Posts Tagged ‘stop foreclosure’

Loan Modification Question and Answer, Part 2

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

6. What are the HAMP loan modification guidelines?

Initial qualifications are as follows:

  • Have a monthly mortgage payment over 31% of your monthly gross income.
  • If the home is a single unit, the unpaid principle must be under $729,750.
  • You must be the owner-occupant of the home.
  • The loan must have originated before January 1, 2009.
  • Must have a mortgage that is unpayable due to a documentable financial hardship.

7. Why should I hire a California loan modification attorney?

Loan Modification Question and Answer, Part 1

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Have questions about loan modifications? Below I’ve tried to address some of the most common questions and concerns about loan modifications in hopes of shedding some light on what can be a very stressful process. Hopefully this can give borrowers a general outline of what to expect from their banks and the loan modification process and some different ways of going about getting what you want out of it.

It is important to note that every bank has found their own way of interpreting the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) guidelines, so experiences will vary depending on who your lender is. For specific information its important to contact your lender or attorney.

Questions About Loan Modifications

Monday, December 14th, 2009

question-mark1aMany people are confused about the loan modification process. Because different banks all have their own procedures and qualifications, this is understandable. When adding in the guidelines provided by the Making Homes Affordable (MHA) program and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), figuring out how to go about negotiating a successful loan modification can be a nightmare. As a result, many homeowners turn to third party Attorneys to help them with their loan modification.

Bank Foreclosures

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

bank_foreclosureBank foreclosure real estate, also referred to as REOs (Real Estate Owned), is foreclosed real estate that is owned by the bank due to an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. There are several reasons the home may have not sold at the auction. The most common reason is negative equity, when the value of the property is worth less than the amount owed to the bank. The bank tries to get the closest amount to the original balance on the loan so they lose the least amount of money, and so the price of the property is often based on the balance of the loan. Of course, in today’s market, this makes little sense for investors or first time buyers because property values have declined drastically.

Forced to Move Foreclosure or Short Sale

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Forced to Move: Foreclosure or Short Sale?

forced-to-moveIf you are in a position where you are forced to move, say because of a job transfer, health reasons, or pending foreclosure, and you can’t sell your home, what are your options?

In reality, you probably can sell your home, just not for the amount you would like to. In the current market, you could sell the home for below market value and take a loss, but in some cases home values have dropped so much that the current value is less than what you may owe on the home!

Where Are All the Loan Modifications

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

making-home-affordableEver since the introduction of the Making Home Affordable (MHA) and Home Affordable Modification Programs (HAMP) were passed it was expected that the rates of loan modifications approved by banks would increase and that foreclosures would gradually decrease. In fact, exactly the opposite has happened. Foreclosures are happening at a record pace while banks continue to deny homeowners modifications on loans that should never have been approved. How did this happen and what can be done to fix it? The blame is shared by both the government and the banks themselves.

How Short Sale Can Benefit The Seller

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

short-saleHow would it feel to lose your dream home for no fault of your own? Financial problems, due to lose of job, health problems, divorce, taking care of family members, characterize each of our lives and none of us really know what will affect us when. However, we cherish our dreams and make enormous efforts towards realizing them, oh which some of us come true, some do not, while some we lose reaching almost the threshold of acquiring. A breathing reality that is so much common in all of our lives is the threat of facing foreclosure and eventually losing home to some unwanted agency. Mortgages do have their benefits, but the slightest folly on your part can transform mortgages into deadly nightmares.

Selling at a Loss: Short Sales Explained

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

house short saleSometimes in life we may face situations where it is best to cut your losses and run. If the loss is your home, it is likely that the decision to do this is understandably made almost too late. If you are in the unenviable position of having to sell up and downsize because of escalating costs, an efficient real estate agent can be your best friend.

If your home is now worth less than you owe on it, he/she will be familiar with procedures and will be able to guide you through the differing aspects of negotiating a short sale. The term ’short sale’ simply refers to the fact that the current market value of your property is short of the actual figure that you owe on it.

What Alternatives Are There Besides a Foreclosure

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

foreclosureThere are alternatives besides a foreclosure.  Buying a house is a big investment. It really puts a dent on your financial resources. Of course, the expenses do not end with the down payment. You still have to contend with the monthly payments for the mortgage. This is a financial situation that you will have to live with for years until you have fully paid off your loan.

But what happens if you get behind in your mortgage payments? A delay in payment can have very serious consequences for your mortgage situation. If the delinquency in payments has become too severe then your home could be in danger of foreclosure. A foreclosure means that your property will be repossessed by the lending institution that gave you your mortgage.

Cramdown Legislation Impact Loan Modification

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

How does the “Cramdown” Legislation impact Loan Modifications?

Last month House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said loan-modification programs may be helping more people but they aren’t anywhere near the level they should be. These programs are coming in the form of the Obama’s Making Home Affordable (MHA) and HAMP, plus many more loan modifications options that are offered by the banks/servicers. In general, homeowners are very much in agreement with Barney Frank’s assessment about Loan Medications and Loan Work Out Programs.