Do Nothing - The stress of facing foreclosure can push many folks into burying their head. Doing nothing may not be the best choice, instead research your options, or find a source that can help you and provide solid direction. One of the options may be doing a best loan modification to save your home. There are many options, so investigate the right one for you.
File Bankruptcy – There are new bankruptcy laws sitting in Congress to be voted on that would help the homeowner when it comes to principal balance reduction. These news laws have not been passed, but keep checking back to see if and when they are passed.
Currently, filing for bankruptcy may not relieve you of your obligation to repay your mortgage, the foreclosure may still proceed, and of course there is the negative impact to credit.
Short Sale - A short sale typically is executed to prevent a home foreclosure. It means that you are selling your home for less then what you owe on it. The impact to your credit is less severe then that of a foreclosure showing up on your credit.
Often a bank will choose to allow a short sale if they believe it will result in a smaller financial loss than foreclosing. The downside to a short sale is that it takes time to sell a home even at a bargain in this housing market, but it will also depend on your location. Keep in mind that the short sale process with the bank can be lengthy and usually takes 60 days or more for the bank to accept the short sale offer. Also, when the home is listed for sale, you are still responsible for your mortgage payment.
Loan Modification – A attorney loan modification an option that can save your home while putting you in a [mortgage|home loan|home payment|mortgage payment[/spin] you can afford. So how does a Loan Workout work and who is eligible for a Loan Modification? Below are some helpful tools and resources for you.
The most common Loan Workout are 'fixing' adjustable interest rates. A Loan Workout can help homeowners who can’t refinance or afford their current mortgage payments. Getting an approved loan modification for troubled home loans can help stop the foreclosure process.
Be very leery if your bank sends you a letter in the mail stating they will accept partial payments for three months and then after that period they tell you they MAY offer you a Loan Modification. This may be a scam by the bank just to collect money to help them. However, this does not help you in that the notice of default clock is still ticking. If the lender is not going to put you directly into a Loan Modification, call a professional for help immediately. Don’t get caught in their scam as they DO NOT promise the Loan Workout at the end of the three month period. Too many people have lost their homes because the banks did not put them into the Loan Modification after the three month period and started the notice of trustee sale shortly after that period.
We can offer free foreclosure help to homeowners that want to keep their home. Please use our short form to receive a free foreclosure assistance consultation. Our consultation is FREE. http://www.callalms.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Frequent Questions About Federal Loan Mod Plan
Obamas plan to rescue the troubled housing market’s philosophy is based on helping struggling homeowners stay in their homes so that plummeting property values begin to taper off, thus forming a bottom. There are many who refute this idea based on the fact that over 50% of loan mod in the first quarter of 2008 re-defaulted within six months.
The fact is, these modified loans were based on the homeowner calling into the mortgage company directly and not an Attorney acting on behalf of a homeowner. It is a fact that servicer bullied homeowner back into bad loan terms once again as the homeowners didn’t know better and couldn’t fight these large institutions. That is one reason an experienced loan modification Attorney can help homeowners get into a better negotiated plan, as they know what to negotiate and won’t be bullied by these institutions. It is just like trying to complete your taxes on your own. A CPA is better as they know the ropes and can save you more money then if you did it yourself.
Many new details were released on Wednesday about the new restructure plan; let’s see how some of the questions on many homeowners’ minds were answered.
Will I get affordable monthly payments?
In his most recent letter to shareholders, the Oracle of Omaha himself, Warren Buffett, wrote, "Commentary about the current housing crisis often ignores the crucial fact that most foreclosures do not occur because a house is worth less than its mortgage. Rather, foreclosures take place because borrowers can’t pay the monthly payment that they agreed to pay." The Governments new plan seems to echo this belief and centers on making monthly payments affordable in order to keep people in their homes. Remember not all bank are signing up and supporting The Governments request! And did I mention, it is our tax money that most of these banks are using to bail us out, I believe that is called TARP – Troubled Asset Relief Program!!
What's the magic payment number?
Thirty one percent. Obamas plan requires participating loan lender to reduce payments to no more than thirty eight of the homeowners gross monthly income. The government will then put in money in order to lower payments further to no more than thirty one percent of the gross monthly income. Do keep in mind that there are additional programs that are not based on someone’s debt ratio’s and rather look at a household’s cash flow and base it on their ability to pay. Also, not all banks are participating in this program.
What about my interest rate?
The first thing the lender would do is lower the interest rate to as low as 2 percent. If that's not enough to hit the 31 percent threshold, they would then extend the terms of the loan to up to 40 years. If that's still not enough, the bank would forebear loan principal at no interest. The plan does not require lender to reduce mortgage principal, an important point to remember. It is also important to know that not all lender participate in the program and the ones that do may not go as low as 2%. As a homeowner, do not expect the 2% as it is not a for sure bet, it is only a suggestion. Most homeowners will likely see 3.75% to 5% as a final interest rate. If you are one of the lucky few that receives the 2%, then good for you!
