Exhibit 99.05

Clayton Services LLC (“Clayton”) Narrative

May 29, 2026

Due Diligence Narrative Report

Table of Contents

Clayton Contact Information	2
Overview	2
Originators	2
Clayton’s Third Party Review (“TPR”) Scope of Work	3
Review scope	3
# of Files Reviewed	3
Loan Grading	3
TPR Component Review Scope	4
Credit Review	4
Property Valuation Review	4
Regulatory Compliance Review	5
Data Integrity	7
Data Capture	7
Data Compare Results	7
Clayton Due Diligence Results	8
Clayton Third Party Reports Delivered	9
Appendix A: Credit Review Scope	10
Appendix B: Origination Appraisal Assessment	13
Appendix C: Regulatory Compliance Review Scope	16

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Clayton Contact Information

Client Service Management:

	Michael Santarsiere	Client Service Director
		Phone: (813) 371-0280/E-mail: msantarsiere@clayton.com

	Joe Ozment	Vice President – Client Services & Securitization
		Phone: (813) 261-0733/E-mail: jozment@clayton.com

OVERVIEW

On behalf of the originators, Clayton conducted an independent third-party pre-securitization due diligence review of 60 residential loans. Ellington Management Group, LLC subsequently purchased these loans via reliance letter and selected these loans for the EFMT 2026-NQM6 transaction.

The loan referenced in this narrative report was reviewed on a flow loan basis between November 2025 and January 2026. This narrative report provides information about the scope of work performed by Clayton, and the results of Clayton’s review.

Originators

Origination channels for the loans in this review:

Origination Channel	Loan Count	Percentage
Broker	54	90.00%
Correspondent Bulk	2	3.33%
Correspondent Flow with delegated underwriting	3	5.00%
Retail	1	1.67%
Total	60	100.00%

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Clayton’s Third Party Review (“TPR”) Scope of Work

The scope of work for this transaction consisted of a credit review, property valuation review, regulatory compliance review, and data integrity check.

Review scope	# of Files Reviewed
Credit Review	60
Property Valuation Review	60
Regulatory Compliance Review	41
Data Integrity Check	60

Loan Grading

Each loan received an “initial” and a “final” grade. The “initial” grade was assigned during the initial loan review. The “final” grade takes into account additional information and supporting documentation that may have been provided by the originators to clear outstanding conditions. Clayton’s loan grading is solely based on Clayton’s independent assessment of all guideline exceptions and compensating factors for each of the component reviews. Clayton is providing a comprehensive loan-level analysis as part of this pre-securitization reporting package that includes initial grades, final grades and detailed commentary on the rationale for any changes in grades and sets forth compensating factors and waivers.

Clayton’s loan grading complied with rating agency grading definitions published by Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, Fitch, Morningstar, Kroll and DBRS.

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TPR Component Review Scope

Clayton examined the selected loan files with respect to the presence or absence of relevant documents, enforceability of mortgage loan documents, and accuracy and completeness of data fields. Clayton relied on the accuracy of information contained in the loan documentation provided to Clayton.

Credit Review

Clayton’s Credit scope of review conducted on 60 loans on this transaction included the following elements (for more detail, please refer to Appendix A):

■

Compared the loan documentation found in the loan file to the origination guidelines;

■

Re-calculated LTV, CLTV, income, liabilities, and debt-to-income ratios (DTI) and compared these against the stated seller origination guidelines;

■

Analyzed asset statements in order to determine that funds to close and reserves were within origination guidelines;

■

Confirmed that credit scores (FICO) and credit histories were within origination guidelines;

■

Evaluated for evidence of borrower’s willingness and ability to repay the obligation;

■

Examined income, employment, assets, and occupancy status for reasonability;

■

Reviewed the occupancy, VOE and self/employed business documents within the loan file, as applicable;

■

Listed the property type as Coop, as applicable;

■

Reviewed for condo warranty documentation, as applicable;

Property Valuation Review

Clayton’s Property Valuation scope of review conducted included the following elements:

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Original Appraisal Assessment (60 loans)

Clayton reviewed the original appraisal provided to determine whether the original appraisal was complete, thorough and the original appraised value was reasonably supported.

