Yes, we recognize the importance of sharing all the great information we put out there about loan modifications. From news to do-it-yourself advice, we understand that there are many homeowners who want to learn as much as they can before trying to modify their own home loan(s). The website and loan modification blog from AML has so much great information, we just had to share it with the twitterers of the world! If you are interested in receiving FREE loan modification tips and tricks, just follow us on twitter.com by clicking on the big graphic up above or by CLICKING HERE. We look forward to sharing our insight with you!
Details of President Obama’s stop foreclosure plan “Making Homes Affordable” was released yesterday (March 4th, 2009) and so begins the journey of Government Assisted Loan Modifications! At www.AdjustMyLoan.com we have always been a fan of the Government subsidizing lenders, servicers, and investors for completing loan modifications and think this is a step in the right direction but is it enough? Below we outline some facts of the new plan as well as give you a quick video to watch. About 7-9 million struggling homeowners should qualify for help according to the plan but in won’t help many in states like Arizona, Florida, and California where home prices have declined so much that homeowners are underwater over and above the plans 105% qualifying mark. Also, one noticeable missing piece is a subsidized “Principal Balance Reduction” measure that would reset home values to current market rates! Maybe the future bankruptcy “Cram down” legislation that is trying to get passed right now will force lenders to enact voluntary programs to write down negative equity!
HOMEOWNERS BEWARE…even though this plan is subsidized by the Federal Government it is not a forced program. Lenders can choose to work within the guidelines of the plan or not so remember that your bank still has their best interest at heart and not yours. They could still put you into a loan modification program that does not necessarily have the best loan terms available. By educating yourself on your options or getting professional representation you could walk away with a much better Loan Modification than if you just call your lender directly without first devising a plan.
Now let’s talk about loan modifications:
How Will The Modification Part Of The Plan Work?
In summary, participating servicers will (in order):
•Determine that a loan meets the minimum eligibility criteria (owner occupied, originated before January 1, 2009, UPB equal to or less than $729,750). If yes:
•Obtain sufficient income information to determine if the borrower has a front-end debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 31%or greater (verbal income may be accepted for initial evaluation subject to verification prior to final approval). If yes:
•Capitalize (add to the loan amount) accrued interest, past due taxes and insurance, delinquency charges paid to third parties (e.g., for inspecting the property), and escrow advances by the servicer - but not late fees or other default fees charged by the servicer;
•Determine how much of an interest rate reduction is required to get the borrower’s mortgage payment to 31% DTI, and if the DTI still exceeds 31% at the rate floor of 2%, modify the loan in other respects specified in the Guidelines;
•Apply a Net Present Value (NPV) test to determine if modification (including the incentive payments) provides the investor with a better financial outcome than foreclosure. If yes:
•Put the borrower on a trial modification at the new interest rate and payment for three months.
•If the borrower is current at the end of the trial modification period, the servicer will execute a modification agreement that includes escrows for taxes and insurance even if the prior loan was not escrowed.
At AdjustMyLoan.com it is business as usual. We are helping more and more homeowners negotiate a reasonable loan modification with their lenders and continue the fight to save as many homes as possible from foreclosure. Many homeowners have questions about this new plan but only time will tell if it really works or not. At the end of the day, it still is a voluntary plan that only affects mainly Fannie and Freddie loans and has strict qualifying measures that could bog down the program. If you are a homeowner trying to navigate your way towards a loan modification, please call our Loan Modification Expertsat 1-800-557-7573 and recieve a FREE LOAN MODIFICATION CONSULTATION.
Borrowers Who Are Current on Their Mortgage Are Asking:
1. What help is available for borrowers who stay current on their mortgage payments but have seen their homes decrease in value?
Under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, eligible borrowers who stay current on their mortgages but have been unable to refinance to lower their interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance into a 30 or 15 year, fixed rate loan. Through the program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the refinancing of mortgage loans that they hold in their portfolios or that they placed in mortgage backed securities.
2. I owe more than my property is worth, do I still qualify to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
Eligible loans will now include those where the new first mortgage (including any refinancing costs) will not exceed 105% of the current market value of the property. For example, if your property is worth $200,000 but you owe $210,000 or less you may qualify. The current value of your property will be determined after you apply to refinance.
3. How do I know if I am eligible?
Complete eligibility details will be announced on March 4th when the program starts. The criteria for eligibility will include having sufficient income to make the new payment and an acceptable mortgage payment history. The program is limited to loans held or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
4. I have both a first and a second mortgage. Do I still qualify to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
As long as the amount due on the first mortgage is less than 105% of the value of the property, borrowers with more than one mortgage may be eligible to refinance under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. Your eligibility will depend, in part, on agreement by the lender that has your second mortgage to remain in a second position, and on your ability to meet the new payment terms on the first mortgage.
5. Will refinancing lower my payments?
The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to provide creditworthy borrowers who have shown a commitment to paying their mortgage with affordable payments that are sustainable for the life of the loan. Borrowers whose mortgage interest rates are much higher than the current market rate should see an immediate reduction in
their payments. Borrowers who are paying interest only, or who have a low introductory rate that will increase in the future, may not see their current payment go down if they refinance to a fixed rate. These borrowers, however, could save a great deal over the life of the loan. When you submit a loan application, your lender will give you a “Good Faith Estimate” that includes your new interest rate, mortgage payment and the amount that you will pay over the life of the loan. Compare this to your current loan terms. If it is not an improvement, a refinancing may not be right for you.