Did someone say incentives?
There are quite a few incentives to both the homeowner and lender. mortgage company will be paid $1,000 for each modification and an additional $1,000 payout each year for up to three years, as long as the homeowner continues making payments. Homeowners can get up to $1,000 knocked off the principal of their loan each year for up to five years in reward for timely payments. Neither party can partake of these incentives until the modified loan payments have been made for at least three months on time.
Who is eligible?
The Presidents plan is an effort to help responsible homeowners —not speculators. Only owner-occupied, primary residences with outstanding principal balances of up to $729,750 are eligible. Occupancy status will be verified through documents, such as the borrower's credit report. The program is designed to target homeowners who are undergoing "serious hardships"—such as a loss of income—which have put them at risk of default. Only loans originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009, are eligible.
What if I have a home equity loan?
The details on this are still unclear. While the Presidents plan does address the issue of second liens such as home equity loans by offering incentives to extinguish them, it has not spelled out how it intends to work with second lien holders specifically.
Why would my servicer take part in the new plan?
Net present value: To determine if a particular mortgage will be modified, the servicer will perform a so-called net present value test. The test compares the expected cash flow that the loan would generate if it is modified with the expected cash flow it would generate if it isn't. If the modified loan is expected to produce more cash flow for the mortgage holder, the servicer is to restructure the loan. Howard Glaser, a mortgage industry consultant and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official during the Clinton administration, called this component of the plan "clever," arguing that it would work to ensure broad participation. "When you apply the formula, the loans that are modified are the ones that are in the best economic interest of the investors to modify," Glaser says. "The Governments subsidy for the payment on the modification…tips the scale toward loan mod as a better deal for the investor."
http://www.callalms.com
The fact is, these modified loans were based on the homeowner calling into the mortgage company directly and not an Attorney acting on behalf of a homeowner. It is a fact that servicer bullied homeowner back into bad loan terms once again as the homeowners didn’t know better and couldn’t fight these large institutions. That is one reason an experienced loan modification Attorney can help homeowners get into a better negotiated plan, as they know what to negotiate and won’t be bullied by these institutions. It is just like trying to complete your taxes on your own. A CPA is better as they know the ropes and can save you more money then if you did it yourself.
Many new details were released on Wednesday about the new restructure plan; let’s see how some of the questions on many homeowners’ minds were answered.
Will I get affordable monthly payments?
In his most recent letter to shareholders, the Oracle of Omaha himself, Warren Buffett, wrote, "Commentary about the current housing crisis often ignores the crucial fact that most foreclosures do not occur because a house is worth less than its mortgage. Rather, foreclosures take place because borrowers can’t pay the monthly payment that they agreed to pay." The Governments new plan seems to echo this belief and centers on making monthly payments affordable in order to keep people in their homes. Remember not all bank are signing up and supporting The Governments request! And did I mention, it is our tax money that most of these banks are using to bail us out, I believe that is called TARP – Troubled Asset Relief Program!!
What's the magic payment number?
Thirty one percent. Obamas plan requires participating loan lender to reduce payments to no more than thirty eight of the homeowners gross monthly income. The government will then put in money in order to lower payments further to no more than thirty one percent of the gross monthly income. Do keep in mind that there are additional programs that are not based on someone’s debt ratio’s and rather look at a household’s cash flow and base it on their ability to pay. Also, not all banks are participating in this program.
What about my interest rate?
The first thing the lender would do is lower the interest rate to as low as 2 percent. If that's not enough to hit the 31 percent threshold, they would then extend the terms of the loan to up to 40 years. If that's still not enough, the bank would forebear loan principal at no interest. The plan does not require lender to reduce mortgage principal, an important point to remember. It is also important to know that not all lender participate in the program and the ones that do may not go as low as 2%. As a homeowner, do not expect the 2% as it is not a for sure bet, it is only a suggestion. Most homeowners will likely see 3.75% to 5% as a final interest rate. If you are one of the lucky few that receives the 2%, then good for you!
Did someone say incentives?
There are quite a few incentives to both the homeowner and lender. mortgage company will be paid $1,000 for each modification and an additional $1,000 payout each year for up to three years, as long as the homeowner continues making payments. Homeowners can get up to $1,000 knocked off the principal of their loan each year for up to five years in reward for timely payments. Neither party can partake of these incentives until the modified loan payments have been made for at least three months on time.
Who is eligible?
The Presidents plan is an effort to help responsible homeowners —not speculators. Only owner-occupied, primary residences with outstanding principal balances of up to $729,750 are eligible. Occupancy status will be verified through documents, such as the borrower's credit report. The program is designed to target homeowners who are undergoing "serious hardships"—such as a loss of income—which have put them at risk of default. Only loans originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009, are eligible.