For more detail on the original appraisal review, please refer to Appendix B and to the guidelines cited above.

■

Value Supported Analysis (60 loans)

Clayton applied a cascade methodology to determine if the original appraised value was supported when compared to an independent third party valuation product. Loans were held to a -10% tolerance utilizing the following waterfall;

●

CU Score

●

Desk Review

For further detail please refer to the EFMT 2026-NQM6 Valuations Summary Report

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Regulatory Compliance Review

Clayton’s regulatory compliance scope of review conducted on 41 loans on this transaction included the elements summarized below. (For more detail, please refer to Appendix C.)

Clayton utilized its proprietary eCLAS engine for regulatory compliance testing.

The scope of the compliance review performed is summarized below:

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Tested for certain applicable federal, state and local high cost and/or anti-predatory laws;

■

Tested for state-specific consumer protection laws including late charge and prepayment penalty provisions;

■

Truth-in-lending/regulation Z (TILA) testing included the following:

Notice of Right to Cancel (Right of Rescission) adherence if applicable;

TIL Disclosure Timing (3/7/3) and disclosure content;

TIL APR and Finance charge tolerances;

Timeliness of ARM Disclosures (if applicable);

Section 32 APR and Points and Fees Thresholds and prohibited practices;

Section 35 Higher Priced Mortgage Loans thresholds and applicable escrow and appraisal requirements;

Prohibited Acts or Practices including Loan Originator compensation rules, NMLSR ID on documents, financing credit Insurance, mandatory arbitration clauses, and NegAm Counseling;

Prepayment Penalty restrictions; and

QM/ATR Review: On applicable loans;, test compliance with applicable Qualified Mortgage (QM) and Ability to Repay (ATR) requirements defined under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act as promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau any loan subject to that regulation, as further described on Appendix C attached hereto.

TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure Scope (‘Covered Loans’ with an Application Date => 10/3/2015); SFIG RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope as further described on Appendix C attached hereto.

■

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) laws and regulations testing included the following, for loans other than ‘Covered Loans’ and loans with an Application Date prior to 10/3/2015:

GFE initial disclosure timing and content;

Confirmed the file contains the final HUD1 Settlement Statement;

GFE to HUD1 evaluation for 0% and 10% fee tolerances;

Homeownership Counseling Notice;

Affiliated Business Disclosure if applicable.

OF NOTE: As of October 3, 2015 (“TRID Effective Date”), Clayton commenced testing applicable loans subject to the TRID Effective date against a TRID scope of review that was based on outside counsel’s interpretations of the published regulations as of the TRID Effective Date. Clayton’s scope was commercially reasonable as it relates to a Third Party Review (“TPR”) firm’s role as TPR conducting an independent third-party pre-securitization due diligence review (“Initial TRID Scope”). The Initial TRID Scope was created with guidance from outside counsel.

On, June 15th, 2016 SFIG published its RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope © documentation, developed under the leadership of members from Third Party Review (“TPR”) firms across the industry and SFIG’s RMBS 3.0 Due Diligence, Data and Disclosure Working Group. The RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope was created with an aim to facilitate a uniform testing and risk identification standard as it would apply to an assignee, as a result of a consistent Truth-In-Lending Act liability interpretation according to the understanding of prevailing legal precedent and informal written guidance and webinars offered by the CFPB, as it applies to the Know Before You Owe / Truth In Lending Act (“TILA) – Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”) Integrated Disclosure (“TRID”) Rule (78 FR 79730, as amended). RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope may be formally amended by the SFIG RMBS 3.0 Due Diligence, Data and Disclosure Working

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Group as clarifying regulations may be promulgated on a go forward basis, as well as any binding judicial interpretations of the underlying law.