6. What are the interest rate and other terms of this refinance offer?
The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to provide borrowers with a safe loan program with a fixed, affordable payment. All loans refinanced under the plan will have a 30 or 15 year term with a fixed interest rate. The rate will be based on market rates in effect at the time of the refinance and any associated points and fees quoted by the lender. Interest rates may vary across lenders and over time as market rates adjust. The refinanced loans will have no prepayment penalties or balloon notes.
7. Will refinancing reduce the amount that I owe on my loan?
No. The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to help borrowers refinance into safer, more affordable fixed rate loans. Refinancing will not reduce the amount you owe to the first mortgage holder or any other debt you owe. However, by reducing the interest rate, refinancing should save you money by reducing the amount of interest that you repay over the life of the loan.
8. How do I know if my loan is owned or has been securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?
To determine if your loan is owned or has been securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and is eligible to be refinanced, you should contact your mortgage lender after March 4, 2009.
9. When can I apply?
Mortgage lenders will begin accepting applications after the details of the program are announced on March 4, 2009.
10.What should I do in the meantime?
You should gather the information that you will need to provide to your lender after March 4, when the refinance program becomes available. This includes:
· information about the gross monthly income of all borrowers, including your most recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources
· your most recent income tax return
· information about any second mortgage on the house
· payments on each of your credit cards if you are carrying balances from month to month, and
· payments on other loans such as student loans and car loans.
Borrowers Who Are at Risk of Foreclosure Are Asking:
1. What help is available for borrowers who are at risk of foreclosure either because they are behind on their mortgage or are struggling to make the payments?
The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan offers help to borrowers who are already behind on their mortgage payments or who are struggling to keep their loans current. By providing mortgage lenders with financial incentives to modify existing first mortgages, the Treasury hopes to help as many as 3 to 4 million homeowners avoid foreclosure regardless of who owns or services the mortgage.
2. Do I need to be behind on my mortgage payments to be eligible for a loan modification?
No. Borrowers who are struggling to stay current on their mortgage payments may be eligible if their income is not sufficient to continue to make their mortgage payments and they are at risk of imminent default. This may be due to several factors, such as a loss of income, a significant increase in expenses, or an interest rate that will reset to an unaffordable level.
3. How do I know if I qualify for a payment reduction under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
In general, you may qualify for a mortgage modification if (a) you occupy your house as your primary residence; (b) your monthly mortgage payment is greater than 31% of your monthly gross income; and (c) your loan is not large enough to exceed current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits. Final eligibility will be determined by your mortgage lender based on your financial situation and detailed guidelines that will be available on March 4, 2009.
4. I do not live in the house that secures the mortgage I’d like to modify. Is this mortgage eligible for the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
No. For example, if you own a house that you use as a vacation home or that you rent out to tenants, the mortgage on that house is not eligible. If you used to live in the home but you moved out, the mortgage is not eligible. Only the mortgage on your primary residence is eligible. The mortgage lender will check to see if the dwelling is your primary residence.
5. I have a mortgage on a duplex. I live in one unit and rent the other. Will I still be eligible?
Yes. Mortgages on 2, 3 and 4 unit properties are eligible as long as you live in one unit as your primary residence.
6. I have two mortgages. Will the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan reduce the payments on both?
Only the first mortgage is eligible for a modification.
7. I owe more than my house is worth. Will the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan reduce what I owe?
The primary objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to help borrowers avoid foreclosure by modifying troubled loans to achieve a payment the borrower can afford. Lenders are likely to lower payments mainly by reducing loan interest rates. However, the program offers incentives for principal reductions and at your lender’s discretion modifications may include upfront reductions of loan principal.
8. I heard the government was providing a financial incentive to borrowers. Is that true?
Yes. To encourage borrowers who work hard to retain homeownership, the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan provides incentive payments as a borrower makes timely payments on the modified loan. The incentive will accrue on a monthly basis and will be applied directly to reduce your mortgage debt. Borrowers who pay on time for five years an have up to $5,000 applied to reduce their debt by the end of that period.
9. How much will a modification cost me?
There is no cost to borrowers for a modification under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. If you wish to get assistance from www.AdjustMyLoan.com visit their website or call their toll free number 1-800-557-7573. They do not charge upfront fee’s for their loan modification program.
10. Is my lender required to modify my loan?
No. Mortgage lenders participate in the program on a voluntary basis and loans are evaluated for modification on a case-by-case basis. But the government is offering substantial incentives and it is expected that most major lenders will participate.
11. I’m already working with my lender / housing counselor on a loan workout. Can I still be considered for the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
Ask your lender or counselor to be considered under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan.
12. How do I apply for a modification under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?
You may not need to do anything at this time. Most mortgage lenders will evaluate loans in their portfolio to identify borrowers who may meet the eligibility criteria. After March 4 they will send letters to potentially eligible homeowners, a process that may take several weeks.
If you think you qualify for a modification and do not receive a letter within several weeks, contact your mortgage servicer or www.AdjustMyLoan.com to see if you can participate in the program. Please be aware that servicers and counseling agencies are expected to receive an extraordinary number of calls about this program.
13.What should I do in the meantime?
You should gather the information that you will need to provide to your lender on or after March 4, when the modification program becomes available. This includes
· information about the monthly gross income of your household including recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other
sources
· your most recent income tax return
· information about any second mortgage on the house
· payments on each of your credit cards if you are carrying balances from month to month, and
· payments on other loans such as student loans and car loans.
14.My loan is scheduled for foreclosure soon. What should I do?
