| To Learn More Please Visit | | | | The loan modification process begins with |
| HOMEstart Explains Obama's Loan Modification Plan | | | | consultation with your experienced HOMEstart loan |
| Introduction. As part of Obama's 2009 economic | | | | modification specialist. Your loan modification |
| recovery package, the President has introduced a | | | | consultant will discuss with you the financial |
| plan to rescue and revive the troubled housing | | | | hardships you're facing and determine if you are a |
| market. The new plan is called the Homeowner | | | | good candidate to receive a mortgage loan |
| Affordability and Stability Plan (HASP), which | | | | modification. After HOMEstart pre-qualifies you for |
| describes Obama's intents to modify distressed | | | | a loan modification, there will be some essential |
| mortgages, keeping struggling borrowers in their | | | | paperwork to get to the loan modification process |
| homes with the intent to help stop rapidly declining | | | | underway. The loan modification process will |
| property values resulting from surrounding homes | | | | require: |
| entering foreclosure. Obama is dedicating $75 billion | | | | * Proof of income. |
| to the HASP and below are some key details. | | | | * Last 4 monthly bank statements. |
| HASP focuses on reducing mortgage payments | | | | * Hardship letter discussing your current or future |
| since it argues homeowners will continue to stay | | | | situation. |
| in their homes, despite declining home values, as | | | | * All inclusive monthly expense sheet. |
| long as the borrower is able to afford their | | | | * Most recent mortgage statement. |
| monthly mortgage payments during the poor | | | | * Past two years of W2 forms and tax returns. |
| economic climate. Many economists agree that | | | | Once the paperwork is complete, your loan |
| foreclosures result from homeowners simply | | | | modification file enters negotiations. At this time |
| being unable to afford high monthly mortgage | | | | your loan modification file will contain all the |
| payments versus not being able to pay at all. | | | | information your negotiator needs to create an |
| Obama's plan requires major lenders and banks to | | | | agreement with your lender to modify your |
| participate in reducing monthly mortgage | | | | mortgage loan terms. Once an agreement has |
| payments to less than 40% of the borrower's | | | | been made, the loan modification offer enters |
| gross monthly income. The resulting losses lenders | | | | approval. Your HOMEstart attorney will review the |
| and banks incur would be refunded by Obama's | | | | offer made to you by your lender to make sure |
| $75 billion HASP budget. | | | | that it represents the terms previously discussed |
| Lenders Involvement. There are a few simple | | | | with your negotiator. Generally each lender will |
| methods lenders use to lower monthly mortgage | | | | have their own borrower qualification guidelines |
| payments; these include reducing the interest rate | | | | and so for the best results, consider these |
| to as low as 2% or extend the loan term as high | | | | factors while getting prepared: |
| as another 10 years. In Obama's attempt to | | | | Income-Expense Ratio. The borrower's proof of |
| incentivize participation, lenders will receive $1,000 | | | | income and monthly expense sheet is used to |
| for each mortgage modification and can also | | | | show your lender that smaller monthly mortgage |
| receive an additional $1,000/year, for up to 3 | | | | payments will in fact result in consistent |
| years, if the borrower makes consistent | | | | payments. Lenders also want to determine if your |
| payments. Borrowers are also eligible to receive a | | | | expenses exceed 60% of the borrower's gross |
| principal balance reduction of up to $1,000 each | | | | monthly income. |
| year, for up to 5 years, granted the borrower | | | | Nature of Hardship. Some lenders have specific |
| makes consistent payments. HASP was originally | | | | requirements on what types of situations qualify |
| designed for responsible homeowners who have | | | | as a financial hardship, however, your financial |
| been seriously affected by the worsening | | | | hardship should be a result of a situation which |
| economy and resulting decreasing unemployment, | | | | occurred (or will occur) that was (or is) "out |
| however, with the rate of foreclosures becoming | | | | of your hands". Commonly accepted |
| so high, almost any home owner with legitimate | | | | situations include illness or death in the family, |
| financial hardships (ie. divorce or separation, illness, | | | | demotion or pay decrease, lawsuits, divorces and |
| unemployment, reduced pay, etc) can qualify for | | | | military service. |
| a mortgage modification. | | | | Payment History. Lenders look at the borrower's |
| The major lenders developing government Loan | | | | previous mortgage statements to see if there |
| Modification Programs are Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, | | | | were any prior delinquent payments. If the |
| Bank of America, Countrywide, Citigroup, IndyMac | | | | borrower made timely monthly mortgage |
| and Washington Mutual. Most of these lenders | | | | payments prior to the financial hardship, then it will |
| make up the top 5 mortgage lenders by dollar | | | | show the lender your capability to make |
| volume. Whether you are currently behind on | | | | consistent payments after a mortgage loan |
| your mortgage payments or foresee being unable | | | | modification. Remember that your credit history is |
| to make payment in the near future, you can | | | | not reviewed, simply your mortgage payment |
| qualify for a mortgage modification. | | | | history. Those with poor credit can qualify for a |
| Loan Modifications. The time to act is now, | | | | mortgage loan modification. |
| however, do not rush and make a decision based | | | | Bank Statements. Lenders look at the borrower's |
| on pricing from any mortgage modification | | | | bank statements to determine if the loan |
| company. Remember that a turnkey, mortgage | | | | modification applicant had normal spending habits |
| modification involves 7 critical phases. The process | | | | prior to the financial hardship and to see if there is |
| can generally take up to 3 months, even with a | | | | any savings set aside in case of an emergency or |
| team of experienced mortgage modification | | | | worsening situation. |
| specialists working diligently, which is why the time | | | | Tax Payments. These documents serve to |
