Q1. What is the Independent Foreclosure Review?

As part of a consent order with federal bank regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) (independent bureaus of the U.S. Department of the Treasury), or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 14 mortgage servicers and their affiliates are identifying customers who were part of a foreclosure action on their primary residence during the period of January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

The Independent Foreclosure Review is providing homeowners the opportunity to request an independent review of their foreclosure process. If the review finds that financial injury occurred as a result of errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the servicer’s foreclosure process, the customer may receive compensation or other remedy.

Q2. What is a foreclosure action? What foreclosure actions are part of the Independent Foreclosure Review?

Foreclosure actions include any of the following occurrences on a primary residence between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010:

• The property was sold due to a foreclosure judgment.
• The mortgage loan was referred into the foreclosure process but was removed from the process because payments were brought up-to-date or the borrower entered a payment plan or modification program.
• The mortgage loan was referred into the foreclosure process, but the home was sold or the borrower participated in a short sale or chose a deed-in-lieu or other program to avoid foreclosure.
• The mortgage loan was referred into the foreclosure process and remains delinquent but the foreclosure sale has not yet taken place.

Q3. How do I know if I am eligible for the Independent Foreclosure Review?

Your loan must first meet the following initial eligibility criteria:

• Your mortgage loan was serviced by one of the participating mortgage servicers in Question 4.
• Your mortgage loan was active in the foreclosure process between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
• The property was your primary residence.

If your mortgage loan does not meet the initial eligibility criteria outlined above, you can still have your mortgage concerns considered by calling or writing your servicer directly.

Q4. Who are the participating servicers? What mortgage servicers and their affiliates are part of the Independent Foreclosure Review process?

The list of participating servicers includes:

• America’s Servicing Co.
• Aurora Loan Services
• Bank of America
• Beneficial
• Chase
• Citibank
• CitiFinancial
• CitiMortgage
• Countrywide
• EMC
• EverBank/EverHome Mortgage Company
• GMAC Mortgage
• HFC
• HSBC
• IndyMac Mortgage Services
• MetLife Bank
• National City Mortgage
• PNC Mortgage
• Sovereign Bank
• SunTrust Mortgage
• U.S. Bank
• Wachovia Mortgage
• Washington Mutual (WaMu)
• Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Q5. What are some examples of financial injury due to errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process?

Listed below are examples of situations that may have led to financial injury. This list does not include all situations.

• The mortgage balance amount at the time of the foreclosure action was more than you actually owed.
• You were doing everything the modification agreement required, but the foreclosure sale still happened.
• The foreclosure action occurred while you were protected by bankruptcy.
• You requested assistance/modification, submitted complete documents on time, and were waiting for a decision when the foreclosure sale occurred.
• Fees charged or mortgage payments were inaccurately calculated, processed, or applied.
• The foreclosure action occurred on a mortgage that was obtained before active duty military service began and while on active duty, or within 9 months after the active duty ended and the servicemember did not waive his/her rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Q6. How does my mortgage loan get reviewed as part of the Independent Foreclosure Review?

Homeowners meeting the initial eligibility criteria will be mailed notification letters with an enclosed Request for Review Form by December 31, 2011.

If you believe that you may have been financially injured, you must submit a Request for Review Form postmarked no later than April 30, 2012. Forms postmarked after this date will not be eligible for the Independent Foreclosure Review.

If you have more than one mortgage account that meets the initial eligibility criteria for an independent review, you will receive a separate letter for each. You will need to submit a separate Request for Review Form for each account. It is important that you complete the form to the best of your ability. All information you provide may be useful.

Q7. How can I submit the Request for Review Form?

Homeowners meeting the initial eligibility criteria will be mailed notification letters with an enclosed Request for Review Form before the end of 2011. If you received the notification letter, you can send in your Request for Review Form in the prepaid envelope provided, postmarked no later than April 30, 2012.