What if I have a home equity loan?
The details on this are still unclear. While the Presidents plan does address the issue of second liens such as home equity loans by offering incentives to extinguish them, it has not spelled out how it intends to work with second lien holders specifically.
Why would my servicer take part in the new plan?
Net present value: To determine if a particular mortgage will be modified, the servicer will perform a so-called net present value test. The test compares the expected cash flow that the loan would generate if it is modified with the expected cash flow it would generate if it isn't. If the modified loan is expected to produce more cash flow for the mortgage holder, the servicer is to restructure the loan. Howard Glaser, a mortgage industry consultant and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official during the Clinton administration, called this component of the plan "clever," arguing that it would work to ensure broad participation. "When you apply the formula, the loans that are modified are the ones that are in the best economic interest of the investors to modify," Glaser says. "The Governments subsidy for the payment on the modification…tips the scale toward loan mod as a better deal for the investor."
http://www.callalms.com
Downpayment Assitance on FHA Loans using 8000 tax credit
In what could be a huge boost to the housing market, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s has decided to allow florida mortgage company to use the $8,000 home purchase credit to help cover their down payment and closing costs on Florida FHA mortgage loans.
One of the biggest challenges for first time home buyer is saving up enough money for a downpayment on their home. The FHA program in particular requires the borrower to come to closing with 3.5% of the purchase price as their downpayment. Often borrowers have to borrow these funds from work to supply home buyers with short-term or “bridge loans” of up to 10% of the purchase price, up to the amount of the $8,000 tax credit.
Longer term loans secured by second liens can also be used by government agencies and FHA-approved non-profit organizations to facilitate home sales. Several state housing finance agencies have introduced such programs and a number of agencies are considering that possibility.
More information about these programs can be found on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Web site at www.ncsha.org/section.cfm/3/34/2920.
Previously, the home buyer would have been unable to access the home purchase credit until they filed their next annual tax return or an amended 2008 tax return and received the refund from the IRS. Until then they borrowed the funds from family and friends with the understanding that they would be able to pay it back after they filed their income taxes.
The next step is to see how florida fha-approved lenders use HUD’s new guidelines to actually monetize the tax credit for first-time home buyers and structure the payback provisions of the loans. NAHB encourages lending institutions to act promptly to put these provisions into place.
To qualify for the first time home buyer credit, first-time home buyers must actually close on their home purchase by Dec. 1, 2009. Buyers can take the credit on their 2008 or 2009 income tax return.
Information about the details of exactly how this program will be rolled out are still forthcoming. We do know that there are many states such as Missouri that are already offering some type of bridge loan program utilizing the first time home buyer credit for down payment assistance.
For further information on the $8,000 first time homebuyer home purchase credit and how you can use it to help you get an FHA financed loan with no money down please either call us immediately at 800-871-2636 or apply online at http://www.fivestarsmortgage.com and a representative will go over your information with you in detail.
One of the biggest challenges for first time home buyer is saving up enough money for a downpayment on their home. The FHA program in particular requires the borrower to come to closing with 3.5% of the purchase price as their downpayment. Often borrowers have to borrow these funds from work to supply home buyers with short-term or “bridge loans” of up to 10% of the purchase price, up to the amount of the $8,000 tax credit.
Longer term loans secured by second liens can also be used by government agencies and FHA-approved non-profit organizations to facilitate home sales. Several state housing finance agencies have introduced such programs and a number of agencies are considering that possibility.
More information about these programs can be found on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Web site at www.ncsha.org/section.cfm/3/34/2920.
Previously, the home buyer would have been unable to access the home purchase credit until they filed their next annual tax return or an amended 2008 tax return and received the refund from the IRS. Until then they borrowed the funds from family and friends with the understanding that they would be able to pay it back after they filed their income taxes.
The next step is to see how florida fha-approved lenders use HUD’s new guidelines to actually monetize the tax credit for first-time home buyers and structure the payback provisions of the loans. NAHB encourages lending institutions to act promptly to put these provisions into place.
To qualify for the first time home buyer credit, first-time home buyers must actually close on their home purchase by Dec. 1, 2009. Buyers can take the credit on their 2008 or 2009 income tax return.
Information about the details of exactly how this program will be rolled out are still forthcoming. We do know that there are many states such as Missouri that are already offering some type of bridge loan program utilizing the first time home buyer credit for down payment assistance.
For further information on the $8,000 first time homebuyer home purchase credit and how you can use it to help you get an FHA financed loan with no money down please either call us immediately at 800-871-2636 or apply online at http://www.fivestarsmortgage.com and a representative will go over your information with you in detail.
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