14. Home Loan Services, Inc. (d/b/a First Franklin Loan Services & NationPoint Loan Services)
800-500-5022
https://www.viewmyloan.com , www.nationpoint.com
Above are the majority of major lenders we are negotiating Loan Modifications with. As more and more lenders realize that Loan Modifications are the solution to their deepening default rate, we are able to help more and more homeowners avoid foreclosure. Even if you do not see your lender’s name on this list, more than likely we have worked with them and can help you lower your monthly mortgage payment with a Loan Modification. For a FREE LOAN MODIFICATION CONSULTATION call:
AdjustMyLoan.com Specializes In Countrywide Loan Modifications! Get The Professional Help You Deserve…Call AdjustMyLoan.com Today!
Countrywide Home Loans might just be the worst servicer in America!!! YES THEY ARE DOING WORKOUTS….NO THEY ARE NOT AS EASY TO GET AS YOU MIGHT THINK! If you are struggling to make your monthly mortgage payments, and you have a Countrywide home loan, then call the Arizona Loan Modification Experts at AdjustMyLoan.com and get a Countrywide Loan Modification done today. Dealing with a large lender such as Countrywide Financial can be frustrating and time consuming. While Countrywide is offering loan work out plans to many of it’s distressed homeowners, not everyone will qualify. Take a second and educate yourself on what a lender like Countrywide is looking for and what documentation you will need when requesting a Countrywide Loan Modification.
First, realize that when you initially call your lender you are going to be speaking with an employee that has zero ability to help you in any way except regurgitate information! Stay calm no matter what they tell and keep pressing the fact that you are no longer able to make your mortgage payments and need to qualify for a workout / loan modification. Ask them to send you out the necessary documentation you will need to fill out and DO NOT GIVE THEM FINANCIALS OVER THE PHONE AT THIS TIME. You want to take some time and develop a strategy that will support your loan modification request and if you start giving them information this soon, you might shoot yourself in the foot and get denied a loan mod because you make too much money!
Second, gather the following documentation you will need to support your case:
Paycheck Stubs (at least 2)
Tax Returns (2 years)
Recent Bank Statements
Write A Hardship Letter Explaining Your Situation (see link for examples)
Any Documents That Support Your Case Such As Death Certificates, Medical Bills, Lawsuit Paperwork etc.
You need the above documents to support your request and are part of a Countrywide Loan Modification package. By creating a complete professional looking proposal, you are making the home retention negotiators job easier and they will be more likely to work with you if you try and do this on your own!
Third, decide if you have the time - energy - and skill set to deal with your own Countrywide Loan Modification. If you do, fill out the forms the bank sends you and try and negotiate it yourself. But if your like most people, you will want to hire a professional representative with real negotiation experience to help you get the best loan terms possible. They layers of beurocratic bullcrap as well as the fact that Countrywide is mainly a Servicer for investors on Wallstreet make the negotiation process difficult, time consuming, and most of all…FRUSTRATING.
AdjustMyLoan.com has hired negotiators directly from Countrywide’s Loan Modification department. We figured if we wanted to get the job done right, hire directly from the lenders you are trying to negotiate with! 1,2,3,4,5,6,7…. The list keeps getting bigger of Countrywide Loan Modifications we keep getting done because we understand their process, we know what they are looking for, and yes, we DO HAVE INSIDE CONTACTS AT THE HOME RETENTION DEPARTMENT!
In Arizona, 13,000 homeowners will be receiving a letter from Countrywide offering a loan modification because our great foreclosure fighting Attorney General Terry Goddard who helped spearhead a settlement that uncovered Countrywides deceptive lending practices! If your one of the 13,000, then you should send Terry Goddard some flowers and a thank you card…if your not, you should call AdjustMyLoan.com and get some professional help.
AdjustMyLoan.com is a national loan modification company based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Our professional Countrywide Loan Modification Experts can help you audit, package, propose, and negotiate a Countrywide Loan Modification today. Call our toll free number 1-800-557-7573today and receive a FREE COUNTRYWIDE LOAN MODIFICATION CONSULTATION.
ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL WRITTEN LOAN MODIFICATION HARDSHIP LETTER!
When requesting a Loan Modification from your lender(s) be prepared to create a loan modification hardship letter explaining your circumstances. This explanation is one of the most important parts of a loan modification proposal and is one of the first things your lender looks at. You only have one shot at convincing the bank that your situation warrants a loan modification so take time when creating your hardship letter. Have your Loan Modification Hardship Letter clear and to the point. No more than 1-2 pages, and handwritten is best. Tell them what was causing you to struggle, what you are doing or did to overcome the problem, and exactly what you want them to do for you. Below are two examples of Loan Modification Hardship Letters that should help you get an idea of what most banks are looking for:
Loan Modification Hardship Letter #1
August 10th, 20__
Regarding
Borrower: John and Rebecca Smith
Subject Property: 555 N. Baseline Rd. Mesa, Arizona 85202
1st TD With Countrywide Loan Number: ##########
2nd TD With National City Mortgage Loan Number: ##########
Dear Lender / Servicer:
I am writing this letter to explain our family’s unfortunate situation that has caused us to become delinquent on our mortgage. We have tried everything in our power to keep current on our payments but unfortunately since our interest rate adjusted, we have fallen behind and would like you to consider working with us to reduce our monthly payments.
The main reasons that caused us to become late are a decrease in our income, increase in our monthly obligations, current market conditions, our adjustable rate mortgage, and our inability to refinance.
I work as a waitress and my husband works at a marketing manager for a local screen printing company. Most of my income has been generated by tips and has decreased dramatically due to the unfortunate economic situation. My husband job is secure and he has been with the same company for 2 years. We have a 3 year old son and cannot afford daycare in order to get a second job.