If your loan is part of the initial eligible population and you need a new form by mail, have questions, or need help completing the form you have received in the mail, call 1-888-952-9105, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET or Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.

Q8. Who can submit or sign the Request for Review Form?

Either the borrower or a co-borrower of the mortgage loan can submit and sign the form. The borrower signing the Request for Review Form should be authorized by all borrowers to proceed with the request for review. In the event of a finding of financial injury, any possible compensation or remedy will take into consideration all borrowers listed on the loan, either directly or to their trusts or estates.

Q9. What if one of the borrowers has died or is injured or debilitated?

Any borrower, co-borrower or attorney-in-fact can sign the form. In the event of a finding of financial injury, any possible compensation or other remedy will take into account all borrowers listed on the mortgage loan either directly or to their trusts or estates.

Q10. Do I need an attorney to request or submit the Request for Review Form?

No. However, if your mortgage loan meets the initial eligibility criteria and you are currently represented by an attorney with respect to a foreclosure or bankruptcy case regarding your mortgage; please refer to your attorney.

The Independent Foreclosure Review is FREE. Beware of anyone who asks you to pay a fee in exchange for a service to complete the Request for Review Form.

Q11. If I have already submitted a complaint to my servicer, do I need to submit a separate Request for Review Form to participate in this process?

If your mortgage loan meets the initial eligibility criteria, you should submit a Request for Review Form to ensure your foreclosure action is included in the Independent Foreclosure Review process.

Q12. What happens during the review process?

You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within one week after your Request for Review Form is received by the independent review administrator. Your request will be reviewed for inclusion in the Independent Foreclosure Review. If your request meets the eligibility requirements, it will be reviewed by an independent consultant.

Your servicer will provide relevant documents along with any findings and recommendations related to your request for review to the independent consultant for review. Your servicer may be asked to clarify or confirm facts and disclose reasons for events that occurred related to the foreclosure process. You could be asked to provide additional information or documentation. Because the review process will be a thorough and complete examination of many details and documents, the review could take several months.

The Independent Foreclosure Review will determine whether financial injury has occurred as a result of errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process. You will receive a letter with the findings of the review and information about possible compensation or other remedy.

Q13. How do I know who my servicer is? How do I find them?

The company you sent your monthly mortgage payments to is your mortgage servicer. It is not necessarily the company whose name is on the actual foreclosure documents (although in most cases, it is). If you don’t remember the name of the servicer for your foreclosed property, we suggest you review cancelled checks, bank statements, online statements or other records for this information.

If you are still unsure of who your mortgage servicer is or do not see their name listed in Q4, please call 1-888-952-9105, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET or Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.

Q14. If I request an Independent Foreclosure Review, is there a cost or will there be a negative impact to my credit?

The Independent Foreclosure Review is a FREE program. Beware of anyone who asks you to pay a fee in exchange for a service to complete the Request for Review Form.

The review will not have an impact on your credit report or any other options you may pursue related to your foreclosure.

Q15. Where can I call if I need help completing the form or have any questions about the review process?

Call 1-888-952-9105 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET or Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. If you have already submitted a Request for Review Form, please have your Reference Number available to expedite your call.

Q16. How are military servicemembers affected by the Independent Foreclosure Review?

In the review, servicers are required to include all loans covered by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that meet the qualifying criteria. However, servicemembers or co-borrowers may also request a review through this process. Financial injury may have occurred if the foreclosure action occurred on a mortgage that was obtained before active duty military service began and while on active duty, or within 9 months after the active duty ended.

Q17. How am I affected if I submit a Request for Review Form while in active bankruptcy?

If you submit a Request for Review Form and a review is conducted of your foreclosure process, this will have no impact on your bankruptcy. The letter being sent to you about the Independent Foreclosure Review is not an attempt to collect a debt. If you are in bankruptcy, please refer this letter to your attorney.

Q18. I’m still working with my servicer to prevent a foreclosure sale. Will I still be able to work with them?