Following the June 15^th formal publication of the RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope ©, Clayton reviewed prior testing results dating back to the TRID Effective Date, and applied the enhanced RMBS 3.0 TRID Compliance Review Scope to such loans upon the affirmative election by Ellington Management Group, LLC.

Compliance Review (Business Purpose, Non-Owner Occupied)

Non-Owner Occupied Scope: Most consumer protection laws are designed to afford protection to borrowers who are entering into a loan that will be secured by their residence. For most high cost and higher-priced laws, as well as rescission, the only loans covered by the law are loans secured by the borrower’s (or in the case of rescission a title holder’s) principal residence. Most other consumer protection laws extend to a borrower’s secondary residence, which under TILA and RESPA is a residence that they occupy at least 2 weeks during the year. Further, if the loan is for a business purpose it is often excluded from consumer protection laws regardless of occupancy, including TILA (whereas if it is secured by non-owner occupied but for a personal, family or household purpose it is more likely to be covered).

Therefore, the list of laws that Clayton tests that apply to a loan secured by non-owner occupied property for a business purpose is limited. Regulatory Compliance testing of Business Purpose Loans consists of the following:

State and Federal High Cost and Higher-Priced:

●

Cook County High Cost Ordinance

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Chicago High Cost Ordinance

Clayton currently tests the Chicago and Cook County ordinances due to vague language around loans for a business purpose not related to the property. While the state of Illinois has similar language, Clayton’s audit law firm determined that only principal residences should be tested for IL high cost.

Anti-predatory lending laws

●

Virginia Lender and Broker Act after 6/1/2008

●

Minnesota §58 on or after 8/1/2008

Prepayment Penalties and Late Charges in certain states

National Flood Insurance Program for 1-4 unit residential properties (Transaction Date on or after 1/1/2016 for regulated lenders)

●

Sufficiency of coverage

●

Escrow of insurance payments

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Data Integrity

Clayton utilized its proprietary eCLAS tool to determine tape-to-file accuracy of 60 loans reviewed, by completing the following steps:

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Tape data received from seller/client is stored in eCLAS;

■

Loan reviewer collects validated loan data in eCLAS;

■

Each received data point is compared to its counterpart collected data point;

■

Discrepancies found during comparison are stored;

■

Each discrepancy is reported in a Loan Level Tape Compare Upload.

Data Capture

Clayton collected data fields required to create American Securitization Forum (“ASF”) and Standard and Poor’s LEVELS 7.4.3 data disclosure requirements. Both of these file formats are provided as part of the pre-securitization reporting package. Additionally, Clayton captured rating agency required data points relating to ATR/QM determination, which is provided in the reporting package.

data Compare Results

Clayton provided Ellington Management Group, LLC, with a copy of the Loan Level Tape Compare Upload which shows the differences between the data received from the sellers versus the data captured by Clayton during the loan review in relation to the 60 loans reviewed.

Field Name	# of Loans	% Accuracy
Borrower 1 First Name	1	98.33%
Borrower 1 Last Name	1	98.33%
Borrower 1 SSN	1	98.33%
Cash Reserves	8	86.67%
Combined LTV	1	98.33%
Disbursement Date	10	83.33%
Loan Purpose	2	96.67%
Months Reserves	8	86.67%
Original Appraised Value	8	86.67%
Original LTV	1	98.33%
Property Type	2	96.67%
Representative Credit Score for Grading	4	93.33%
Total Cash Out	14	76.67%

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Clayton Due Diligence Results

Below are the initial and final overall loan grades for this review, as well as the credit, property valuation, and regulatory compliance component review grades.

Initial and Final Overall Loan Grade Results

	Overall Grade Migration
	Initial
Final		A	B	C	D	Total
	A	28	1	3	7	39
	B		7	8	6	21
	C					0
	D					0
	Total	28	8	11	13	60

The overall grade summary reflects the combination of the credit, property valuation and regulatory compliance component reviews into one overall grade. The overall grade assigned is the most severe grade from each of the component reviews.

