a taxing district pursuant to subsection a. of R.S.54:4-64.

"Property tax processing organization" means an organization which, under contract with a mortgagee or a servicing organization, collects and processes property tax information with respect to properties securing mortgage loans.

"Purchasing servicing organization" means a person or entity to whom or which a mortgagee or a selling servicing organization sells, assigns or transfers the servicing of a mortgage loan.

"Replacement bill" means a property tax bill made or generated by a mortgagee, servicing organization or tax processing organization subject to the restrictions provided pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act.

"Selling servicing organization" means a person or entity who sells, assigns or transfers the servicing of a mortgage loan.

"Servicing organization" means a mortgagee or an agent of the mortgagee, pursuant to a written agreement between the agent and the mortgagee, which is responsible for one or more mortgage escrow accounts.

"Tax authorization form" means a form approved by the Commissioner of Community Affairs whereby the mortgagor authorizes the municipal tax collector to send the original municipal tax bill to the mortgagee or the mortgagee's servicing organization pursuant to R.S.54:4-64.

L.1990,c.69,s.1.