Obama Expands Foreclosure Plan To Include Short Sale Subsidies
Hooray for Arizona! Finally, someone is making sense and creating a solution for those of us whose house values have declined so dramatically it makes it impossible for us to sell our homes! Announced by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the Obama administration is expanding its 75 billion dollar Making Homes Affordable plan to include additional financial incentives to lenders willing to help homeowners unload their properties at a loss when they owe much more than the present-day value of their homes. The plan focuses on short sales and deed-in-lieu transactions as a way for homeowners to get rid of their homes due to the fact that they don’t qualify for the loan modification or refinance part of the Making Homes Affordable plan. The loan modification experts at AdjustMYLOAN.com think this is fantastic seeing how almost 40% of homeowners in Arizona are underwater and have no way of getting out of their properties. Cody Sperber, a manager at www.adjustMYLOAN.com has been negotiating short sales for four years now and has completed hundreds and hundreds of short sales over his career. “One of the biggest problems a Realtor experiences when negotiating a short sale is the fact that it takes so long. It is extremely frustrating to spend 40-50 hours negotiating only to have your buyers back out due to the fact that they found a better deal during the 4-6 months it took to get an answer from the lender(s)” says Sperber. This plan seems to address this exact problem and hopefully many lenders will participate in the program and speed things up! Below is the Arizona Republics article about the plans expansion:
Relief expanded for struggling homeowners
New U.S. programs to help those too far underwater to sell
Kevin G. Hall - May. 15, 2009 12:00 AM McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration unveiled new programs Thursday designed to make it easier for homeowners who owe far more than their houses are now worth to sell those homes at a loss and have their remaining debt forgiven.
The programs, announced by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, are the latest additions to Making Home Affordable, an evolving $75 billion plan that tries to break the national housing crisis into separate pieces, attacking the problem on several fronts.
The first two legs of the program sought to help borrowers refinance into today’s low mortgage rates, or if they’re behind on payments, to seek loan modificationsto avoid foreclosure.
President Barack Obama described these steps at a town-hall meeting in Albuquerque on Thursday: “The bank has to lose a little bit of money on what they were expecting on principal and interest. On the other hand, the homeowner, if they make this agreement with the bank, they’ve got to agree that when prices start going up again, they give up a little bit of equity to repay the bank. But either way, everybody is better off, including the community, if people stay in their homes.”
Thursday’s announcements address situations in which borrowers can’t qualify for either of those programs and are at risk of losing their homes. The administration will now provide additional financial incentives to lenders willing to help homeowners unload their properties at a loss when they owe much more than the present-day value of their homes.
The incentives apply to lenders who agree to allow homeowners to conduct short sales or deed-in-lieu transactions instead of going into foreclosure and dragging down prices for neighbors and adding to the already large national inventory of empty homes.
In a short sale, borrowers sell their home at current market value and all proceeds go to the lender. The homeowner is then no longer responsible for the difference between what is owed and the home’s sale price. There’s still a hit to a borrower’s credit rating but not as damaging as it would be in a foreclosure.
When there are no buyers, lenders sometimes accept a deal in which the borrower transfers ownership of the property to the loan servicer, who acts as a bill collector for investors who own pools of U.S. mortgages. This sort of deal is shorthanded as a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu.
Under the new plan, servicers will receive compensation of up to $1,000 per short saleor deed-in-lieu transfer accepted. As an incentive to avoid foreclosure, borrowers could be paid up to $1,500 in relocation expenses. Because many homes have second mortgages, the Treasury will pay lenders up to $1,000 to accept the deals instead of going to foreclosure.
Borrowers will get 90 days to achieve a short sale and must list it with a licensed real-estate agent. Borrowers in areas of severe market downturn - such as Arizona, California, Nevada and Florida - will get up to a year to reach a short sale. After that, deed-in-lieu transfers occur.
To discourage borrowers from simply unloading their homes, they must first be deemed unable to get a loan modification. The program is voluntary for most lenders but mandatory for banks that received taxpayer-bailout money.
For homeowners in states where home prices have fallen sharply, the administration also rolled out Thursday a complex insurance program that will protect lenders from further home-price declines when they are willing to modify loans. That program is capped at $10 billion.
The cost of all these new programs will be paid from a $50 billion pool of taxpayer bailout money set aside to address the housing crisis.
Experts welcomed Thursday’s initiative.
