HAMP Struggling With Cancellations Or Rejections

Below are numbers for Bank of America, JP Morgan, Citi Mortgage, Wells Fargo and how they have been doing with HAMP ( Home Made Affordable Program)- Is your lender trying to foreclose on you? Would you like to minimize the damage to your credit and avoid foreclosure?     FREE CONSULTATION AND FREE SERVICE Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

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 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 (BofA), Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. 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.

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.



Buying Time After Short Sale Or Foreclosure

The waiting periods in order to qualify for a home loan after a foreclosure, deed-in-lieu, short sale and bankruptcy varies both by the government agency purchasing or insuring the loan as well as the dollar amount of the loan.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

1) Foreclosure is 3 years

2) Deed-in Lieu is 3 years

3) Short Sale is 3 years

4) Bankruptcy is 2 years

Veterans Administration (VA)

1) Foreclosure is 2 years

2) Deed-in Lieu is 2 years

3) Short Sale is 2 years

4) Bankruptcy is 2 years

Conventional Conforming (FNMA/FHLMC)

1) Foreclosure is 7 years

2) Deed-in-Lieu is 4 years < 80% LTV and 5 years > 80% LTV for primary residences. 7 years for second homes and investment properties regardless of LTV.

3) Short Sales is 2 years < 80% LTV and 5 years > 80% LTV and 7 years > 90% LTV

4) Bankruptcy is 4 years

Conventional Non-Conforming (JUMBO)

1) Foreclosure is 7 years

2) Deed-in-Lieu is 7 years

3) Short Sale is 7 years

4) Bankruptcy is 7 years

New Rules For HAFA Short Sales

For anyone questioning the progress of HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program) and the HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program), here are some clear cut moves that should make the Short-Sale program a little more clear and help distressed owners sell leaving eager buyers the ability to purchase these homes in a timely fashion. If you or someone you know needs help to Short Sale their home or buy  a Short Sale please feel free to contact Josh 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

Loan servicers will have 30 days to send a borrower a short-sale agreement that includes the list price or acceptable sales proceeds under recent changes made to the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program, aimed at distressed borrowers who don’t qualify for other government loan modification programs.

Once a sales contract has been initiated, loan servicers then have 30 days to approve or reject the transaction.

The stricter timelines are believed to help speed up the short sale process, which has faced numerous complaints for how long it takes lenders to review and approve short sales often causing buyers to walk away.

The stricter timelines were apart of several revisions the Treasury Department recently announced to its HAFA program the second major revision to the program since its launch in 2009.

Another big change: Loan servicers will no longer be restricted on paying second-lien holders, allowing them more freedom particularly when dealing with second-lien holders when borrowers owe less than $100,000. Loan servicers used to be restricted to paying second-lien holders no more than 6 percent of outstanding loan balance (with an overall limit of $6,000) in exchange for releasing subordinate liens. Second-lien holders have been another big obstacle to completing short sale transactions.

HAFA’s new directives also now forbid loan servicers from deducting vendor expenses from commissions paid to real estate brokers.

The rules are effective Feb. 1. It does not apply to mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or insured or guaranteed by a federal agency such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Source: Daily Real Estate News

HAFA Getting It Right

Those of you that have spent the countless hours getting nowhere with your HAMP (home affordable modification program) then not being accepted for HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) programs with questions as to why.. Read this below and if you have questions or are seeking the help of a Idaho Short Sale Leader call Josh 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com and we can work towards a solution.

The Treasury Department took action in December eliminating some rules it said have held back short sales through the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program.

HAFA was launched in April 2010 to provide an incentive to servicers and investors for pursuing short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure. The program was designed for homeowners who fell out of the Treasury’s Home Affordable Modification Program and was touted as a new standard for short sales.

But both HAFA and HAMP have struggled. The Treasury has spent only $4.3 million through HAFA, inducing roughly 661 short sales since the program launched, according to the Congressional Oversight Panel, the Troubled Asset Relief Program watchdog.

With such low numbers, the Treasury has eliminated rules that have constricted eligibility for HAFA. Among them, servicers are no longer required to verify a borrower’s financial information or determine if the borrower’s total monthly mortgage payment exceeds a 31% debt-to-income ratio. Servicers still must obtain a signed hardship affidavit.

“While this requirement has set the standard for mortgage affordability under HAMP, it is not as important for homeowners ready to transition out of their home,” a Treasury official said. “Eliminating this requirement further streamlines the process for homeowners applying to the program.”

Larry Bird, an executive at BirdRock Enterprises and a vice president for the Foreclosure Response Team, a company that specializes in short sales, said removing the 31% DTI requirement should allow many more people to qualify for HAFA.

“This will certainly help, the 31% ratio should have never been part of the HAFA requirements to begin with,” Bird said.

In order to get more second-lien investors to clear short sales, the Treasury changed how servicers pay out to these holders. Before, the second-lien investor had to agree to accept 6% of the unpaid principle balance owed to them, up to $6,000. But the new guidelines eliminate that 6% rule. Now, servicers on behalf of the investors determine the amount or percentage of the unpaid principal balance of the second lien to be paid to each holder.

However, the cap still remains at $6,000.

The Treasury also directed servicers to grant borrowers who request consideration for HAFA the same timeline as those who are approached by the bank. Now, all borrowers must receive a short sale agreement no later than 30 days after request.

The Treasury said it will begin reporting official HAFA numbers in the first quarter of 2011.

