Once of the things American president Barak Obama, along with his administration have done is to implement a loan modification plan. Basically, the plan focuses on the lenders. By providing incentives in order to have them modify the terms and conditions of an existing loan. This makes it easier on homeowners to meet the monthly installments. Before this plan was implemented it was very difficult for homeowners to get their mortgage altered, because most of the cost that were involved had to be covered by the lenders themselves.
How to determine if you qualify
In order to qualify for Obama’s loan modification program, the home must be your primary residence, and you must have purchased your home before January 1, 2009. The Obama plan does not apply to jumbo loans, which in most cases means your loan amount can’t exceed $729,750; however, the allowable limit may be higher in high-cost housing areas.
Also, the loan is only available on the first mortgage. It does not apply to any subsequent mortgages you may have. Your mortgage has to be more than 31% of your monthly income if you are to qualify for the loan modification program. And lastly, you need to be able to show that you are facing financial difficulty which means you are having problems paying your mortgage. Whether it is because of the loss of a job, less working hour, illness, separation and/or divorce, or whatever else. You can find FAQ from Uncle Sam here (it is HUD’s website).
After qualification comes the process
The first step in the process is to contact your lender. Under the Obama plan, a lender is not required to modify your loan, but participating lenders are more likely to work with you because of the financial incentives the plan offers.
The next thing that you need to do is to provide proof of your income before tax. Your last tax return that you filed will also be needed. You will also have to provide any info regarding any assets or savings that you might have. Statements depicting your first, and if necessary, second mortgage payments and/or your home equity line of credit will be needed so ensure that you are prepared. Another thing you should take the time to do is draw up a budget that shows clearly what your out of pocket expenses are each month. It also needs to include the amounts that you pay toward your credit card and any loans.
Once you’ve gathered this information, you will go through the final process with your lender of negotiating the terms and completing the necessary paperwork.
Why modification instead refinancing is the better choice
When you refinance your mortgage all the closing costs and other fees become your responsibility. However, when it comes to the Obama plan there are no fees and even if you are late with your installments the late fees, or interest, can be waived. Unless your credit record is impeccable, it is highly unlikely that you will be granted refinance, because of the present state of the credit climate. So, cost and the ability to qualify are two of the main reasons why you should investigate the option of loan modification.
Modification is the best option if you are falling behind on your payments, or if you could not afford to stay in your home with a new loan at conventional rates. On the other hand, refinancing is a better option if you have equity in your home and are looking for a better interest rate, even if you don’t qualify for Obama’s modification plan. Refinancing is also the only way to cash out if you want to tap into your home’s equity.
You might opt for a professional, such as a lawyer or service provider, to do the negotiation regarding the modification you seek. However, you do it yourself and save between eight hundred to two thousand dollars, which is the standard rate. Thanks to the incentives the plan offers to lenders it is easier for you to do the negotiation yourself. If you plan the case and provide proper assurance that you will make the monthly installments everything should be fine and in place.
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The new Federal Loan Modification program is aimed at helping people navigate the complicated system and offer guidelines for lenders and some participatory income.
However, this plan will only help approximately 15%-20% of customers. It addresses the needs of owner occupied, conforming borrowers with loans under $417,700 and with a current ability to pay a portion of their mortgage with loan owned by lenders participating in the program.
A Mortgage Modification is a process whereby a home owner’s mortgage is modified and both the lender and homeowner are bound by the new terms of the new mortgage.
The most common mortgage modifications are listed below:
lowering the mortgage interest rate
reducing the mortgage principal balance
fixing adjustable interest rates within the mortgage
increasing the loan term throughout the mortgage
forgiveness of payment defaults and fees
or any combination of the above
Check out this public service site at http://mortgagemodificationinfo.org