“We have heard from Realtors that the extensive delay in the short-sale process had caused many buyers to go elsewhere and have left many would-be sellers with no option but foreclosure,” Charles McMillan, a Dallas Realtor and president of the National Association of Realtors, said in a statement. “We are all pleased that the government has stepped in to help homeowners and those wishing to buy a home.”
Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, a foreclosure-research firm in Irvine, Calif., said the effort will face hurdles, however.
“A lot of the investor-owned loans have (private mortgage) insurance. From the investors’ perspective, they’re going to be better off foreclosing, collecting the insurance, then disposing of the property,” he said. “Short sales, unfortunately, are a 20th-century solution to a 21st-century problem.”
RealtyTrac publishes widely cited foreclosure statistics. Its latest findings, as of April, showed more than 1 million property owners currently in foreclosure proceedings.
“It’s actually a fraction of what’s out there, and that doesn’t even get to the seriously delinquent loans that aren’t in foreclosure,” Sharga said.
The deed-in-lieu may prove more successful, he said, because some areas with severe home-price drops have many homeowners who owe significantly more than their homes are worth.
If you are interested in seeing if you qualify for any of the Making Homes Affordable options, give our loss mitigation experts a call at 1-800-557-7573 and get a FREE CONSULTATION today!
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!
This is awesome. I found this guys drawings on Vimeo and his explanation of our current credit crisis is right on the money. We love his use of minimalist drawings to explain how our financial system imploded like it did! His name is Jonathan Jarvis and his video’s are as cool as they come.
Things are really moving now that SUPERBAMA is in control! That’s right…the Making Homes Affordableloan modificationplan is already being expanded to include second mortgages and to push homeowners who are really upside down towards the newly revamped Hope For Homeowners program. One of the biggest roadblocks the Making Homes Affordable modification plan had was the fact that first lien holders were hesitant to modify their mortgage when the second lien holder got to leave their loans intact. Now second lien holders are incentivized to modify their mortgages down to 1% and in some cases wipe them out completely. The loan modification experts at AdjustMyLoan.com have been modifying both first and second mortgages long before the government subsidies have been around, but we believe this will only make things better for homeowners in the long run. From the first mention of a government assisted modification program our main concern was for those homeowners whose house values have declined dramatically (like those in Arizona). An interest rate drop or term extension only postpones any immediate threats of missing payments or foreclosure and does nothing for those that want or need to sell their homes in the near future. With the program now including second lien holders, there is a chance for a real solution to America’s housing problem! Below is an article from CNNMoney.com about the loan modification plan extension.
Obama expands foreclosure fix
Two steps: Second liens now covered by modification program; servicers must offer eligible borrowers principal reduction under Hope for Homeowners.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The Obama administration said Tuesday it is expanding its foreclosure prevention program to cover second mortgages and to direct more troubled borrowers to the Hope for Homeowners program.
Announced with great fanfare in mid-February, the president’s $75 billion program has gotten off to a slow start. Loan servicers only recently started taking applications and many delinquent borrowers have complained about being left in the cold because their home values have dropped or they’ve lost their jobs.
The administration is seeking to address some of the concerns by tweaking the original modification plan, which calls for adjusting eligible borrowers’ loans so monthly payments are no more than 31% of pre-tax income.
Servicers covering 75% of the nation’s mortgages are now participating in the program, which also allows some homeowners with little or no equity to refinance their mortgages, a senior administration official said Tuesday. Together, the plans are expected to help up to 9 million avoid foreclosure.
Second mortgage roadblock
During the housing frenzy, many borrowers obtained second mortgages to allow them to put little or nothing down when buying a home. Up to half of at-risk borrowers have second liens, according to the administration.
These loans have complicated the modification process. For one thing, they add to troubled homeowners’ debt levels. Also, mortgage investors have balked at reducing payments on first mortgages when the second loan was left intact.
Under the administration’s new program, the interest rate on second mortgages will be reduced to 1% on loans where payments cover interest and principal and to 2% for interest-only loans. The government will subsidize the rate reduction, with the money going to the mortgage investor.
Servicers will be paid $500 for each modification and an additional $250 annually for three years if the borrower stays current. Borrowers can receive up to $250 per year for five years to pay down their first mortgage.
Investors can also receive a payment in exchange for extinguishing the second lien. They would receive 3 cents on the dollar for loans more than 180 days delinquent and between 4 cents and 12 cents for less delinquent loans, depending on the borrowers’ debt levels.
Servicers who join the new program must modify secondloans when a borrower’s first mortgage is adjusted. It will likely take a month to implement, but it should not slow down the modifications of primary mortgages, the administration said.
