A fiscal officer serving Summit County in Ohio filed suit against Freddie Mac on July 3, claiming the government-sponsored enterprise owes the county thousands of dollars in transfer and real estate recording fees.
In the complaint, Summit County and its fiscal officer Kristen Scalise accuse Freddie Mac of fraud and claim the GSE used its status as a government entity to avoid paying fees on real estate recordings.
The county alleges in the complaint that between “2002 and continuing through January 2009, defendant (Freddie Mac) was the grantor in over 3,500 real estate transfers in the county in which it recorded deeds or documents with the fiscal officer and did not pay the fees or transfer taxes.”
The plaintiffs say Freddie claimed a government exemption to the transfer fees and taxes, but the county believes the GSE qualifies as a private corporation.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which serves as the GSE’s conservator, told HousingWire the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.
The county wants the defendant subjected to transfer taxes and other fees. The plaintiffs also are claiming damages in excess of $25,000 and want the court to award penalties of 10% of the amount of the fees and transfer taxes not paid.