Initial and Final Credit Component Grade Results

	Credit Grade Migration
	Initial
Final		A	B	C	D	Total
	A	36	1	2	6	45
	B		11		4	15
	C					0
	D					0
	Total	36	12	2	10	60

Initial and Final Property Valuation Grade Results

	Property Valuation Grade Migration
	Initial
Final		A	B	C	D	Total
	A	55		1	4	60
	B					0
	C					0
	D					0
	Total	55	0	1	4	60

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Initial and Final Regulatory Compliance Grade Results

	Compliance Grade Migration
	Initial
Final		A	B	C	D	Total
	A	27		4	2	33
	B			8		8
	C					0
	D					0
	Total	27	0	12	2	41

*Compliance results may not tie to total loan count based on business entity loans not being subject to a regulatory compliance review (19 loan in pool)

Clayton Third Party Reports Delivered

Clayton furnished the following reports on this transaction:

Narrative Report

ASF Upload Report

Non ATR QM Upload

Conditions Report

Valuation Summary

Loan Level Tape Compare

Waived Conditions Summary

Attestation Forms

15E Form

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Appendix A: Credit Review Scope

For each mortgage loan, Clayton performed a guideline review utilizing specific guidelines furnished at the time of the review.

Verified that the characteristics of the mortgage loan and borrower conformed to the Sponsor Acquisition Criteria requirements including:

○

DTI

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LTV/TLTV/HLTV

○

Credit score

○

Income and employment

○

Assets and reserves

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Property type and use eligibility; and if the property type was a condominium or cooperative, assessed project adherence

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Borrower eligibility, including:

Citizenship status

Non- occupant co-borrower

○

Transaction eligibility, including:

Maximum loan amount

Loan purpose

Occupancy

○

Noted any approved exceptions or waivers by the originator and/or aggregator to guidelines; verified that approved exceptions included required, documented compensating factors

As part of the guideline review, Clayton performed a credit analysis during which various documents were examined, including:

○

Uniform Residential Loan Application reviewed to determine:

Initial loan application was in the loan file and was signed by all borrowers

Final loan application was in the loan file and was complete

Information and debts disclosed on loan application aligned with related documentation in the loan file

○

Employment analyzed and verified through use of various documents, including:

Income documentation

Verbal and/or written verifications of employments (VVOE, VOE)

CPA letter

Business licenses

Tax transcripts (IRS Form 4506-T)

Other documentation in loan file

Asset documents were reviewed to determine any large deposits and appropriate sourcing of funds

○

Credit Report review included:

Complete copy of report was in loan file

Report was dated within required timeframe

All borrowers were included in the report

Checked any fraud alerts against related loan file documentation

Verified all disclosed mortgage debt on credit report against the loan application (under the schedule of real estate owned) for accurate debt ratio calculation

Compared liabilities listed on the credit report against the loan application for accurate debt ratio calculation

Captured and utilized appropriate credit score for guideline review

○

Title policy review included:

Title interest – determined if

■

Fee simple

■

Leasehold estate

Appropriate vestee(s) were listed on title policy

Amount of coverage was greater than or equal to the original principal amount of the mortgage

Applicable title endorsements were present

Checked for any encumbrances, encroachments and other title exceptions affecting the lien identified through the title search; verified that each issues was addressed in the transaction

Reviewed the chain of title and duration of ownership by seller or borrower (whichever was applicable)

Captured monthly tax payments in debt ratio calculation

○

HUD1 (Settlement Statement) review included:

Funds to close identified and analyzed against borrower’s assets

Seller contributions did not exceed maximum allowed

Subject property, seller and borrower aligned with other loan documentation

Disbursements and pay-offs included in debt ratio calculations

Loan purpose confirmed

○

Hazard/Flood insurance review included:

Verified presence of required hazard insurance and flood insurance (if required)

Confirmed that any required insurance was for the:

■

Correct borrower

■

Correct property

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■

Correct lender

■

Correct loan number

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Life of loan, if flood insurance required