“By bringing both the first lien and second lien program together, we can reduce monthly payments for borrowers and make it much more likely that they can stay in their homes,” a senior administration official said.
Hope for Homeowners option
Also Tuesday, the administration said it is now requiring servicers to offer troubled borrowers access to Hope for Homeowners as a modification option if they qualify.
Expanding Hope for Homeowners would address one of the major holes in the original Obama foreclosure prevention plan. It helps homeowners whose homes are now worth far less than their mortgages.
Servicers had balked at participating in the Hope program because it required they reduce the mortgage principal balance to 90% of a home’s current value.
Hope for Homeowners, which began in October, is being revamped in Congress. Servicers would have to reduce the principal to 93% of the home’s value. The change would also reduce the program’s high fees, which turned off many troubled borrowers.
As an incentive to participate, servicers will be paid $2,500 for each refinancing, while lenders who originate the new loans will receive up to $1,000 a year for three years, as long as the loan remains current.
Separately, however, another pillar of the president’s plan appears to be headed for defeat this week. The Senate is not expected to pass legislation allowing bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages. The administration had sought this change to pressure servicers to modify loans before borrowers declare bankruptcy.
If your interested in a home loan modification, visit www.AdjustMyLoan.com today and get a FREE CONSULTATION.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Loan Modification Scam
Bobby Herrera, a local Glendale man who was charged with taking money form homeowners in foreclosure with false promises of getting them an Arizona loan modification plead guilty April 15th and faces five years in prison as well as a possible $73,000 in restitution to his victims. This is just another example of how important it is to research the person or company that is promising to help you modify your mortgage. These mortgage con artists say all the right things so it is so important to see where they work. Meet their team and ask for testimonials or references. Loosing your home to foreclosure is much too important to just leave things up to hope! Take back control of your situation by choosing a loan modification company that has the proof they can get the job done. Below is a press release from Arizona’s Attorney General Terry Goddard (which all of us at www.AdjustMyLoan.com support) about this scam. Bobby Herrera is scheduled to be sentenced May 13th and we will keep you up-to-date on the results as soon as they come out.
For Immediate Release
Mortgage Fraud Artist who Victimized 47 Valley Homeowners Pleads Guilty
(Phoenix, Ariz. - April 15, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that Bobby John Herrera, 33, of Glendale, has pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony, in connection with a mortgage loan “assistance” scam he orchestrated that victimized 47 Valley homeowners.
In December 2008, Herrera was arrested by Surprise and Peoria police in connection with the scheme. He pleaded guilty yesterday in Maricopa County Superior Court. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13 and faces five years in prison as well as $73,000 in restitution to victims.
According to investigators, Herrera solicited struggling homeowners with fraudulent claims that he could modify mortgage terms or provide other assistance to help them prevent foreclosure. Herrera allegedly claimed to have “connections” and expertise negotiating with mortgage lenders to reduce consumers’ monthly payments and prevent foreclosure.
In exchange for the services he claimed to provide, investigators said Herrera often charged the victims upfront fees of $1,245. Herrera is alleged to have not provided any such mortgage loan modification or foreclosure relief assistance, using the money instead for personal expenses.
“Herrera was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He preyed on struggling homeowners at a time when they could have been getting real help to save their homes and their families’ economic stability,” Goddard said. “I urge all homeowners who feel they are at risk of foreclosure to reject offers from costly ‘loan assistance’ businesses and get help from a HUD certified housing counselor. These counselors can be trusted to look out for your best interests and they won’t cost you a dime.”
The Attorney Generals Office began receiving complaints about Herrera on December 3, 2008. In response to concerns raised in complaints, the Office initiated a criminal investigation into Herrera’s activities. The criminal investigation into this case involved the Arizona Attorney Generals Office, Surprise Police Department and Peoria Police Department.
The Arizona loan modification experts at adjustMYLOAN.com have helped a couple of the victims of this loan modification scam artist so far. We were able to put some of his victims into decent modifications just in time to stop the foreclosure auction from taking their houses. We are not saying this to brag…just to let you know that there is such a thing as an ethical loan modification company out there that actually does the work they are paid to do. We understand how much time, effort, and skill is needed to navigate a complete loan modification from start to finish and also understand that most people don’t have the time to spend fighting it out with their lenders. Our loan modification service allows you to focus on your family and your job, while the loan modification is left to the professionals. We offer free consultations and never charge any expensive upfront fee’s for our service. Give us a call at 1-800-557-7573 and shop us compared to our competition. We believe you will be relieved once you get to know our professional staff.
