California-based ""NID Housing Counseling Agency"":http://www.nidonline.org (NID-HCA), a program that counsels consumers, non-profits, public agencies, and faith-based groups on housing-related issues, now requires its counselors to use ""HOPE LoanPort"":http://www.hopeloanportal.org as the primary tool for submitting home retention applications to mortgage servicers.
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HOPE LoanPort, developed by the ""HOPE NOW Alliance"":http://www.hopenow.com, is a Web-based tool that streamlines home retention applications on behalf of borrowers at risk of foreclosure.
""We believe that HOPE LoanPort is a vital, necessary, and, most important, free utility for use by all housing coun-
[COLUMN_BREAK]selors in our network,"" said Jacqueline Carlisle, executive director of NID-HCA. ""It is perhaps the most complete Web-based loss mitigation tool currently available for bridging the gap between homeowners and mortgage servicers.""
NID-HCS will also expand its efforts to train counselors on the use of HOPE LoanPort.
NID-HCA started using HOPE LoanPort to assist struggling homeowners more than a year ago. Approximately 6 percent of all foreclosure prevention cases in the portal were submitted by NID-HCA, according to a statement from the companies.
""We're excited to be expanding our partnership with NID-HCA and elated they are happy with the system; their candid feedback has been important in fine tuning its development,"" said Larry Gilmore, CEO of HOPE LoanPort.
Gilmore added, ""NID-HCA's requirement of all counselor affiliates using this system will significantly impact the number of homeowners receiving assistance and demonstrates their true commitment as a partner in promoting change. It's a win-win situation for housing counselors and for the homeowners they serve across the country.""