For the past several months we have been cutting back on our misc. expenses. We no longer have premium cable, go on vacations, or eat out. Our credit cards are getting maxed out due to us paying our mortgage on them and can no longer keep that up. We have currently missed 2 payments and wish to work out a payment plan with you after you reduce our rates to something we can afford.
My husband and I consulted mortgage professionals regarding a refinance but due to our lack of equity, the falling home prices in our community, and our lack of assets we were denied.
I have no other choice but to ask you to please consider my request for a loan modification. My family and I would really be grateful if you can help us work out a payment schedule we could afford. We do not want to lose our home. We wish to continue making mortgage payments on time for the remainder of our loan.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Rebbecca Smith
Loan Modification Hardship Letter #2
Date
Lender name
Lender address
Attn: Loss Mitigation Department
RE: Borrower name, Loan number
To Whom It May Concern:
We are writing to you to explain our current financial situation that has caused us to default on our loan agreement. We don’t want to lose our home and will anything we can to work with you to remedy the situation and find a solution that will benefit us both. We first became delinquent on our mortgage payments due to [INSERT YOUR REASON HERE BRIEFLY]. We’ve tried to bring the account current, but haven’t been able to catch up by paying the full amount due. The trouble started approximately [INSERT DATE HERE] and we believe that this is a [TEMPORARY or PERMANENT] hardship.
We are now in a better position and would like to work out a plan to begin making payments again and stay in our home. We are hard working, responsible individuals willing to work to keep our home. We would appreciate it if you would consider a modification to our existing loan terms in order to lower the monthly payment and include some or all of the past due amount. We’ve created and implemented a new budget for our family and we are confident that we would be able to meet the new, lower monthly payment every month without fail. We’d appreciate any help or suggestions you could give to us regarding this matter. It’s an extremely difficult time for our family and we’d really like to get the issue resolved as soon as possible.
We hope these examples help you create a well written Loan Modification Hardship Letter that gets you the loan modification you deserve. If you need help with your Loan Modification, AdjustMyLoan.com is a national Loan Modification Company based out of Phoenix, Arizona that can help you audit, package, propose, and negotiatiate a Loan Modification on your behalf. Visit our website www.AdjustMyLoan.com or call our toll free phone number 1-800-557-7573 today.
Negotiating 101 – Tips For Negotiating Your Own Loan Modification!Dealing With Objection
This section is dedicated to the psychology of negotiating LOAN MODIFICATIONS. In most instances, when you first call your lender, they will be helpful…then something happens! They switch from customer service role, to debt collector role and things become interesting. Obviously the main key is to always stay calm and remember that they did not put you in this position. Also remember that they are overwhelmed with cases, get yelled at all day long, and do not get paid very much money. Below are some tips and tricks that we have found useful when dealing with loss mitigation.
Building Trust, Rapport, And Satisfaction
If you are entering into a negotiation, you will be in a much stronger position if you can convince the other side of your qualifications. This is why we spend so much time doing our research with the INCOME / EXPENSE WORKSHEET and running COMPS. Your first priority is to convince the decision makers that you can do what you propose. The whole point of this is to build trust! Next, spend some time building a rapport with the negotiator. Ask about where they are located, how busy they must be, ask them about their background and experience, even talk about your family. The more of a real person they view you as, and greater the chances they will go to bat for you when you need them to. Lastly, get ready for some flexibility. You don’t want to be thought of as a deal breaker, but a deal maker who understands that you must create a mutually beneficial relationship that both you and the bank are okay with!
Dumb Is Smart
Remember, things are not always what they seem! Sometimes it is a good idea to play “dumb” to gain more information from the other side that they might not volunteer if you are a Mr. Know-It-All! Listening is the key to this concept, so even if you have a razor sharp mind, play “dumb” and gain the strategic advantage.
You Have Got To Do Better Than That
If in your negotiation you reach a gap that you are not sure how to bridge, a simple statement “you have got to do better than that” can work wonders. The point of this is to get them to the point where they say “this is the best that we can do for you”. This does not cost you anything and is a good way to push the envelope without causing a fight.
Take It Or Leave It
If your lender tells you that this is the deal “take it or leave it”, you do have some options. Obviously, you could take or leave the deal depending on your situation. Before you do, first try and change the parameters of the discussion by offering an agreement with an alternative. Let’s say you are trying to get a 3 month forbearance, a principal balance reduction of $50,000, and an interest rate adjustment from 7% to 6%, and they say we will reduce your interest rate and that is it…”take it or leave it”. A good response could be “okay, I might accept the lower interest rate if you can give me a 6 month forbearance on my payments to help me cover the lost benefits of the principal balance reduction.” Now you have taken back control and changed the pace of the negotiation.
The Two Dreaded Personalities
1. Mr. Intimidator
Here is a quick story. We were once negotiating a short sale with a loss mitigator from one of the nation’s largest banks. We sent in the short sale packet and made our initial phone call. The loss mitigator claimed that she never received the packet and asked us what the offer was for. We told her and she immediately yelled “this is an insult….do not call me back until you have a higher offer” and then hung up. She did not even see the paperwork, the statistics, or the offer yet! We knew instantly we were dealing with a Mrs. Intimidator. We tried calling back and every time she would not even let us speak more than a few sentences and then she would cut us off and say “I told you to get me a higher offer…you are wasting my time so don’t call me back again until you get something higher.” This posed a huge problem because the offer was actually a really good offer…she was in Ohio and we were in Arizona, so she had no Idea what market values were or were doing (declining). Everytime we called her we stayed calm even when she yelled at us.Finally, we called back about 2 weeks later and as fast as we could talk (before she hung up on us), we told her how hard we were working, everything we could about the family losing their house, how market values had declined, regurgitated market statistics such as foreclosure rates and short sales in the neighborhood, and told her that if she does not take a second look at the numbers we were going to let the house foreclose. She said she did not care and hung up. We waited and the next day she called us back and apologized for her attitude. She claimed she thought long and hard about this family’s situation and from that point on was our best friend. Literally overnight the whole tone and pace of the negotiation changed for the better. We had the auction postponed, got an acceptance for our short sale, and completed the transaction. She realized that bullying us around was not the answer and changed up her strategy!