WITH ALL THE LOAN MODIFICATION SCAMS OUT THERE, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A REPUTABLE, HONEST LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY?
We have all heard the news lately…”loan modification scam takes advantage of another homeowner”, or “call the lender yourself and don’t pay a third party to help you with your modification”. The news loves a bad story and makes one wonder if there are any good, honest loan modification companies out there?
THE POLITICALLY CORRECT THING TO SAY
Now, at www.adjustMYLOAN.com we absolutely think it is a good idea to be proactive when you are a homeowner facing a financial hardship and you believe you cannot make your upcoming mortgage payments. It seems like the natural thing to do (and the politically correct thing to say) and call your lender right away when you are experiencing problems paying your mortgage. The problem is that many homeowners who are not educated in the real estate / mortgage / loss mitigation world do not know what division to call, what to say, and most importantly, what financial information to disclose during those phone calls. What happens is many homeowners fall into three categories when they try and do a home loan modification themselves…”the disconnect”, the “sorry you don’t qualify”, or the worst one of them all the “here’s your crappy modification agreement”.
The “disconnect” is where you call and get transferred over and over, wait on hold forever, and eventually get disconnected. Do this a few times and the frustration is overwhelming. People already have a fear of confrontation and hate waiting on hold forever so many times this is enough to get them to quit.
The “sorry you don’t qualify”is when an uneducated homeowner calls their lender out of desperation and doesn’t understand that the lender is going to ask them for their financial information…sometimes right then and there over the phone. The poor homeowner discloses financials on-the-fly and ends up de-qualifying themselves because they don’t know what loan-to-value / debt-to-income ratio’s the banks are looking for. Again..the frustration is overwhelming because no matter if they qualify or not the fact remains they can’t afford their current payment. The loss mitigation departments at most major lenders are extremely slow and it takes the average consumer a couple of months to get any answers and by this time it might be too late! Lastly, the call centers at these banks are sometimes overseas and we all know how frustrating it can be when you get someone that barely speaks English telling you (without any feeling of empathy) that there is nothing they can do for you!
The “here’s your crappy modification agreement” is so common and it makes us nauseous. Many homeowners don’t have the time to educate themselves on the in’s and out’s of loss mitigation before attempting to modify their own home loan. They don’t understand the processes, how to get to the decision makers, or the fact that you can counter-offer and get better terms. Most wear out after talking to a un-empathetic loss mitigation negotiator at the bank and end up accepting whatever terms they can just to be done with it. Remember, the banks want to mitigate their loss…that’s why its called loss mitigation! They definitely don’t have your best interest in mind otherwise they would make it super easy to complete this process. If you don’t have a real estate / mortgage background, or you don’t have the time going back and forth with your lender(s) for months and months, contract the work out to a trained expert in loan modification negotiating.
THIS ONE IS OUR FAVORITE
How about this one…“call a HUD certified counselor and get a FREE modification”. While this advice sounds good, we all can agree that nothing good is cheap and seldom anything cheap is good! Free help from a counselor is just that…FREE help (not them actually doing it for you). Anyone can gather the necessary paperwork and submit it to the lender…what a homeowner needs is an aggressive person (or team of people) to fight for the best loan terms possible and not just a paperwork submission helper. Every “financial expert” on the news is telling homeowners to avoid paying up-front fee’s to modification companies and go to a HUD certified counselor for free help. These same people are so far removed from any financial struggles that they don’t feel the severity of the situation. It’s easy to give advice when you are not the one struggling financially, or fighting with your spouse everyday over finances. HUD counselors do not have the time to spend 40-50-60 hours fighting to get you better mortgage terms. In most cases they help you gather the necessary documents and submit them to the lender. Then whatever modification (if any) the lender gives after months and months of waiting is what you will have to accept. NOT AT ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM. We spend all the time necessary to aggressively fight to get you the best loan terms available.
NOTE: HUD Counselors do help you submit the correct financials so in that instance they are a good resource if you do insist on doing this yourself just don’t expect them to do the actual negotiations for you!
THE LOAN MODIFICATION MERRY-GO-ROUND
There was a news story about a congresswoman who tried and negotiate her own loan modification only to get the run-a-round and give up frustrated. CLICK HERE to watch the video. Yes, it is possible to get your own modification, but statistics prove that almost 40% of homeowners who achieve their own loan modification re-default within 6 months because the lender(s) put them into a half ass modification that was in the banks best interest…not the homeowners. DON’T BE A STATISTIC. There are loan modification companies out there who actually do the work they are promising to do and all it takes is some research to find the right one.
