Tag Archives: Loan Modification

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reminded servicers of mortgage relief options available to homeowners whose residences were affected by the tornado that ravaged areas in Oklahoma.

The five banks that took part in the national mortgage settlement are getting close to completing their consumer relief obligations a year after the landmark deal was reached. So far, the five banks--Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial--have provided $50.63 billion in consumer relief to over 621,700 borrowers, according to an update from the settlement monitor Joseph A. Smith, Jr. The provided relief comes out to about $81,437 per borrower.

From January through March, servicers implemented 244,933 loan modifications, according to HOPE NOW. At the same time, 83,394 borrowers avoided foreclosure through the short sale process. This brings the combined total for loan modifications and short sales to 328,327 for the first quarter. Meanwhile, HOPE NOW data showed foreclosure sales fell 14 percent to 161,641. Although foreclosure sales were down, foreclosure starts increased 30 percent in the first quarter to about 472,000.

Lender Processing Services, Inc. introduced the web-based Workout Interaction Tool (WIT), which provides data from its MSP servicing system to and from Fannie Mae’s Servicing Management Default Underwriter (SMDU) platform. LPS' WIT provides mortgage servicers with access to Fannie Mae's SMDU to provide consistent, real-time decisions on loan modifications and other workout solutions for struggling homeowners.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are offering the new Streamlined Modification Program to distressed borrowers before the effective date of July 1. As part of the program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac borrowers who are at least 90 days delinquent but no more than 720 days past due may be eligible for a modification that does not require the borrower to submit financial or hardship documentation.

While the likelihood of re-defaulting on a HAMP modification is smaller compared to private sector modifications, borrowers can become disqualified from the program if they miss three consecutive payments. According to the most recent Making Home Affordable Program report for March released by Treasury, the key to strengthening the chances a borrower won't become disqualified is to provide a significant payment reduction. ""Payment reduction is strongly correlated with permanent modification sustainability,"" the report concluded.

After being developed and tested over the past three years, Fannie Mae announced the broad release of a tool that helps to streamline foreclosure prevention efforts. Leslie Peeler, SVP of Fannie Mae's national servicing organization, explained that while adoption of the tool is voluntary for servicers, it will be required at some point in the near future.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman revealed plans Monday to take legal action against Bank of America and Wells Fargo for allegedly violating terms under the national mortgage settlement reached in February 2012. Schneiderman's office is accusing the banks of 339 servicing violations related to the timeline for processing mortgage modifications. ""Attorney General Schneiderman has referenced 129 customer servicing problems which we take seriously and will work quickly to address,"" a BofA spokesperson stated in an email.

Ocwen Financial Corporation experienced a surge in net income for the first quarter, which more than doubled over a year, and reported record revenue. In Q1 2013, Ocwen's net income jumped to $45.1 million, or $0.31 per share, up from 19.3 million, or $0.14 per share, a year ago. Revenue for the Atlanta-based company also surged 147 percent year-over-year to $406.7 million in Q1 2013, while income from operations increased 108 percent to $163.1 million during the same time period. ""Ocwen's core earnings and cash-flow were strong in the first quarter, and we should see these trend higher as a percentage of revenue as we drive down costs and delinquencies on newly acquired business,"" said Bill Erbey, Ocwen's chairman.

Starting July 1, large numbers of non-paying borrowers will have the opportunity to modify existing mortgages through a more streamlined process. This sounds like a good way to reduce foreclosures and prop up home prices, but as we will shortly see the proposed program is oddly risky and likely to encourage additional defaults. The program is open to borrowers who have already modified their loans once, perhaps a few years ago when rates were higher. This, at least, is a good idea. So what's the big difference between the new program and the modifications offered previously?