2. Mr. Know‐It‐All
This is the most difficult personality type to deal with. These are the people that you cannot tell anything to. They can be in another country and claim to know exactly what is happening here in Arizona. They have done this a thousand times and you are just another file they have to get finished before the end of the day! Flattery with the know-it-all can get you anywhere you want to go. Once the know-it-all is convinced of their superiority, their guard goes down. The key here is to give minimal information and many “you know” statements. For example, say something like, “with the declining housing market and my loss of all my equity, I cannot afford my new interest rate. You know what is typical since you have done this a thousand times. Let me send you a proposal that you are familiar with and we can use that.” Also, do not challenge them directly, this will only infuriate them. Instead stroke their ego!
Last Piece Of Advice
If you come to a standstill with your assigned home retention mitigator, you can always attempt to move it up the chain of command and speak with their supervisor. In most cases, your negotiator will not volunteer their contact info so you may have to call customer service and ask for the manager of _____________ (your negotiator). It may be a good idea to ask for the name of your negotiator’s manager’s phone number on your initial contact for your file.
CONTACT ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM IF YOU GET STUCK
If you still stuck, AdjustMyLoan.com is a national LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY based out of Phoenix, Arizona. The Loss Mitigation Experts, professional LOAN MODIFICATION NEGOTIATORS, and affiliated Forensic Loan Auditing Attorney’s at AdjustMyLoan.com are always here to help if you get to a point where you cannot handle the LOAN MODIFICATION yourself. We have years of loss mitigation experience and can help you audit, package, propose, and negotiate your LOAN MODIFICATION. We are also a member of the Better Business Bureau, have a log-in system so you can see your LOAN MODIFICATIONS progress, charge NO UPFRONT FEE’S, have a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, and have many happy client referrals for you to review. We understand that the hardest part for a homeowner to do is remove all emotions fromt he negotiation. If you need us, just give us a call at 1-800-557-7573 and WE CAN STEP IN AND GET THE JOB DONE!
WHAT IS A LOAN MODIFICATION AND WHY WOULD A BANK ACCEPT A LOAN MODIFICATION?
LOAN MODIFICATION DEFINED!
An ARIZONA LOAN MODIFICATION in its simplest form is the alteration of your current loan terms in order to lower your monthly payment and keep you out of foreclosure. Loan modifications typically involve a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, an extension of the length of the term of the loan, a reduction in the principal amount you owe, or any combination of the three. A lender might be open to modifying a loan because the cost of doing so is less than the cost of default, and/or the borrower owe more than the property is worth.
For borrowers who can prove their ability to consistently repay a modified loan, the bank will allow certain changes to their loan terms. Sometimes the changes can be temporary, such as an interest rate freeze for a period of a few years, or more permanent such as stretching out the length of the term from 20 to 30 or even 40 years. Anything is possible…from interest rate reductions, stretching out amortization, reducing the principal balance, to adding an interest only feature are all commonly asked for modifications.
At the end of the day, the whole goal behind an ARIZONA LOAN MODIFICATION is to negotiate an affordable and sustainable monthly payment that suits your income level. Banks do not want to revisit your file and typically will not give you another chance so make sure you create, and acquire the appropriate modification terms. Also, keep in mind that your banks loss mitigation department will take into account your entire monthly budget (income and expenses) so do not over estimate what you can afford for housing. If requested, your lender should send out an INCOME /EXPENSE form for you to fill out. Be honest about your total monthly expenses and income. Use the form to determine what you can afford for a new mortgage payment…and since it will be based on your specific situation and backed up by your bank statements / paycheck stubs, you will have the negotiating power to ask for that specific amount. (Compared to you just pulling a monthly payment from the air and proposing that to the bank)
WHY WOULD A BANK MODIFY A LOAN?
The general perception by many troubled homeowners in today’s market is that banks do not want to foreclosure on their home. This thought is not necessarily true. No bank wants to foreclose on a property in a declining market, but their decision to foreclose or LOAN MODIFY is based simply on the numbers. What we mean by this is that your lender(s) truly only care about one thing…which solution is going to net them the most money! As long as you are paying on time, your bank has a valuable income producing asset that gets sold and resold as a mortgage backed security on Wall Street. When you stop making your mortgage payments, your loan gets transferred to the loss mitigation department. From this point forward your bank is losing money. The following is a general scenario to help you understand the expenses a bank incurs once you stop making your payments.
Let’s say you owe $350,000 on your house and it is currently worth $305,000. You have an interest only loan that is set to adjust the beginning of next year. You can no longer afford your payments for whatever reason so you stop making them.
Balance Owed: $350,000
Today’s Market Value: $305,000
Interest Rate: 6%
Amortization: 30 years
Interest Only Payment: $1750 / month
Cause Of Loss To The Bank
Approx. Amount Of Loss ($)
Missed Interest Only Payments (8 Months = Avg. AZ Foreclosure Process)
$14,000
Total House Depreciation
$45,000
Attorneys Fees And Trustee Paperwork Costs
$1,500
Holding Costs Once They Become The Owner (4 Month Avg. Time To Sell)
$7,000
Selling And Closing Costs To Sell An REO (Real Estate Owned). Remember that most properties are selling at a 5% discount from market value plus the Realtor and closing costs involved with selling real estate…estimated 10%.