OUR SUGGESTIONS TO FINDING THE RIGHT LOAN MOD COMPANY
MAKE SURE THE PERSON YOU ARE DEALING WITH HAS A PHYSICAL BUSINESS ADDRESS AND BUSINESS PHONE NUMBER.
GET COPIES OF RECENTLY NEGOTIATED LOAN MODIFICATION AGREEMENTS TO PROVE THEY CAN DO THE JOB
DO NOT PAY A LARGE UPFRONT FEE…A SMALL FEE IS OKAY BUT IT SHOULD COME WITH A MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE IF THE MOD IS NOT SUCCESSFUL
MAKE SURE THE COMPANY YOU ARE USING HAS AN ONLINE TRACKING SYSTEM SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESS OF YOUR LOAN MODIFICATION AT ALL TIMES
MAKE SURE YOU MEET THE COMPANY AT THEIR OFFICE AND SEE THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING BUSINESS (GET TO KNOW THE COMPANY)
GET REFERRALS AND TESTIMONIALS TO VERIFY COMPANIES HISTORY
GET COPIES OF ALL PAPERWORK THAT OUTLINES THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WHAT MAKES ADJUSTMYLOAN.COM DIFFERENT
First and most importantly, we are a full-service (brick and mortar) loan modification company that has been negotiating loan modifications and short sales in Phoenix, Arizona for over 5 years. Our parent company is a member of the Better Business Bureau with zero complaints and can show you completed loan modification agreements between us and almost ever major lender. We are fully transparent and do not hide behind a corporate slogan…we invite you to get to know us in person or through our many videos on our website www.AdjustMyLoan.com. Our website, back-office tracking system, and negotiating processes are unique to us and designed to keep you educated and informed of your loan modifications progress from start to finish. NO OTHER LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY HAS THE EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, AND PROCESSES WE HAVE HERE AT ADJUST MY LOAN. We invite you to get to know us and our professional Loan Modification staff. Lastly, we DO NOT CHARGE any expensive upfront fees for our loan mod service and always offer free consultations to see if you qualify!
Foreclosures Rise First Quarter 2009: Loan Modification Is A Solution!
Below is an article talking about how the foreclosure rate has surged in the first quarter of 2009. The temporary foreclosure halt of most major lenders, as well as Fannie and Freddie Mac at the end of last year is now over. More and more foreclosures are being filed and every homeowner in trouble of paying their mortgage payment is wanting to know whether or not the Obama “Making Homes Affordable” plan is going to help save their home! The stressful situation they are in is not uncommon and even though the government preaches to call the lender and work out a modification yourself sounds like the politically correct thing to say, it is not that easy to navigate the maze of automated phone systems and outsourced customer service centers that your lenders utilize. Getting professional help is a great option that way you can focus on making more money and spending time with your family and not worrying about negotiating with your lender(s)!
The Loan Modification Experts at adjustmyloan.com have negotiated hundreds of loan modifications and short sales for homeowners over the last few years. We are highly educated, loss mitigation specialists that have the training, systems, and energy to go after your lenders to get you the best loan terms possible. Trust, integrity, and honor are the core beliefs of our company and every one of our employees puts the customer’s needs first which is easy to see from the first conversation you have with our experts. We invite you to call us at 1-800-557-7573 and get a FREE LOAN MODIFICATION CONSULTATION from one of our loan mod consultants today.
The Following Article Was Taken From MSNBC.MSN.COM
Foreclosure actions surge in the first quarter
Upcoming big unknown: Will Obama mortgage relief help reverse trend?
WASHINGTON - The number of American households threatened with losing their homes grew 24 percent in the first three months of this year and is poised to rise further as major lenders restart foreclosures after a temporary break, according to data released Thursday.
The big unknown for the coming months, however, is President Barack Obama’s plan to help up to 9 million borrowers avoid foreclosure through refinanced mortgages or modified loans. The Obama administration expects its plans to make a big dent in the foreclosure crisis. But it remains to be seen whether the lending industry will fully embrace it, despite $75 billion in incentive payments.
The faltering economy is causing the housing crisis to spread. Nationwide, nearly 804,000 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice from January through March, up from about 650,000 in the same time period a year earlier, according to RealtyTrac Inc., a foreclosure listing firm.