Yes, continue to work with your servicer. Participating in the review will not impact any effort to prevent a foreclosure sale. The review is not intended to replace current active efforts with your servicer.

Q19. How long will the review process take and when can I expect a response?

You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within one week after your Request for Review Form is received by the independent review administrator. Because the review process will examine many details and documents, the review could take several months. The Independent Foreclosure Review will determine if financial injury occurred as a result of the servicer’s errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process. You will receive a letter with the findings of the review and information about possible compensation or other remedy. Not every finding will result in compensation or other remedy.

Q20. What happens if the review finds that I was financially injured as a result of errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process?

You will receive a letter with the findings of the review and information about possible compensation or other remedy. The compensation or other remedy you may receive will be determined by your specific situation. Not every finding will result in compensation or other remedy.

Q21. What happens if the review finds that I was not financially injured as a result of errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process?

You will receive a letter with the findings of the review. Not every finding will result in compensation or other remedy.

Q22. What if I disagree with the eligibility requirements or the result of the Independent Foreclosure Review?

The decision of the review is considered final and there is no further recourse within the Independent Foreclosure Review process. The Independent Foreclosure Review will not have an impact on any other options you may pursue related to the foreclosure process of your mortgage loan.

Q23. Does filing a Request for Review Form prevent me from filing other litigation or action against the servicer?

No. Submitting a request for an Independent Foreclosure Review will not preclude you from any other options you may pursue related to your foreclosure.

Independent third-party reviews of foreclosure cases at the 14 largest mortgage servicers and their affiliates began Tuesday, November 1st, 2011.

Consultants hired by the banks and approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) will evaluate whether eligible borrowers who were foreclosed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 suffered financially due to improper practices.

Borrowers are considered eligible if their loan meets the following initial eligibility criteria:

• Your mortgage loan was serviced by one of the participating mortgage servicers below.
• Your mortgage loan was active in the foreclosure process between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
• The property was your primary residence.

If your mortgage loan does not meet the initial eligibility criteria outlined above, you can still have your mortgage concerns considered by calling or writing your servicer directly.

Eligible customers will be mailed a letter by December 31, 2011 that explains the Independent Foreclosure Review process and a Request for Review Form that identifies some examples of situations that may have led to financial injury. The borrower has until April 30, 2012 to request a review. There is no cost to the borrower, and the OCC warned against any firm that would charge a fee up front for the review.

If eligible borrowers believe that they were financially injured as a result of servicer errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process on their primary residence, they can request a review of their foreclosure file to verify that their foreclosure process was handled properly.

Throughout this process, servicers will continue their efforts to help homeowners who have not yet gone through a foreclosure sale stay in their homes, where possible.

The reviews are a requirement under consent orders signed between regulators and the servicers. The reviews could cover more than 4.5 million cases and take more than a year to complete.

The participating servicers are:

• America’s Servicing Company
• Aurora Loan Services
• Bank of America
• EMC
• EverBank/Everhome Mortgage Company
• First Horizon
• National City Mortgage
• PNC Mortgage
• Sovereign Bank
• Beneficial
• Chase
• GMAC Mortgage
• HFC
• SunTrust Mortgage
• U.S. Bank
• Citibank
• CitiFinancial
• HSBC
• IndyMac Mortgage
• Wachovia
• Washington Mutual
• CitiMortgage Services Wells Fargo
• Countrywide MetLife Bank

If your loan is part of the initial eligible population and you need a new form by mail, believe you may be eligible for a review but did not receive a mailing, have questions, or need help completing the form you have received in the mail, call 1-888-952-9105, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. EST or Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. EST.

On October 27, 2010, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles issued a Statement of Enforcement.

On November 17, 2010, the Mayor of the District of Columbia signed the Saving DC Homes from Foreclosure Emergency Act of 2010.