Confirmed that any required insurance minimum coverage amount and policy period

Reviewed for evidence that any required insurance policy premium was paid

Confirmed that the mortgagee clause listed the lender’s name and “it’s successors and assigns”

Confirmed that the payment amount on any required insurance was included in the debt ratio calculation

○

Mortgage Insurance review included:

Determined if mortgage insurance is required

Captured mortgage insurance name, certificate # and percentage guarantee (when required)

For each mortgage loan, Clayton examined the mortgage or deed of trust for evidence of recordation. In lieu of a copy of the mortgage or deed of trust with recording information, a copy of the mortgage or deed of trust that is stamped “true and certified copy” by the escrow/settlement agent plus recording directions on closing instruction documentation was utilized as evidence for recording.

For each mortgage loan, Clayton utilized the results from an independent, third-party fraud tool along with information in the loan file to identify and address any potential misrepresentations including:

○

Borrower identity

Social Security inconsistencies

Borrower name variations

○

Occupancy

Borrower address history

Subject property ownership history

○

Employment

○

Licensing – reviewed NMLS data for:

Mortgage lender/originator

Loan officer

○

OFAC

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Appendix B: Origination Appraisal Assessment

For each Mortgage Loan, Clayton performed the following origination appraisal analysis:

Verified that the mortgage loan file contained an appraisal report and that it met the following criteria:

○

Appraisal report used standard GSE forms, appropriate to the property type:

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FNMA 1004/FHLMC 70 – Uniform Residential Appraisal Report. Used for 1-unit properties, units in planned unit developments (detached PUDs) and condominium projects that consist solely of detached dwelling (site condominium)

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FNMA 1073/FHLMC 465 – Individual Condominium Report. Used to appraise a unit in a condominium project or a condominium unit in a PUD (attached PUD)

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FNMA 1025/FHLMC 72 – Small Residential Income Property Appraisal Report. Used for all two-to-four unit residential income properties, including two-to-four unit properties in a PUD

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FNMA 2090 – Individual Cooperative Appraisal Report. Used for individual cooperative units

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FNMA 2000/FHLMC 1032 – One Unit Residential Appraisal Field Review

–

FNMA 2000a/FHLMC 1072 – Two to Four Unit Residential Appraisal Field Review

○

Appraisal report was reasonably complete and included:

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Appraisal report form, certification, statement of limiting conditions and scope of work

–

Accurate identification of the subject property

–

Accurate identification of the subject loan transaction

–

Accurate identification of the property type, in both land and improvements

–

All required attachments including:

■

Subject front, rear and street photos and valued features

■

Subject interior photos – kitchen, all baths, main living area, updates/upgrades, deferred maintenance

■

Photos of all comparable sales and listings

■

Location map

■

Exterior sketch of property with dimensions

■

1004MC Market Conditions Report

–

Evidence that appraisal report was made “As Is” or provided satisfactory evidence of completion for all material conditions

–

Appraisal date met supplied Sponsor Acquisition Criteria

–

If applicable to Sponsor Acquisition Criteria requirements, a second full appraisal was furnished and met Sponsor Acquisition Criteria

Performed a general credibility assessment of the results of the appraisal per Title XI of FIRREA and USPAP based on the following criteria:

○

Title XI of FIRREA:

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Determined that either the appraiser or supervisory appraiser was appropriately licensed by verifying the appraiser’s license included in the appraisal.

–

Reviewed for the presence of any “red flags” related to the mortgaged property that may have posed a risk to the property or occupants

○

USPAP

–

Confirmed that the appraiser’s certification is present and executed within the original appraisal.

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Reviewed and graded the appraisal valuation to the following criteria:

○

Appraised value was reasonably supported. Utilized the following review in making value supported determination:

–

Comps used were located reasonably close to the subject property and if not the reason was satisfactorily explained

–

Comps used were reasonably recent in transaction date and if not the reason was furnished

–

Comps used were reasonably similar to the subject property and if not an explanation was supplied

–

Appraised value of the subject was bracketed by the sales prices of the comps and if not the reason was furnished

–

Adjustments were reviewed and appeared reasonable utilizing the 15% net/25% gross guideline.