In March, more than 340,000 properties were affected, up 17 percent from February and 46 percent from a year earlier.
Foreclosures “came back with a vengeance” last month and are likely to keep rising, said Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac’s senior vice president for marketing.
Nearly 191,000 properties completed the foreclosure process and were repossessed by banks in the quarter. While the number was down 13 percent from the fourth quarter of last year, it is expected to rise through the summer and then possibly taper off.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the big mortgage finance companies, together with many banks had temporarily halted foreclosures in advance of Obama’s plan. Now armed with the details about which borrowers can qualify, the mortgage industry has begun foreclosing on ineligible borrowers.
The Treasury Department has signed contracts with six big loan servicing companies - including Citgroup, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase. Many have already started processing loans as part of the government’s “Making Home Affordable” plan.
“We need to get the long-term solutions for these folks,” Shaun Donovan, Obama’s housing secretary, said in an interview.
In the coming months, Donovan said, there are still likely to be increased foreclosures, especially from vacant houses, second homes and those owned by speculators. None of those properties will qualify for a loan modification. However, he remained optimistic that overall foreclosures could start to decrease this summer.
But even industry executives who emphatically support the plan emphasize that it’s success isn’t guaranteed.
“The effectiveness of the plan overall obviously is going to depend on the level of industry participation,” said Paul Koches, general counsel of Ocwen Financial, which collects loan payments on subprime loans.
Many borrowers and consumer groups claim the modifications offered by the lending industry don’t do enough to help cash-strapped homeowners, despite more than a year of public prodding from regulators. Fewer than half of loan modifications made at the end of last year actually reduced borrowers’ payments by more than 10 percent, data released last month show.
Plus, the lending industry has been swamped by the unprecedented wave of calls from distressed borrowers. “You can’t wave a magic wand and make the loans suddenly modified,” Sharga said. “They’re all individual transactions.”
In RealtyTrac’s report, Nevada, Arizona, California and Florida had the nation’s top foreclosure rates. In Nevada, one in every 27 homes received a foreclosure filing, while the number was one in every 54 in Arizona. Rounding out the top 10 were Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Idaho, Utah and Oregon.
As more and more homeowners realize that a loan modification is a viable solution to lower their monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure, more and more fraudulent loan modification companies keep popping up to take advantage of the situation. Foreclosure rescue scams are nothing new and many homeowners have been taken advantage of in the past, however, these new loan modification scams are more devious and fraudulent then ever by masking themselves as “Attorney” (when they are really not), “Attorney-Based”, or even as ‘”Government Sponsored” (which is the worst of them all since there is no such thing)! We get dozens of homeowners each month reach out to us after they have been taken advantage of by a company or individual that promised to reduce their principal and/or get them a guaranteed loan modification only to pay an upfront fee and get no results. These unfortunate homeowners would then ask for a refund only to get the runaround or a disconnected number. The loan modification experts at www.AdjustMyLoan.com want to blow the whistle on these scam artists and lead generating companies and help homeowners avoid the same mistake as some of our current clients!
Understand Who You Are Submitting Your Information To:
The Lead Generating Company / Official Looking “Government” Website
Telemarketing has been around since the telephone became popular and over the real estate boom many telemarketing companies sold “refinance / loan products” and made millions! Once the real estate boom ended, so did their golden ticket! They immediately saw the need for a loan modification solution and since there were so many loan mod companies popping up they switched their pitch to loan modifications. They then sell these leads to companies or individuals for a fee ($5-$35 per lead) and get their leads from direct mailers or websites that look official but in reality do nothing but gather your personal data. The homeowner submits their information to the site thinking they are contacting a company but in reality they are only giving their private financial information to a telemarketing company. Below is a list of these websites to be aware of:
These are just a few of the many telemarketing companies that use your personal financial information to make money! WHY SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY COMPANY LOOKING TO SELL A LEAD? Some of these websites look so official you really believe you are submitting your information to a government sponsored agency only to find out they are trying to charge you and expensive upfront fee for a service that doesn’t produce results!
Why Is AdjustMyLoan.com Different?