The Act states that a foreclosure sale under a power of sale provision contained in any deed of trust, mortgage or other security instrument, can not take place unless the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, mortgage, or security instrument, or its agent, gives written notice of the intention to foreclose, by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and by first‐class mail, of the sale to the borrower and, if different from the borrower, to the person who holds the title of record, of the real property encumbered by the deed of trust, mortgage, or security instrument at his last known address. A copy of the notice must also be sent to the Mayor, at least 30 days in advance of the date of the sale.

Further, the Act requires the following actions BEFORE a foreclosure sale takes place:

• After a notice of default of a residential mortgage has been given and a mediation election form is mailed to a borrower in default of a mortgage loan, the lender will be required to engage in mediation if the borrower elects to participate ;

Note: A notice of default from the lender must include: (a) contact information the borrower may use to reach an agent or representative of the lender with authority to explain the mediation process, (b) a statement recommending that the borrower seek housing counseling services (c) contact information for at least one local housing counseling agency approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), (d) information about loss mitigation programs available from the lender, and (e) a mediation election form, in a form prescribed by the Mediation Administrator, with one envelope addressed to the lender, and one envelope addressed to the Mediation Administrator. A copy of the notice of default would also be provided to the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB)

• The lender is required to pay a fee of $300 for each notice of default issued on residential mortgage. If the power of sale a property is exercised, the lender is allowed to recover the $300 fee from the proceeds of sale if there is any amount remaining after the payment of all amounts due and owing by the borrower on the residential mortgage and the costs of the sale. The lender is not permitted to recover mediation fee paid if there is a deficiency upon the sale of the foreclosed property;
• Within 7 days of mailing of the notice of default by the lender, the Mediation Administrator will mail the specified information to the borrower about the mediation process, a statement recommending the borrower seek housing counseling services and information about these services, and a request for the borrower to return the loss mitigation application to the lender and the mediation election form to the Mediation Administrator and lender in the envelopes provided no later than 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice of default by the lender. The Mediation Administrator will also include a statement that the borrower will lose the right to participate in mediation if the mediation election form and the loss mitigation application are not returned within the specified 30 day timeframe, a statement that borrower has to pay a $50 fee to the District of Columbia to participate in mediation; otherwise, the borrower will be considered to have forfeited the right to mediation, and a statement that mediation will be held 45 days after the date of the mailing of the mediation election form;
• Within 20 days of mailing of the mediation election form to the borrower by the lender, the Mediation Administrator will send a 2^nd notice to the borrower with all the information specified above, including a statement that the borrower must take immediate action to avoid foreclosure;
• The Mediation Administrator will assign a mediator and schedule a mediation session within 45 days of the mailing of the notice of default for each borrower electing to participate in mediation, and will issue a mediation certificate to the lender if a borrower chooses to waive the right to mediation. The power of sale under a mortgage will not be exercised until the Mediation Administrator has issued a Mediation Certificate;
• If the lender or a representative fails to attend the mediation, fails to participate in the mediation in good faith, or does not bring to the mediation all required documents, the Mediation Administrator is authorized to impose a $500 penalty against the lender. Any lender who breaches the terms of the settlement agreement would pay a penalty of $1,000 and be required to perform the terms of a settlement agreement;
• If the borrower breaches the terms of the settlement agreement entered into during mediation, the lender will be allowed to apply to the Mediation Administrator for a Mediation Certificate;
• The mediation will conclude within 90 days of the mailing of the notice of default and mediation election form by the lender, unless extended for an additional 30 days by the mutual consent of both parties;
• If the mediator determines that the parties, while acting in good faith, cannot agree to any loss mitigation options in lieu of foreclosure, the mediator will submit a form to the Mediation Administrator recommending the matter be terminated. Within 5 days of receiving the mediator’s report, the Mediation Administrator may issue a Mediation Certificate to the lender or refer the matter to another mediator;
• Each foreclosure sale in violation of the Act is considered void;
• All foreclosure sales occurring November 17, 2010 or after, a Mediation Certificate must be recorded among the DC Land Records PRIOR to the issuance and recordation of the Notice of Foreclosure.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Foreclosure sales which are completed PRIOR to the effective date of the Act should not be subject to the provisions of the Act.
• The participation in mediation shall NOT waive any other legal claims the lender or borrower may have against each other
• The Act expires February 15, 2011 unless extended
  

On October 27, 2010, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles issued a Statement of Enforcement regarding deceptive foreclosure sale notices.