○

Property was complete. However, if the property was not 100% complete, then any unfinished portion had no material impact to the value, safety, soundness, structural integrity, habitability or marketability of the subject property

○

Appraisal was reviewed for any indication of property or marketability issues. Utilized the following key points in making determination:

–

Appraisal was made on an “As Is” basis or provides satisfactory evidence of completion of all material conditions

–

Property usage was reviewed for zoning compliance

–

Property utilization was reviewed to determine it was “highest and best use”

–

Neighborhood values were reviewed to determine if declining

–

Market conditions were reviewed to determine indication of possible marketability issues:

■

Location

■

% built up

■

Growth rate

■

Demand/supply

■

Marketing time

■

Predominant occupancy

–

Physical condition of the property was reviewed to determine that the property condition was average or better

–

Style of property was reviewed to determine if unique property

–

Any health and safety issues were noted and/or remediated

–

Locational and/or environmental concerns adequately addressed if present

Property Eligibility Criteria – Clayton reviewed the property to determine that the property met the client supplied eligibility requirements. Examples of ineligible property types may include:

○

3 to 4 unit owner occupied properties

○

2 to 4 unit second homes

○

Unwarrantable or limited review condominiums

○

Manufactured or mobile homes

○

Condotel units

○

Unique properties

○

Working farms, ranches or orchards

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Mixed-use properties

○

Properties subject to existing oil or gas leases

○

Properties located in Hawaii Lava Zones 1 and 2

○

Properties exceeding Sponsor Acquisition Criteria requirements for excess acreage

Properties Affected by Disasters Criteria – Clayton reviewed the appraisal date against any FEMA Declared Disaster Areas that were designated for Individual and/or Public Assistance due to a federal government disaster declaration.

○

If the appraisal date is before the FEMA Effective Date for any of the disasters listed, Clayton will specify whether or not there has been a property inspection since the date listed, the latest inspection date, whether or not new damage has been indicated, and the amount of said damage.

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Disclaimer

○

The individuals performing the aforementioned original appraisal assessment are not persons providing valuations for purposes of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (“USPAP”) or necessarily licensed as appraisers under Federal or State law, and the services being performed by such persons do not constitute “appraisal reviews” for purposes of USPAP or Federal or State law.

○

Clayton makes no representation or warranty as to the value of any mortgaged property, notwithstanding that Clayton may have reviewed valuation information for reasonableness

○

Clayton is not an ‘AMC’ (appraisal management company) and therefore Clayton does not opine on the actual value of the underlying property

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Clayton is not a ‘creditor’ within the meaning of ECOA or other lending laws and regulations, and therefore Clayton will not have any communication with or responsibility to any individual consumer concerning property valuation.

○

Clayton does not check to see if the appraiser is on the Freddie Mac exclusionary list

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Appendix C: Regulatory Compliance Review Scope

This appendix provides an overview of Clayton’s proprietary compliance system for 1-4 family residential mortgage loans in the due diligence process to determine, to the extent possible and subject to the caveats below, whether the loans comply with federal, state and local laws. The Disclaimer section explains limitations that you should be aware of. Additional details on the items listed below as well as Clayton’s state, county and municipal testing can be provided upon request. The compliance engine is fully integrated into Clayton’s proprietary due diligence platform, eCLAS.

Federal Law

RESPA and Regulation X: Loan level analysis on the following:

○

GFE/HUD1: confirm the correct version of the GFE and HUD1 were properly completed under the Regulation X Final Rule that became mandatory on January 1, 2010

○

Initial Good Faith Estimate, (GFE): timing and content of the initial disclosure

○

Final GFE: Verification that increases to fees from the initial GFE were disclosed within 3 days of valid changed circumstance documentation within the loan file

○

Final HUD1 Settlement Statement: verify the loan file contains the final HUD1 and the loan terms on the HUD1 correspond to the actual loan terms from the Note

○

Final GFE to HUD1 tolerance fee evaluation: confirm the fees charged on the HUD1 do not exceed the Final GFE in the 0% or 10% fee tolerance categories, including a review for a Settlement Service Provider List if the lender excludes fees that the borrower can shop for.