$30,500
Total Estimated Loss
$ 98,000
Now we know that this scenario is a general estimate of expenses, but we believe that this information should help you build the foundation of your loan modification proposal. BANKS DO NOT WANT TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS AND WANT TO MINIMIZE THEIR LOSS! As you can see, the bank stands to lose almost $100,000 on a $300,000 house…if your scenario for a LOAN MODIFICATION is better, and you can prove it through documentation, then you stand a great chance of a successful LOAN MODIFICATION.
WHY CHOOSE ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM TO CONDUCT MY LOAN MODIFICATION?
There are many so called “LOAN MODIFICATION” companies out there that are simply NOT QUALIFIED to help you re-negotiate your current loan terms with your lender(s). Most are simply loan officers and brokers that can no longer do loans due to the current credit crisis so they began marketing themselves as “LOAN MODIFICATION EXPERTS“. Anyone can package and propose a LOAN MODIFICATION to a bank , even you…but do you really think the bank is just going to give you the best deal right away? Absolutely not…what you need is the professional negotiating experience found in the AdjustMyLoan.com LOAN MODIFICATION TEAM.
Do not allow just any ARIZONA LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY “look-a-like” to conduct your LOAN MODIFICATION. Imagine the difference a few interest percentage (%) points can make on your monthly payment! Imagine being able to wipe out that negative equity you have and obtain a PRINCIPAL BALANCE REDUCTION on the principal amount you owe! WWW.ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM is an ATTORNEY BASED LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY where your LOAN MODIFICATION is audited, packaged, proposed, and negotiated by a staff of PROFESSIONALLOSS MITIGATION EXPERTS that specialize in LOAN MODIFICATIONS and utilize the findings of a FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT by a trained real estate Attorney to get the job done.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT DONE?
A FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT is considered by many to be the “secret” to obtaining a loan modification with your lender(s). Sometimes called a FORENSIC LOAN DOCUMENT REVIEW or MORTGAGE AUDIT, the main purpose is to determine if there are violations of federal law! Almost 70% of loans conducted in the last 7 years, and almost 95% of all sub-prime loans have major RESPA (Real Estate Settlement & Procedures Act) and TILA(Truth In Lending) violations. The only way to find these violations is to conduct a FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT by a qualified person…in most instances a trained Attorney! If found, through an Attorney ran negotiation process, most lenders choose to renegotiate the terms of the loan to something more affordable to avoid litigation! The whole goal here is to uncover any predatory loan practices and push for a favorable LOAN MODIFICATION. If you are researching different companies to conduct your LOAN MOD, please take into consideration whether or not they are performing a detailed loan review by an Attorney! Don’t be fooled by loan/mortgage companies that jumped into the LOSS MITIGATION BUSINESS yesterday…hire a company that has real experience negotiating LOAN MODIFICATIONS and can fight for you.
ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM is a NATIONAL LOSS MITIGATION COMPANY that specializes in ATTORNEY BASED LOAN MODIFICATIONS. Our team of LOAN MODIFICATION SPECIALISTS is comprised of Attorneys, processors, professional negotiators, short sale and foreclosure experts, loan officers, Realtors, and financial advisors. Our state of the art facilities are located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. We believe that our experience and relationships with most major lenders, as well as the fact that we conduct FORENSIC LOAN AUDITS on every file by a qualified Attorney gives us a strategic advantage over our competition! We are members of the BBB, have many referrals and testimonials to prove our business ethics, and a proven track record that produces real results! Plus, our pricing is so competitive we wouldn’t understand why you would want to go anywhere else!
Disclaimer: We are not giving you legal advice…please contact a qualified real estate attorney for specific legal questions you may have about your situation.
When asking for a LOAN MODIFICATION, it helps to understand the different options that are available. Officially, a lender cannot modify any part of your loan without your notarized permission (unless you signed a power of attorney). In most instances, your lender will review your proposal and give you a response within a few weeks depending on how behind you are on payments, and if there is a pending foreclosure or not. Let’s review the different loan modification options you have:
Interest Rate
The most common type of LOAN MODIFICATION and the easiest to get approved is an interest rate reduction! This can be a permanent or temporary adjustment that allows you to manipulate your monthly payments. This modification is perfect for those that have high interest rates or adjustable rate mortgages. If you are able to show a steady history of making your payments at your current rate, but the rate adjusted and now you cannot afford the payments, then most lenders will have no problem re-adjusting the rate back down to its previous percent. Ideally, the best case scenario would be to lower your interest rate below what it was in the past. The way to do this is explain how you were living on the edge for so long scrapping by barely able to make your payments. Say that you desperately want to continue making your monthly obligation, but you have to improve your situation.
Most lenders are willing to lower interest rates to qualified homeowners facing foreclosure as long as they are not also requesting amortization lengthening or a principal balance reduction. If you are only looking to lower your monthly obligation, then ask for a very low interest rate and expect to be negotiated up. Communicate without any emotions as if you could care less if you lose your home to the auction.
Length Of Amortization
This concept refers to the term, or length your loan amortizes for. Most mortgages amortize for 30 years, but in some instances you can request the length of your loan to be extended to 40 years. This is another way to make your monthly mortgage payments more affordable because you will be spreading your cost over a longer timeframe. Odd ball terms like 37 or 44 years will not be considered, so stick to multiples of 10. Lastly, in our opinion, this is not a very good option and typically does not turn around a troubled homeowner’s problem…just postpones it for another day. The reason is because more than likely you have little to no equity in your home right now. If you extend out the length of the loan, then that means you will be paying out more interest and less principle for a longer period of time. That means that today you might have avoided a problem, but when you go to sell in 10 years, you will have very little to no equity in your home and have to come out of pocket to sell.