First and most importantly, we are a full-service (brick and mortar) loan modification company that has been negotiating loan modifications and short sales in Phoenix, Arizona for over 5 years. We are a member of the Better Business Bureau with zero complaints and can show you completed loan modification agreements between us and most major lenders. We are fully transparent and do not hide behind a corporate slogan…we invite you to get to know us in person or through our many videos on our website www.AdjustMyLoan.com. Our website, back-office tracking system, and negotiating processes are unique to us and designed to keep you educated and informed of your loan modifications progress from start to finish. NO OTHER LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY HAS THE EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, AND PROCESSES WE HAVE HERE AT ADJUST MY LOAN. We invite you to get to know us and our professional Loan Modification staff. Lastly, we do not charge any expensive upfront fees for our loan mod service and always offer free consultations to see if you qualify!
Wachovia Loan Modification, Loss Mitigation Negotiation Service
FREE CONSULTATIONS AND NO UPFRONT FEE’S
AdjustMyLoan.com Has Perfected The Wachovia Loan Modification Process And Gets The Job Done
AdjustMyLoan.com, a National Loss Mitigation Company, has acquired the specific criteria and documentation to accelerate loan modification requests for mortgages serviced by Wachovia Home Loans and its subsidiaries. In an effort to stem the housing crisis, AdjustMyLoan.com is providing a specialized service to homeowners in default or facing foreclosure through Wachovia’s “Making Home Affordable Program”. Many homeowners who are struggling to pay their high monthly mortgage payment may qualify for one of Wachovia’s Loan Modification programs and lower their monthly mortgage payment dramatically!
Following President Obama’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan introduced March 4, 2009, AdjustMyLoan.com and Wachovia aim to lower monthly mortgage payments to 31-38% of a given borrower’s gross monthly income. This decrease of interest rate is only the first step and we have successfully completed Wachovia Loan Modifications with interest rate reductions, term extensions, as well as the infamous principal balance reductions many believe are impossible to achieve! The loan modification experts at Adjust MyLoan have the proof that they can and will help you with your Wachovia loan modification needs.
For Wachovia borrowers who are currently delinquent or struggling to keep current, you may be eligible for the “Home Affordable Modification” on your current loan. Additionally, Wachovia has extended the foreclosure moratorium to give at-risk customers time to explore the new solutions in the Administration’s plan.
If you have an unaffordable home loan from Wachovia (owned by Wells Fargo), then it is time to learn about your options. Wachovia Loan modifications, which typically involve an adjustment to the interest rate, principal balance, arrearages, and term of an existing mortgage loan, are the preferred method for dealing with the housing crisis. By obtaining the tools to fast-track loan modifications with Wachovia, AdjustMyLoan.com offers a comprehensive plan to help Wachovia homeowners save their homes from foreclosure, bring loans current, and insure that on-time payments will continue for the life of the loan. Further, AdjustMyLoan.com is wiping out late payments and late fees through their negotiation efforts. Imagine being 3,4,5, or even 6 months or more behind and getting the Loan Modification Help you have been searching for to save your home from foreclosure! It is possible and we can show you proof that AdjustMyLoan.com’s system is working to help those that need Wachovia mortgage help.
Homeowners Will Need To Gather The Following:
Bank Correspondence / Foreclosure Notices
Hardship Letter Explaining Your Circumstances And Why You Must Modify Your Loan (must be signed by borrower)
2 Most Recent Mortgage Statements For Each Loan
2 Months Bank Statements For All Borrowers (12 Months If Self Employed)
2 Months Pay-Stubs For All Borrowers
2 Years Tax Returns Including W2’s, 1099’s And All Schedules For All Borrowers
Insurance Information (agent name, company, address, phone, email and policy number)
Any Documents To Verify Hardship (Death Certificate, Medical Bills, Divorce Paperwork ETC)
Then You Need To:
Contact a loan modification expert at AdjustMyLoan.com to pre-qualify for one of our streamlined programs. Our qualification takes only a few minutes and once qualified, rest assured AML is going to fight relentlessly to get you the best loan terms possible.
For more comprehensive information about options available to homeowners facing financial difficulties, please visit AdjustMyLoan.com and check out the loan mod learning center and blog post. There you will find the most up-to-date information on Wachovia’s “Making Home Affordable Program”, the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, and the latest financials news and tips.
Once again AdjustMyLoan.com gets quoted in the news! This story is a discussion of what percentage of a homeowners income should go towards a mortgage payment! This is a direct reaction to Obama’s “Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan” previewed last week with details coming out March 4th, 2009. www.AdjustMyLoan.com is a professional Loan Modification Company that fights for homeowners to re-negotiate their current loan terms in order to lower their monthly mortgage payment. To us, the lower the mortgage payment to income ratio the better! What are your thoughts?