○

Affiliated Business Disclosure: if the loan file indicates the lender or broker referred the borrower to a known affiliate, confirm the disclosure was provided to the borrower

○

Homeownership Counseling Notice: for loan applications on or after 1/10/2014, confirm the notice was provided to the borrower within 3 days of application

Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z - Loan level analysis on the following:

○

TIL Disclosure: Content of Disclosures – perform an independent recalculation of the finance charges and APR to determine whether the amounts disclosed on the final TIL were within allowable tolerances. Payment schedule accuracy, including under the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act for loans applications on or after January 30, 2010. Additional disclosure content with a focus on the consistency of the prepayment penalty disclosure and assumption policy with the note and security instrument.

○

Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act, (3/7/3 rule): Confirm the timing of the initial TIL disclosure within 3 days of application, 7 days prior to consummation, and corrected TIL disclosures provided at least 3 days prior to consummation for applications received on or after July 30, 2009 (Section 19)

○

ARM Disclosure: confirm these disclosures are in the file within 3 days of application, or 3 days of the borrower discussing ARM programs identified within the loan file

○

Right of Rescission – Review the disclosure form type, disclosure timing, disclosed dates, other material disclosures, and the loan disbursement (Section 23)

○

High Cost mortgage thresholds for points and fees (Section 32)

○

High Cost Prohibited Acts and Practices upon request (Section 33)

○

Higher Priced Mortgage Loan thresholds for APR in relation to the APOR. Including Escrow and appraisal requirements (Section 35)

○

Prohibited Acts or Practices including testing the Loan Originator compensation rules, NMLSR ID on documents, financing Credit Insurance, mandatory arbitration clauses, and NegAm Counseling (Section 36)

○

ATR/QM Ability to Repay, aka Minimum Standards for Transactions: for applications on or after 1/10/2014, confirm the loan file contains documentation to evidence the lender considered and verified the borrower has the ability to repay in accordance with the ATR requirements This included identifying whether QM loans met agency exemptions or were underwritten in accordance with Appendix Q. Non QM loans will be reviewed to ensure the lender documented that they considered and verified the 8 underwriting factors as required for ATR compliance. This review also includes evaluating loans against the new TILA prepayment penalty restrictions (Section 43)

○

TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures (“TRID”)

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■

Test whether or not the loan is subject to disclosure on TRID documents, the Loan Estimate (“LE”) and Closing Disclosure (“CD”)

■

Pre-application Requirement Testing:

●

Pre-application forms cannot look similar to the LE

●

Pre-application forms must contain the required disclaimer (“Your actual rate, payment, and costs could be higher. Get an official Loan Estimate before choosing a loan”).

■

Timing Requirements:

●

The LE was delivered or placed in the mail within 3 business days of the broker or lender receiving an application.

●

The loan does not consummate (Clayton looks to the later of the note date or notary date) until the later of seven business days after the LE is delivered or placed in the mail and three business days after the CD (or Corrected CD when a new three-day waiting period is triggered) is received.

●

That a revised LE or CD is provided within three business days of the lender having knowledge of the information that led to the change.

■

Fee Tolerances:

●

Zero and ten percent tolerance fees are only reset with a valid and timely change of circumstance.

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If a credit or refund is made, that it is sufficient to cover Clayton’s calculated under-disclosure.

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Payment Schedule Accuracy:

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The number of columns and timing of changes to payments as well as the mortgage insurance drop-off match Clayton’s calculated payment schedule.

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Interest-only periods and final balloon payments are accurately completed.

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The total of the principal and interest payment, mortgage insurance and escrow amounts add up correctly.

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When applicable, that the AIR and AP tables are consistent with Clayton’s calculations.