| to get started is now. | | | | evaluate the borrower's level of financial |
| Even though a loan modification requires several | | | | responsibility. Consistent tax returns will |
| people (ie. intake processors, consultants, | | | | demonstrate to your lender that you're not just |
| negotiators, lawyers, etc.), consider that just one | | | | looking for "cutbacks". The borrower's |
| individual working on your loan modification file for | | | | tax returns also provide additional proof of |
| 3 months works out to the borrower hiring help | | | | consistent income. |
| for just over the minimum wage rate of | | | | Foreclosure Information and Timeline |
| California. Do not be fooled by loan modification | | | | If you are looking for loan modification services, |
| companies or firms offering low prices because | | | | then you are probably looking to save your home |
| they mostly likely (1) do not have a DRE license, | | | | by preventing foreclosure. The closer a home |
| (2) are not accredited by the BBB or (3) do not | | | | owner gets to foreclosure, the more difficult it |
| have the resources and staff to complete a full | | | | becomes to get a mortgage loan modification. |
| loan medication (a legitimate contractual | | | | Knowing the foreclosure process and timeline will |
| agreement between the borrower and lender to | | | | help you evaluate your situation and make the |
| modify mortgage loan terms). | | | | best solution for your current or approaching |
| Each of the seven phases utilizes the skills and | | | | financial hardship. |
| experience of a wide range of professionals to | | | | |
| negotiate and create a loan modification | | | | Collections Stage. This period, ranging from 30-90 |
| agreement for your mortgage loan terms. For the | | | | days, begins when you miss your first mortgage |
| consumer's protection, the Department of Real | | | | payment. Generally your bank will try to contact |
| Estate (DRE) certifies loan modification companies | | | | you before taking any severe action. After 2 to 4 |
| by providing a license on a per state basis. Along | | | | weeks from the first missed mortgage payment, |
| with that license, the Better Business Bureau | | | | your bank will begin to assess late fees. If the |
| (BBB) provides an extensive grade, or rating | | | | second mortgage payment is missed, your lender |
| scale, on a multitude of different factors which | | | | will send you a breach of contract letter, which |
| can help the consumer eliminate any fears of | | | | formally informs the borrower in writing that they |
| being scammed. | | | | have violated the mortgage loan terms. In |
| Loan modifications were originally reserved for | | | | addition, after the second delinquent payment, the |
| those whose mortgages became delinquent due | | | | borrower will be given 30 days to pay the balance |
| to job loss, divorce or illness, but today loan | | | | or come to a resolution before receiving a Notice |
| modifications are also open to anyone suffering | | | | of Default. |
| from high adjustable rate mortgages. It is | | | | |
| imperative to begin the loan modification process | | | | Notice of Default. At this point, also known as |
| before your lender gives you a notice of default. | | | | pre-foreclosure, the borrower has missed their |
| Also, one major misconception about who qualifies | | | | third mortgage payment. Pre-foreclosure starts |
| for a mortgage loan modification is that the | | | | when your lender files a Notice of Default (NOD) |
| borrower must already be behind on their | | | | at the county office governing your property. |
| mortgage payments, this is not true. | | | | Unfortunately for the home owner, technically |
| Your HOMEstart. Many attempt to work with | | | | speaking the foreclosure process begins at this |
| their own lender and come away with no results. | | | | time; only a short 2 months after your first |
| This partly results from many lenders having a | | | | delinquent payment. It takes less than 2 weeks to |
| severe lack of trained and experienced personnel | | | | receive your formal Notice of Default. In California, |
| working on loan modifications due to the rising | | | | a 90 day period, known as the Reinstatement |
| amount of loan modifications being processed | | | | Period, is initiated as the time frame the borrower |
| each day by any given lender or bank branch. | | | | has to resolve the owed balance before a Notice |
| There simply is not enough experienced people to | | | | of Sale. |
| meet the demand of incoming loan modification | | | | Midpoint. At this time, typically 60 days before the |
| files. Also consider this process can be difficult in | | | | Auction date of the home or property, the |
| some cases even with professionals and legal | | | | borrower's options for initiating a loan modification |
| staff working diligently for months, so do not | | | | get very difficult. Contract terms vary from |
| hesitate to make another attempt at a home loan | | | | lender to lender, but the trend is the longer you |
| modification with a BBB accredited and DRE | | | | put off making payments, the less likely your |
| licensed loan modification company like HOMEstart. | | | | lender will allow you to create an agreement to |
| Loan modification companies that provide A+ BBB | | | | modify your mortgage loan terms. However, if |
| rated services have established personal | | | | the borrower does manage to get caught up in |
| relationships with the largest mortgage lenders to | | | | payments, the NOD would then be withdrawn. |
| expedite the loan modification process. Contact | | | | Notice of Sale. At this point, also known as |
| HOMEstart at anytime to discuss your financial | | | | Pre-Trustee Sale, the owner's property will have a |
| hardship, we will listen and maintain the highest | | | | Notice of Trustee Sale (NOS) publicly posted. The |
| level of confidentiality. We have an entire team of | | | | notice remains posted for 3 weeks (21 days) and |
| experienced loan modification consultants who will | | | | will contain the time, date and location of the |
| help answer any questions you may have, | | | | auction. Fortunately, the borrower is able to |
| regardless if you pursue a loan modification | | | | reinstate the loan upon payment of the balanced |
| through HOMEStart. We are here to help; start | | | | owed from delinquent payments 5 days before |
| new, not over. | | | | the auction date. |
| Mortgage Loan Modification Preparation | | | | |