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HAMP Mods Slowing, Outnumbered by Rejections and Cancelations

""Last week"":http://dsnews.comarticles/tarp-inspector-generals-report-says-hamp-is-failing-2011-01-26, Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), released a report to Congress detailing HAMP's progress thus far.

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In his report, he said the numbers of modifications are much lower than anticipated, and he also said servicers are not doing all they can to help facilitate the process of keeping borrowers in their homes.

As of November 30, 2010, there were an estimated 1,420,048 borrowers eligible for HAMP who are 60 or more days delinquent.

The ""servicer performance report"":http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financial-stability/results/MHA-Reports/Documents/Dec%202010%20MHA%20Report%20Final.pdf released Monday by Treasury revealed that as of the final day of 2010 there are a total of 521,630 active permanent modifications and 152,289 active trial modifications.

By contrast there have been 1,025,907 homeowners rejected for HAMP modifications by the eight largest servicers, and there have been 572,655 canceled trial modifications.

To date there have been 1,466,448 HAMP trials started.

The report details numbers reported for several servicers, including the ""Bank of America"":http://www.bankofamerica.com (BofA), ""Citi"":http://www.citimortgage.com, ""JP Morgan Chase"":http://www.jpmorganchase.com, and ""Wells Fargo"":http://www.wellsfargo.com. Though the ""big four"" banks are leading the pack in numbers of modifications, the numbers are quite low over all when contrasted with the 3 to 4 million homeowners HAMP projected to help by 2012.

On top of that, it seems the pace of modifications is slowing dramatically.

Bank of America has the highest number of modifications of all surveyed servicers. The company reported it currently has 45,753 active trial modifications and 90,243 active permanent modifications.

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In June, BofA reported it had completed 72,323 permanent modifications so far. The servicer completed just 6,484 modifications nationwide from November to December 2010.

BofA also has 199,196 homeowners in canceled HAMP trial modifications, and 114,531 homeowners who were not accepted for HAMP trial modifications. Of those homeowners, 18,031 are currently in the process of alternative modifications, 18,572 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu, 35,872 are experiencing foreclosure starts and 12,549 have completed foreclosures.

CitiMortgage reported a total of 42,746 active permanent modifications at year-end, and 7,415 active trial modifications. Citi has 81,329 homeowners in canceled trial mods and 128,665 homeowners who were not accepted for HAMP trial modifications, with 34,369 in the process of alt mods, 3,370 going through a short sale or deed in lieu, 8,864 foreclosure starts and 4,527 foreclosure completions.

JP Morgan reported 66,441 active permanent modifications, 20,7999 active trial modifications, and 113,997 in canceled trial mods. The servicer has denied the most homeowners HAMP modifications, at 334,462. Of those homeowners, 101,136 are in the process of alternative modification, 9,892 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu, 35,676 are experiencing foreclosure starts and 8,994 are in the process of foreclosure completions.

Wells Fargo reported 70,135 active permanent modifications and 18,526 trial modifications, as well as 118,395 in canceled mods. Wells has 172,387 homeowners who were not accepted for a HAMP trial modification, of those, 47,818 are pursuing alternative modifications, 10,550 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu. There are 18,914 foreclosure starts and 11,340 completed foreclosures.

The performance report says the most common causes of trial cancellations are insufficient documentation, trial plan payment default, and borrower ineligibility. Most common causes of trials not accepted are insufficient documentation, borrower ineligibility, or mortgage ineligibility.

Interestingly, Citi and JP Morgan experienced a decline in active permanent modifications from November to December.

Cumulative permanent mods recorded for Citi and JPMorgan in November 2010, were 52,856 and 67,722, respectively.