Principal Balance Reduction (Decreasing The Total Amount You Owe)
By definition, a principal balance reduction is where your lender(s) will forgive you of a portion of the total debt you owe. A Principal balance reduction is the pinnacle of all loan modifications, and the hardest one to get! In plain English, you simply do not owe your lender(s) the money any longer and is the sought after modification for anyone that has negative equity in their home! Lender(s) absolutely hate doing this and 99.9% of the time they will tell you they do not offer this option until all other solutions have been exhausted. The reason is because they will have to report the loss to upper management and shareholders…plus, the loss is not recoverable (like it could be if they short sold the property and got you to sign an unsecured promissory note for the difference).
In a declining market, principal balance reductions are more common because more than likely your property will be worth much less than what you owe so there is very little reason for you not to walk away. Plus, your lender(s) will have to deal with the deficiency eventually so they will choose to go with the solution that nets them the most money with as little work as possible. A forensic loan audit (discussed in other blog postings) will uncover any predatory lending violations that may have occurred and give you the greatest chances for a sucessful Principal Balance Reduction. If violations are uncovered during the Forensic Loan Audit, you can place legal weight on your lender(s) and get them to reduce the total principal amount you owe!
Principal balance reductions help in more ways than just reducing the total amount of your debt. It also reduces your monthly payments and the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan. The following table shows the payment difference after a $100,000 principal reduction:
Interest Rate: 6% Amortization: 30 Yrs.
Loan Amount: $450,000 Payment: $2,697.98
Loan Amount: $350,000 Payment: $2098.43
Payment Difference: $599.55 per month!
NOTE: Anytime your lender agrees to take a loss on your loan, they have the right to 1099c you for “Phantom” or “Earned” income. When you propose a principal balance reduction make sure that you ask your lender to put in writing that they are waiving their ability to 1099c you for the forgiven amount. We are not offering you tax or legal advice so we urge you to speak with a qualified CPA, Accountant, or Attorney for professional advice.
More Information About Principal Balance Reductions
A Principal Balance Reduction can be done on a fist and second lien, however, it is typically only done by second lien holders. This is due to the fact that the second lien holder knows if the house is at or below market value and goes to foreclosure, more than likely their lien will be wiped out and they will receive nothing. Since they realize this, they are much more likely to grant the reduction and try to maintain a performing asset, then to receive nothing in the foreclosure auction. A Forensic Loan Audit is the “Secret” to obtaining a principal balance reduction and is typcally done by a qualified real estate Attorney like the one found at www.AdjustMyLoan.com. Basically this is where we audit your loan paperwork and look for any Real Estate Settlement & Procedures Act (RESPA) or Truth-In-Lending Act (TILA) violations. If found, you will have the legal weight needed to ask for and recieve a Pricipal Balance Reduction!
Typical violations we uncover by a Forensic Loan Audit:
Broker disclosures were never made
Risk factors for credit were not disclosed
Your FICO scores were not properly disclosed
RESPA booklet was not recieved on time (or not at all)
Some documents were not signed or notarized properly
There is no ARM disclosure or the ARM disclosure is not accurate
There is no Final Hud-1 in the file or the Final Hud is not accurate
Notice of Right to Cancel (two copies) were not given to each borrower
Truth in Lending Notice of Right to Cancel is not filled out properly by the lender
A good faith estimate (GFE) was not given within three days of taking the loan application
No payment schedule is included in the loan documents or the payment schedule is not accurate
Truth in Lending info was not recieved (or mailed) within three days of taking your loan application
There is no copy of the promissory note (it is unclear who owns your loan…or who is entitled to enforce it)
Three Day rescission period was not provided for clients who sign and loan funds on same day (non-purchase money loans)
Truth in Lending Statement does not accurately disclose the finance charges, APR, amount financed, or total of payments
What If I Have More Than One Lien Or Lender?
If you have more than one lien on your property, there are two scenarios that can occur: one bank owns both notes, or you have two different banks each owning a note. This is where things get more complicated.
If your notes are owned by the same bank, you are in the best position for a principal balance reduction. Your lender does not want to own your home and does not want to have non-performing assets on its books. By reducing your principal balance on the second lien, they can keep your loan in good standing and profitable. Most seconds are worthless in their eyes and it is possible to negotiate your second down to 10% of what you currently owe as long as you can prove that you can afford the payments on the first. IT IS VERY RARE THAT YOUR BANK WILL DISCOUNT BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND MORTGAGES.
When your notes are owned by two different banks, Principal Balance Reductions can get difficult. When one bank owns both loans and realizes that it will be more profitable to discount the second to save the first, then it will make sense for them to do so. But when one bank owns just one note, and is in the 2nd lien position, they realize they are facing a total loss and might prefer to foreclose and just get the loan off their books instead of negotiate. This does not mean that it is not possible…just more difficult and drastic discounts typically do not occur. A good strategy is to try and get the first to absorb some of the loss in order to find a happy middle ground and convince both banks that this is the best course of action.
NOTE: The most difficult part of a Principal Balance Reduction is if your bank is just “Servicing” the loan and does not own the note. This is typical for many loans that were “Securitized” and sold to Wall Street. In many instances your lender wants to help you, however, they will have a fiduciary duty to the investors who purchased these Mortgage Backed Securities and not to you. Hiring professional help at this point if you really want a Principal Balance Reduction is recommended!