Source: Jon Pryor

Short Sales Agent Eagle Idaho

Over 50% of the properties sold in Eagle, Idaho have been either bank owned (154) with (18) pending as of today or Short Sales (92) sold with 13pending. With the out right failure of the HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program) home owners have been left in foreclosure, deed in lieu or Short Sale. The smart under water borrower will seek a short sale professional to help them qualify for HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) Guidelines are in place to help troubled home owners settle short on their bad asset (home) and possibly return to home ownership within 2 years.. That’s right banks will pay for you to short sale your home.. For more information call Josh today.. Visit website and click top right corner “How To Navigate The Short Sale Proces”

Joshua Groesbeck 353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

josh@homeswithjosh.com

Information provided by: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service

Navigating The Short Sale In Idaho

N.Y. Times reports that 70% of all loan mods will fail. Some estimate the number will be closer to 75%. Did you know that most mods leave in ALL of the negative equity…most mods are temporary….most mods make the borrower pay the difference between the modd’ed payment and the original payment? Its almost like mods are intentionally designed to merely extend and pretend the inevitable foreclosure (or the smart owners will do a short sale)

Click here for your Short Sale Presentation

For Help call Joshua Groesbeck  208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

Housing Fix Or Let It Fail

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39042331#39042331

Rules For FHA Principle Reducing Refi’s

Look for qualification under mortgage letter link- Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com and www.homeswithjosh.com

Nearly a quarter of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage owe more on the loan than their home is worth, and home prices are threatening to fall further and push even more borrowers underwater. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), though, is throwing out a lifeline.

Starting September 7, the federal agency will offer new FHA-insured mortgages to certain underwater, non-FHA borrowers who are current on their mortgage payments and whose lenders agree to write off at least 10 percent of the unpaid principal balance.

This last part could prove to be the caveat that leads the new FHA refi program down the same road as the federal government’s other housing programs – a road of below par results and public criticism.

Lenders are fantastically reluctant to write down mortgage principals. It would mean either they or their mortgage investors would have to eat the amount of debt that’s forgiven, and it could set a precedent that a loan contract is not a contract at all if the terms spelled out in black and white can be changed based on market nuances, such as a slump in real estate values.

The FHA refi program for underwater borrowers was originally announced in March as part of the administra-

tion’s expanded foreclosure prevention strategy. On Friday, FHA and HUD published a mortgagee letter explaining to lenders the details of the new negative equity refinancing program.

To be eligible for a new loan, the homeowner must owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth, be current on their existing mortgage, and occupy the property as their primary residence. The homeowner must qualify for the new loan under standard FHA underwriting requirements and have a credit score equal of at least 500.

Participation in the program is voluntary and requires the consent of all lien holders. The borrower’s existing first lien holder must agree to write off at least 10 percent of their unpaid principal balance to bring the borrower’s combined loan-to-value ratio to no more than 115 percent.

In addition, the existing loan to be refinanced must not be an FHA-insured loan, and the refinanced FHA-insured first mortgage must have a loan-to-value ratio of no more than 97.75 percent.

To facilitate the refinancing of new FHA-insured loans under this program, the Treasury will provide incentives to existing second lien holders who agree to full or partial extinguishment of the liens.

Servicers planning to take part in the new program must execute a Servicer Participation Agreement (SPA) with Fannie Mae by October 3, 2010.

HUD says interested homeowners should contact their lenders to determine if they are eligible and whether the lender agrees to write down a portion of the unpaid principal.

FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens, said, “This is another tool to help overcome the negative equity problem facing many responsible homeowners who are looking to refinance into a safer, more secure mortgage product.”

Source: DS News

Bank of America HPO Short Sale Rules

This is an outline for Bank Of America new HPO (high performance) short sale program. If you are have a B of A loan and have been turned down for or loan modification has not worked please don’t waste anytime and call Josh 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com for your free confidential housing consultation. Look at the new rules below as they are pretty clear. 100% Trained in Short Sales and getting them closed. First Response Team

* Every short sale seller and agent will be assigned a personal advocate who will shepherd the short sale through, using the new, simple process.  Think of this as your own ‘short sale personal representative’.

* No pre-qualifying, no hardship required.  Being upside down in the house IS the hardship.

* No documentation.

* No bank statements.

* No tax returns.

* No financial worksheets.

* No deficiency judgement.

* No financial contribution from the seller of any kind will be requested.

* Only requirements?  -A listing contract -A purchase contract -An appraisal, though we’ve been told the appraisal will not have an adverse bearing on the final acceptance.

* 2 WEEK approvals.

Home Owners Leaving Government Hamp Program

Facts for the Idaho homeowners who are working towards a loan modification. Best case scenario is getting your payment lowered to no more than 31% of your gross income. IF your loan modification is not getting worked out do the next best thing and call Josh Groesbeck and you can stay in your home until it is sold while charging you nothing. Specially trained in the art of a Short Sale I can help you qualify for money back from the bank to you for your relocation. With the economic hardships and homes that are entirely upside down (worth less than is owed) it’s no surprise that well over 50% of american homeowners are choosing to Short Sale their homes and start fresh. More great information at WWW.HOMESWITHJOSH.COM or WWW.IDSHORTSALE.COM

Joshua Groesbeck      208-353-7131  or josh@homeswithjosh.com

About 91,000 borrowers dropped out of the program in June, putting the total number of dropouts at 530,000.

At the same time, about 49,000 borrowers received a permanent modification in June, bringing the number of total active permanent modifications to 389,000.

That means more than 40 percent of the roughly 1.3 million borrowers who have started in the program since its March 2009 inception have since dropped out, while just over 30 percent have received permanent new terms for their loan.