UAD 3.6: who needs a November exception?

Mortgage operations teams that cannot complete the UAD 3.6 transition by November 2 have a new action to take. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a temporary policy exception today, September 30. The November mandate remains in place. Joint GSE announcement.

Who needs to act

Approved sellers needing more time must obtain an exception from each GSE to which they sell loans. The request must come from a representative authorized to enter into a binding contract.

Lenders that do not sell directly to the GSEs do not request this exception themselves. They need to align their transition plans with their investors. An aggregator buying loans from other originators must ensure those originators are submitting UAD 3.6 appraisals or request the exception.

The request involves revised contractual terms and a final implementation plan coordinated with vendors and appraisers. Prepare the transition schedule, the obstacles preventing readiness and the help needed from the GSEs. The announcement describes a one-time exception that will not be extended. Request process and eligibility.

Put these dates in the transition plan

November 2, 2026: UAD 3.6 mandate. Sellers unable to meet it must have obtained a policy exception from each applicable GSE.

March 1, 2027: Reduced functionality begins for UAD 2.6 reports during the exception period.

May 20, 2027: New submissions to UCDP must use UAD 3.6. Only resubmissions of previously submitted UAD 2.6 reports remain permitted through June 27.

June 28, 2027: UAD 2.6 retires; resubmissions are no longer accepted.

Updated GSE timeline.

An obtained exception permits new UAD 2.6 submissions through May 19, 2027. From March 1, those reports receive a risk score of 999 in Fannie Mae's Collateral Underwriter and 99 in Freddie Mac's Loan Collateral Advisor. Loans secured by those reports will not be eligible for collateral representation and warranty relief for value. Joint announcement, reduced-functionality period.

Fannie Mae's lender letter says lenders ready by November 2 need take no action because of this letter. It also confirms the exception applies from November 2 through May 19. LL-2026-08.

Check readiness across the whole appraisal process

Use this week to test an order through receipt, appraisal review and UCDP submission. Confirm what your investors accept, whether your systems can handle the new files and who will resolve submission feedback. Freddie Mac's September implementation checklist includes these steps, staff training and coordination with vendors. Lender implementation checklist.

Give one person responsibility for collecting the results and escalating anything that could prevent the transition. If your company needs the exception, route the official request and its terms to the authorized representative now. Keep the implementation work moving while the request is handled.

Start with the official Fannie Mae UAD page and Freddie Mac UAD page. Follow each applicable GSE's request process and resolve questions with your GSE representative.

Mortgage Processing Brief is published by Loandock for mortgage operations teams. Sources checked September 30, 2026.