ONLY A FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT BY A QUALIFIED ATTORNEY WILL GIVE YOU THE LEGAL WEIGHT YOU WILL NEED TO ASK FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN INTEREST RATE CHANGE! YOU NEED TO HIRE A COMPETENT ATTORNEY BACKED LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY THAT CAN HELP YOU PACKAGE, PROPOSE, AND NEGOTIATE THE BEST LOAN MODIFICATION ON YOUR BEHALF! ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM WORKS WITH A QUALIFIED REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY THAT SPECIALIZES IN FORENSIC LOAN AUDITS. OUR PROFESSIONAL LOAN MODIFICATION NEGOTIATORS UTILIZE THE FINDINGS FROM THE FORENSIC LOAN AUDIT TO NEGOTIATE YOU THE LOWEST MONTHLY PAYMENT POSSIBLE! WE HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD OF GETTING PRINCIPAL BALANCE REDUCTIONS AND CAN HELP YOU MODIFY YOUR LOAN TODAY!
Lender/Servicer Loss Mitigation Phone Numbers & Contact Information
Below is a Loss Mitigation Phone Number List in alphabetical order. If you are a homeowner and are facing foreclosure, or trying to do a short sale or LOAN MODIFICATION, use this list to contact your lender and ask for help. At AdjustMyLoan.com we believe that your foreclosure can be avoided if you are proactive and contact your lender(s). Many times you will learn about programs that your lender(s) may have that you never even knew existed. Only if your lender drops the ball and gives you the run-a-round or is ignoring your requests should you need a professional LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY like AdjustMyLoan.com!
Household Mortgage (800) 333-4489
Household Mortgage (Is now called HSBC Mortgage Services) (800) 365-6730
HSBC Mortgage Corp.(there is a difference between Mortgage Services and Corp. placed new number) (800) 338-6441
Default Resolution Team (if long term problem)
2929 Walden Avenue
Depew, NY 14043
(888) 648-3124 Loss Mit
(732) 352-7519 Fax
Web: http://us.hsbc.com/personal/mortgage
Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (888) 679-6377
National City (800) 367-9305, Ext. 53221 or (800) 523-8654
Attention: Homeowner’s Assistance
3232 Newmark Dr.
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
(8AM-10:30PM ET, Monday - Thursday)
(8AM-5PM ET, Friday)
(8AM-Noon, Saturday)
Web: http://www.nationalcitymortgage.com/service_assistance.asp
Nationwide Advantage Mortgage Company (800) 356-3442, ext. 6002*
NationStar Mortgage (888) 850-9398* Press 0 for operator
New Century Financial Now Carrington Mortgage Services (800) 790-9502 or (877) 206-9904
(6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday - Thursday)
(6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Friday)
Web: https://myloan.newcentury.com/webapps/servicing/myloans/index.do
Attention: Financial Information
12650 Ingenuity Drive
Orlando, Florida 32826
or
Ocwen Financial Corporation
1661 Worthington Rd., Suite 100
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Phone: 877-226-2936
For serving Ocwen with legal process, please send to their registered agent:
Corporation Service Company
2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19808
Phone: 561-682-8000, x8386
PHH Mortgage (Formerly Cendant) (800) 257-0460
For borrowers facing possible delinquency: (800) 330-0423*
For borrowers in the foreclosure process: (800) 750-2518
ResMae Mortgage Corp. (877) 473-7623, ext. 5944
Saxon (800) 665-7367
Select Portfolio Servicing (888) 818-6032
Fax: (801) 293-3936
Loan Resolution Department
P.O. Box 65250
Salt Lake City, UT 84165-0250
(Monday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. EST)
(Friday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EST)
(Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST)
Web: http://www.spservicing.com/services/customer/loanresolution.htm
Washington Mutual (866) 926-8937 or (888) 453-3102 or (800) 478-0036 or (800) 254-3677
Waterfirld Mortgage (800) 957-7245
Fax: (260) 459-5390
c/o Loss Mitigation Dept.
7500 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
(7 am - 10 pm EST Monday - Thursday)
(7 am - 9 pm EST Fridays)
(8 am - 2 pm EST Saturdays)
E-Mail: saveyourhome@waterfield.com
Wendy Knafelc at Washington Mutual Loss Mitigation: (904) 732-8425 - wendy.knafelc@wamv.net
HOMEOWNERS BIGGEST DOWNFALL IS THAT THEY DO NOT CONTACT THEIR LENDERS TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR OPTIONS. EDUCATION ON YOUR SITUATION IS KEY AND LEARNING WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU IS THE FIRST STEP WHEN TRYING TO STOP FORECLOSURE AND SAVE YOUR HOME. AT WWW.ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM, WE BELIEVE THAT MOST FORECLOSURES COULD BE AVOIDED IF THE HOMEOWNER JUST CONTACTED THEIR LENDER AND TRIED TO GET A REASONABLE WORKOUT PLAN. ONLY IF THE WORKOUT PLAN DOES NOT WORK, OR IF YOUR LENDER IS GIVING YOU THE RUN AROUND SHOULD YOU CONTACT US! OUR PROFESSIONAL LOAN MODIFICATION EXPERTS CAN HELP YOU PACKAGE, PROPOSE, AND NEGOTIATE A LOAN MODIFICATION ON YOUR BEHALF. OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOST MAJOR LENDERS, ALONG WITH OUR LOAN MODIFICATION NEGOTIATION EXPERIENCE GIVES US AN ADVANTAGE OVER TRYING TO DO IT YOURSELF, AND LENDS TO GETTING THE JOB DONE.
This Loss Mitigation Contact List is Courtesy of Moe Bedard