February 26th, 2009
Article from AZCentral.com and on the front page of the Arizona republic
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF INCOME SHOULD BE SPENT ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS?
Under its new mortgage- relief plan, the Obama administration is staking a claim that most homeowners facing foreclosure should be able to pay 31 percent of their gross income for a mortgage.
Not 50 percent or not 60 percent, as is the case with many strapped homeowners.
But 31 percent of income still is a hefty number. Historically, borrowers’ mortgage payment limit was set at about 25 percent of their gross income before deductions for taxes and other subtractions.
With car payments, credit-card debt and everyday expenses, Phoenix-area mortgage brokers, bankers and others say that 31 percent still is too high for many homeowners.
“They would wind right back in default,” said Paul Klimke, president of the Central Arizona chapter of the Arizona Association of Mortgage Brokers.
Over the years, mortgage guidelines have been relaxed to enable more people to qualify for loans. In a time of rising prices, buyer demand and low interest rates, the Phoenix market allowed for refinancing, quick sales and home-equity lines of credit to help stretched consumers.
No more.
As sales slowed, home prices plummeted and foreclosures rose, many existing owners have been trapped. Their houses are worth much less than their loans, and their mortgage payments are killing them financially.
Experts predict a new wave of foreclosures over the year due to job losses and adjustable mortgages that will reset to higher rates and push up monthly payments.
Librada Martinez hopes the mortgage relief promised by the Obama administration will help her.
She makes $40,000 per year and has a $200,000 mortgage on a two-bedroom southwest Phoenix home that she bought for $180,000 in 2005. Her $1,400 mortgage payment is 47 percent of her gross income and 60 percent of her take-home pay. She was able to make the payments until an illness created unexpected medical bills.
“I tried to sell the house or get a roommate,” she said, adding that she finally just stopped making payments.
Martinez is hopeful she will be able to restructure her loan under the Obama plan but is concerned that homes in her neighborhood similar to hers now are selling for $70,000.
“I want to stay in my home - it’s perfect for me,” Martinez said. “But I don’t want to make payments on a $200,000 loan when my house is worth $70,000.”
The program announced by President Barack Obama in Mesa on Feb. 18 will offer financial incentives to lenders to restructure loan payments so that they are no more than 38 percent of the borrower’s income. More details about the plan are expected next Wednesday.
According to details already released, lenders would receive $1,000 up front for each modified loan and more down the road if the borrower stays current.
The government would use up to $75 billion in economic-stimulus funds to match additional loan modifications from the lender to bring down the payment from 38 percent to 31 percent.
For a household with gross annual income of $100,000, the monthly payment at 31 percent would be about $2,600. That’s about 50 percent of take-home pay after basic federal withholding. Add utility payments, food, health insurance, car payments and other consumer debt and there is likely very little left, said Joann Hauger, executive director of Community Housing Resources of Arizona. It is a non-profit organization that provides one-on-one mortgage default and pre-purchase counseling.
At this time, 38 percent is thought of as the upper limit for qualifying, with many households paying significantly more. Thirty-one percent is considered the upper limit of conservative guidelines for loan underwriting.
Before the boom, under traditional approval ratios for loan underwriting, 28 percent of gross income was considered the maximum for the mortgage payment and 38 percent for all debts combined.
Klimke noted that most of the people now in trouble have mortgage payments alone that are more than 38 percent of their gross income, sometimes much more.
“That’s what got us in trouble,” Klimke said.
Jay Butler, director of realty studies at Arizona State University, also believes 38 percent is too high in many cases.
“I’m curious what government will use as a definition of income and what the ratio would be for total debt,” he said.
Many of the people whose mortgages are in trouble have a lot of other debt and couldn’t afford the payments even if they were reduced to 31 percent of their income, counselors said.
Cody Sperber, a partner in AdjustMyLoan.com, a Phoenix firm that helps homeowners renegotiate loan terms, said that many of his clients are making mortgage payments that are 55 percent to 60 percent of their incomes.
Sperber said he has clients whose total debt payments are more than 90 percent of their income and owe $200,000 more than their homes are worth.
Hauger said that the homeowner bailout plan will be a challenge in Arizona because of the large number of lost jobs on top of the significant drop in home values - 34 percent in the fourth quarter alone, according to the 20-city Case-Shiller Home Price Index.
“There is a tremendous amount of consumer debt that could leave people unable to make payments even at a lower amount,” she said.
“In reality, there are an awful lot of people that no matter what, their homes won’t be saved.”
