Foreclosure and Loan Modification Blog

Maxwell Swinney

CFPB On Loan Modifications, Loss Mitigation In Post-HAMP USA

The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is ending December 31, 2016.

It, along with the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and other programs, began in 2009 as part of the federal government's Making Home Affordable program (MHA), which was designed to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure after the housing and economic crisis that began in 2007.

HAMP is the principal component of MHA, and it sets guidelines and gives incentives to mortgage loan servicers to modify mortgages rather than foreclose. Sometimes known as 'the Obama Plan,' it's been a popular option for troubled homeowners.

[fa icon="clock-o"] Wednesday, August 10, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, HAMP, hamp loan modification, CFPB

As a result of the ongoing housing crisis, mortgage loan modifications have become popular with distressed homeowners who need to reinstate their loan and get a more affordable payment. But not everyone who could benefit from modifying their mortgage understands what's actually involved and how to go about getting one. And some assume or have been told incorrect information.

What is a Loan Modification

A mortgage loan modification is a permanent change to one or more of the terms of your existing loan, such as the interest rate, term length, and principal balance. The purpose is to lower the monthly payment to an affordable portion of your income and allow you to avoid foreclosure. It is different from a refinance, which replaces your old loan with a completely new one.

Loan modifications are the only hope many people have for avoiding foreclosure and staying in their home. However, there are some common misconceptions, such as:

[fa icon="clock-o"] Monday, August 8, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, hamp loan modification, loan modification help, foreclosure

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners, here are a few of their stories.

Every week we obtain loan modifications for our clients with a variety of loan servicers. You can see these results as they are announced on Twitter (#loanmodwow) or Facebook. Here are some of the results from this week, which includes results from Caliber, SPS, and others:

Caliber

Dios mio! Our client was 10 months and $21K past due with Caliber, but we got him a loan modification with a gargantuan monthly savings of $859!

4 Ways To Deal With The Emotions Around Foreclosure

Money is a very personal issue. So much so that it's often considered in bad taste to talk about it in polite society. Especially when you're talking about problems with money. And foreclosure is the mother lode of money problems since most people's largest asset is their home.

But unfortunate events beyond the control of any homeowner have caused millions of people to have to reckon with foreclosure. The credit crisis, recession, and housing crisis have caused foreclosures on a scale that the country hasn't seen since the Great Depression.

If you're in danger of losing your home to foreclosure, you're likely experiencing some seriously negative emotions. Fear, uncertainty, shame, guilt, and anger are common. These emotions are completely understandable and just as useless. You have to get a handle on them to keep from going crazy and find the best resolution.

Here are some ways to do that:

[fa icon="clock-o"] Wednesday, August 3, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification help, foreclosure, foreclosure grief

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners, here are a few of their stories.

21st Mortgage

Our client was in foreclosure and 14 months past due to 21st Mortgage. We got them a fresh start with a final loan modification and a low fixed interest rate!

Behind on Your Mortgage? How about Getting a Free House?

Many homeowners have lost wages or experienced some hardship or hardships that caused them to fall behind on their mortgage payments. They're in desperate need of a solution before they're foreclosed on. Searching for any hope in a sea of despondence, they wonder if there's a way they could get their house for free.

These homeowners want to know if there's any way their house could be given to them as a form of retributive justice for all the illegal and unethical things their bank has done. There certainly doesn't seem to be a shortage of that. We've all heard the stories about predatory lending, robo-signing, and fraudulent foreclosure. Could that somehow be cause for a free house?

No. You won't get your home for free because of any bad behavior by the bank.

However, there is a technicality that could allow a homeowner to get their home for free.

[fa icon="clock-o"] Wednesday, July 27, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, loan modification help

Even under the best circumstances, everyone needs a vacation to get away from the grind of regular life, recharge their batteries, and spend some quality time with their loved ones. If you're behind on your mortgage or in foreclosure, you could probably use a stress-relieving vacation even more.

But is it appropriate to go on a vacation when you aren't paying your mortgage?

It depends on your particular circumstances, and what kind of money you're going to spend on your trip.

People generally don't stop paying their mortgage unless something went seriously wrong with their finances and/or life. We hear their stories all the time, and they're often tragic. Loss of income, cancer, divorce, and enormous debt burdens are all common for people who default on their mortgage. Nothing good causes a person to stop paying their mortgage.

[fa icon="clock-o"] Monday, July 25, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, foreclosure, personal finance

In April of 2016 the FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Authority) announced that it would be offering a one-time principal reduction modification program for eligible borrowers with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

To be eligible for the program, FHFA said that the borrower must occupy the property and be 90 or more days delinquent as of March 1, 2016. The mark-to-market loan-to-value ratio must be 115% or greater, and the unpaid principal balance must be $250,000 or less.

[fa icon="clock-o"] Saturday, July 23, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, principal reduction, FHFA

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners, here are a few of their stories.

Every week we obtain loan modifications for our clients with a variety of loan servicers. You can see these results as they are announced on Twitter or Facebook. Here are some of the results from this week, which includes results from Ocwen, Bank of America and others:

Carrington

Our client was in foreclosure, 11 months and $18K past due with Carrington, but we got them a trial modification with a $208 cheaper payment and a fresh start!

New Foreclosure Laws In New York To Prevent Foreclosure, Kill Zombies

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation intended to prevent foreclosures and reduce the harm done by zombie properties in the Empire State.

Homeowners in New York already have some advantages that people in some other states don't. New York is a judicial foreclosure state, which means the bank has to go through the courts to foreclose on your home. That takes longer and affords homeowners more time to find a resolution.

Also, settlement conferences, which are a mediation between you and your lender, are mandatory for most foreclosure cases in New York. The purpose of the conference is for you and your bank to meet in person and come to some agreement that doesn't involve foreclosure.

[fa icon="clock-o"] Monday, July 18, 2016 [fa icon="user"] Maxwell Swinney [fa icon="folder-open'] loan modification, new york foreclosure attorney, housing market, zombie foreclosure

Foreclosure and Loan Modification Blog

Maxwell Swinney

Recent Posts

CFPB On Loan Modifications, Loss Mitigation In Post-HAMP USA

6 Common Misconceptions About Mortgage Loan Modifications

What is a Loan Modification

Successful Loan Modification Roundup Week of 8/5

Caliber

4 Ways To Deal With The Emotions Around Foreclosure

Successful Loan Modification Roundup Week of 7/28

21st Mortgage

Behind on Your Mortgage? How about Getting a Free House?

Can You Go on Vacation If You're in Foreclosure?

New FHFA Report Gives Details On Principal Reduction Modification Program

Successful Loan Modification Roundup Week of 7/22

Carrington

New Foreclosure Laws In New York To Prevent Foreclosure, Kill Zombies

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