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Accuracy of the Loan Calculations

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Amount Financed

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Finance Charge

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Total of Payments

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Total interest percentage

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Technical Requirements

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Compliance with the TRID rounding rules.

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Compliance with specified formatting requirements.

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Compliance with date entry requirements (such as when a field, if not applicable, must be present and left blank).

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Alphabetization of fees.

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Title fees preceded by “Title –.”

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Column or similar limits such as four columns for Projected Payments and a maximum of thirteen Origination Charges on the LE.

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Consistency within and across forms

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Once a fee is disclosed it must remain substantially the same name across disclosures.

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Consistency between the Costs at Closing and Calculating Cash to Close tables, for which there is a version for transactions with a seller and an optional, but not required, version for transactions without a seller. They should be consistent within and across disclosures.

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Where amounts in a table reference that they are derived from another section of the form, that the amounts match the amount in the section referenced.

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May 29, 2026

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Escrow amounts disclosed in the Projected Payments section tie out to the escrow amounts detailed in the Loan Disclosures section.

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Completion of the LE and CD

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All required fields not specifically listed herein are completed or left blank in accordance with TRID rules; creditor information, contact information, rate lock information, etc.

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For areas where multiple options are provided, such as Assumption, Negative Amortization and Liability after Foreclosure, only one option is indicated.

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That there is either a signature or a Loan Acceptance statement on the form.

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Waivers

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Clayton will capture if the borrower waived their waiting period and the sufficiency of the waiver under TRID. However, based on past experience with clients, Clayton will also issue an exception for the loan closing early.

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Corrected CD requiring a new waiting period

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Whether the APR increased or decreased outside of tolerance requiring a new waiting period and whether that waiting period was provided. For APR decreases Clayton will look to whether the APR decreased due to a reduced finance charge, which will be considered to be within tolerance.

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Whether the product or a product feature changed which requires a new waiting period and whether that waiting period was provided.

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Whether a prepayment penalty was added requiring a new waiting period and whether that waiting period was provided.

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Post-Close CD’s

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Corrected CD’s provided with a post-close refund.

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Post-close CD’s to correct numerical errors based on events (such as recording) occurring within 30 days of consummation.

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Post-close CD’s to correct non-numerical clerical errors required within 60 days of consummation.

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Higher-Priced
California	Maryland	New York
Connecticut	Massachusetts (subprime ARMS to first time homebuyers)	North Carolina
Maine	Minnesota

State/Local High Cost
Arkansas	Maine	Pennsylvania
California	Maryland	Rhode Island, including the Providence ordinance
Colorado	Massachusetts	South Carolina
Connecticut	Nevada	Tennessee
District of Columbia	New Jersey	Texas
Florida	New Mexico	Utah
Georgia	New York	Vermont (High Rate, High Point law)
Illinois, including the Cook County and Chicago ordinances	North Carolina	Wisconsin
Indiana	Ohio, including Cleveland Heights ordinance
Kentucky	Oklahoma

Borrower’s Interest
Maine	Ohio	South Carolina
Massachusetts	Rhode Island

Consumer Protection
Alabama (the “Mini-code”)	Nebraska (Mortgage Bankers Registration and Licensing Act and the Installment Loan Act)
Hawaii (Financial Services Loan Company Act)	Nevada (AB 440
Idaho (Residential Mortgage Practices Act)	Ohio (Consumer Sales Practices Act; whether the loan is in Summit County)
Illinois (both versions of the Cook County Predatory Lending Database; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensing Act)	Texas (Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6) of the Texas Constitution)
Iowa (Consumer Credit Code)	Utah (Consumer Credit Code)
Kansas (Consumer Credit Code)	Virginia (Mortgage Lender and Broker Act)
Kentucky (HB 552)	Washington (Consumer Loan Act and Responsible Mortgage Lending Act)
Maryland (DLLR Regulations, Commercial Law)	West Virginia (Consumer Credit Protection Act)
Massachusetts (Attorney General regulations)	Wyoming (Residential Mortgage Practices Act)
Michigan (Consumer Mortgage Protection Act)