Tag Archives: Loan Modification

Wells Fargo, one of the nation's largest mortgage servicers, has agreed to use HOPE LoanPort's proprietary technology to partner with nonprofit housing counselors to assist homeowners with loan modifications. Wells is the 13th major servicer to sign onto the Web-based tool, which allows borrowers and counselors to streamline their submission of loan mod applications. HOPE LoanPort also has commitments from more than 1,600 housing counselors from almost 300 organizations across the country.

The latest in a string of government extensions is an extension to Fannie Mae's Alternative Modification (Alt Mod) to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). The extension is being provided so servicers will have enough time to complete the processing of modifications for borrowers who meet the eligibility requirements for the Alt Mod program, which remain the same.

If governmental policy on foreclosure prevention does not change, 11.5 million borrowers are in danger of losing their homes, according to the analysts at Amherst Securities. That staggering figure equates to one out of every five borrowers - an astronomical 20 percent default rate. So how can the administration fix deficiencies in its loan modification program? Amherst analysts say the answer lies in cutting borrowers' principal balances and boosting housing demand, including opening up financing channels for investors.

The Treasury Department has instructed three of the nation's largest mortgage servicers to make changes to the way they solicit distressed borrowers for the government's loan modification program and evaluate applicants for eligibility. In Treasury's latest report card on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America were called out by name as receiving sub-par grades in complying with the program's guidelines.

The credit quality of first-lien mortgages serviced by the nation's largest banks and thrifts remained steady during the second quarter of 2010, according to a new regulatory report. Mortgage delinquency levels were relatively flat but elevated after rising for several quarters. Completed foreclosures were up by 7 percent from the previous quarter, but mortgage modifications increased 18 percent, and the report found that newer mods are showing significantly lower re-default rates.

Bank of America reports that it has provided mortgage modification assistance to more than 680,000 homeowners since January 2008, 79,859 of which have been completed through the administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). According to the company, it leads the industry in HAMP modifications. BofA officials say HAMP results have slowed in recent months due to the implementation of a full documentation requirement prior to initiating a trial mod plan.

The administration released new data on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) Wednesday. Just over 33,000 homeowners received a permanent HAMP mod in August. That's 27 percent below the number of permanent conversions the month before. So far, about 468,000 permanent modifications have been granted to distressed homeowners under the federal program. The latest report also included the results of servicer compliance reviews conducted by Freddie Mac.

That dreaded shadow inventory of homes that has captured headlines and gripped the industry and market analysts with angst is beginning to make its way out of the darkness, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting. The firm says loan modifications were successful in delaying the inevitable foreclosure. But homes that have been stuck in that neverland of somewhere between delinquency and repossession are now winding their way through the foreclosure pipeline at a quicker pace and will soon come out the other end as a short sale or REO.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's lawsuit against Barclays Capital Real Estate, dba HomEq Servicing, just took a legal step forward with a recent decision by a state court. This week, a Montgomery County judge overruled the defendant's motion to dismiss, clearing the way for Cordray's case to move forward, and the attorney general says, setting the stage for servicers to be held legally responsible for their actions in the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis.

Mortgage insurer Genworth Financial saved almost $4.8 billion in mortgages from foreclosure in the 12 months ending June 30, 2010. These statistics represent a nearly 80 percent increase from the same period last year. More than half of total mortgage dollars saved were the result of the administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Genworth reports that it completed more than 30,000 mortgage workouts nationwide during the period via its homeowner assistance program.