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Foreclosure and Loan Modification Blog

COVID-19 Foreclosure Statistics

COVID-19 has put 2020 through the ringer, and homeowners have not been an exception.
Though the government has tried to help out, only so much can be done when unemployment is increasing and businesses are closing.

Over 57 million Americans have filed for unemployment. Even before the pandemic about 10-15% of homeowners reported to being “housing insecure”, meaning that homeowners were worried about their ability to make payments. In April 2020, 1 in 3 Americans did not pay rent, and even though evictions have been halted, there are still people being evicted!

COVID-19 Mortgage Forbearance Problems

The government has made it very easy for homeowners to get a forbearance on their mortgage during the pandemic. This has been a life line for many homeowners who have been affected financially by COVID-19. In this time of crisis, all a borrower has to do is pick up the phone and call their mortgage servicer and ask for payment relief. But how are homeowners going to pay the forbearance back? Are homeowners really being protected from delinquent marks and credit consequences?

What Happens When My COVID19 Mortgage Forbearance is Over?

If you have secured a COVID-19 mortgage forbearance that works for you and your family this can be a great help. However, it is important to discuss with your mortgage servicer how they will be handling your past due payments at the end of the forbearance. 30 days before the forbearance ends you should assess your situation with your mortgage servicer to determine your next steps. Some servicers are requiring borrowers to make one large balloon payment when the forbearance ends, which is the worst case scenario for many homeowners. Other options are:

  • reinstatement
  • repayment plan
  • payment deferral
  • loan modification
  • refinancing

Who are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

 

Defining Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is not a matter of “who”, but a matter of “what”. Fannie Mae is a nickname for the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). Freddie Mac is a nickname for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). Both the FNMA and the FHLMC are home mortgage companies that were created by U.S. Congress. They do not originate or service mortgages, instead they buy and guarantee mortgages from the secondary mortgage market. The secondary mortgage market is where home loans and mortgage servicing rights are bought and sold between lenders and investors. This is great for homeowners because the secondary mortgage market creates competition in the mortgage industry and is responsible for encouraging lower interest rates.

COVID-19 Foreclosure and Eviction Procedures

This article was last updated July 10, 2020 at 10:45 a.m.

Federal Foreclosure Moratoriums

Federal laws now state that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA have been directed to suspend foreclosures and evictions due to the COVID-19 emergency. What does this mean? Any person with an Enterprise-backed single-family mortgage will not be evicted or foreclosed on before August 31st. This does not mean that your mortgage payments are forgiven for the next 2 months; you must still pay the money, the due dates have just been suspended. You will not be charged a fee for taking advantage of this forbearance. Also, as per the Federal CARES Act, your mortgage servicer is not allowed to ask you to pay a lump sum payment at the end of the forbearance period.

If you don’t know whether your loan is backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you can verify it below.

Should You Make Mortgage Escrow Payments During a Covid19 Forbearance?

Your mortgage payment is usually a PITI payment. PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. When you make your payments each month, the "TI," or tax and insurance portions, are saved in an escrow account.

Coronavirus Q&A: Should You Make Your Mortgage Payments?

Here are just a few of the things I overheard last week:

  • "Wells Fargo gave me a 3 month forbearance, I don't need to make any payments."
  • "If they can't foreclose, why should I make my mortgage payments?"
  • "Mr. Cooper is letting me skip three mortgage payments, I ordered new patio furniture."

How would you respond to each of these? Let's take a look.

Coronavirus and Your Mortgage: Should You Accept a Forbearance?

Only if you have to.

Our attorneys' COVID-19 advice:

  • If you can afford to keep paying your mortgage during a hardship caused by Coronavirus, keep paying your mortgage.
  • If you cannot afford to make your mortgage payments, our lawyers want to do everything possible to help you understand your options and be protected from your bank's misrepresentations.

Q: Why?

A: Because in our experience, most mortgage "disaster relief" becomes a nightmare.

About this Blog

Amerihope Alliance Legal Services is a leading loan modification and foreclosure defense law firm with attorneys licensed in 5 states. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners fight back and keep their homes.

Click to Read Our Super Loan Mod Success Stories

Our goal is to provide valuable information to help homeowners who are trying to obtain a loan modification or to stop foreclosure. You may schedule a free consultation at any time.

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