Foreclosure sale notices, when sent to homeowners to commence foreclosures of their homes, violate the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act if they have a tendency to mislead homeowners either by misrepresenting a material fact or by failing to state a material fact. D.C. Official Code § 28-3904 (e) and (f).

The Attorney General is responsible for bringing enforcement actions in D.C. Superior Court against violations of the Consumer Protection Procedures Act and is authorized to seek injunctive relief, consumer restitution, and civil penalties. D.C. Official Code § 28-3909.

A foreclosure proceeding in D.C. begins when an owner of real property is sent a notice of foreclosure sale on a form prescribed by regulation and issued by the Recorder of Deeds. 9 DCMR §§ 3100.1 and 3100.2. The Notice of Foreclosure Sale form requires identification of, among other things, a “Security Instrument recorded in the land records of the District of Columbia,” a “Maker(s) of the Note secured by the instrument,” and a “Holder of the Note.” The “Holder of the Note” is the noteholder whose security interest in the real property is the basis for the foreclosure proceeding.

Under District law, a noteholder’s security interest in real property should be reflected in the property records maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, even if the noteholder was not the original maker of the note. In contrast to the laws of many states, District law imposes a recordation obligation on each transferee of a security interest in real property:

“Within 30 days after the execution of a deed or other document [by which] an economic interest [or] a security interest in the real property is conveyed, all transferees of, and all holders of the security interest in, real property shall record a fully acknowledged copy of the deed or other document . . . with the Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.” D.C. Official Code § 47-1431(a).

While most assignments of security interests “from one lender to another, on the secondary market” are expressly exempted from the District’s recordation tax, D.C. Official Code § 42-1102.01, these assignments are not exempted from the District’s basic recordation requirement, which is presumed to apply to every transfer of an economic or security interest in real property. D.C. Official Code § 47-1432.

When a homeowner receives the notice of foreclosure sale on the form required by District law, the notice is representing to the homeowner, at least by implication, that (1) the identified “Holder of the Note” in fact has a security interest in the homeowner’s property and (2) the noteholder’s security interest is duly “recorded in the land records of the District of Columbia.” The homeowner who receives such a notice is entitled to presume that the recordation of the security interest complies with District law, and that each intermediate transfer of the security interest between the original maker of the note and the current holder of the note is documented in the public record.

If the land records of the District of Columbia don’t in fact demonstrate that the “Holder of the Note” identified in the foreclosure sale notice has the security interest identified in the notice, then use of the required notice form is misleading. The notice misrepresents to the homeowner that the noteholder has a recorded security interest and fails to disclose the material fact that the “recorded” security interest described in the notice is not that of the noteholder. Homeowners who receive such notices may fail to take prudent steps to protect their homes, such as seeking legal advice to determine whether there may be a basis for challenging the foreclosure proceedings in court. In the District, as in other jurisdictions with a non-judicial foreclosure process, the onus is on the homeowner to develop facts supporting judicial review.

Misrepresenting to homeowners that noteholders’ security interests are recorded in the District’s land records violates the Consumer Protection Procedures Act, even if the security interests are tracked in the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) registry. The MERS registry, which is privately maintained and fully accessible only to paying members and subscribers, does not allow users to research the intermediate transfers between the original maker of the note and the current holder of the note. Therefore, in contrast to the public recordation system prescribed by District law, the MERS registry does not allow users to confirm that reported noteholder interests are supported by a chain of conveyances originating with the maker of the note.

Prior to initiating a foreclosure involving a District of Columbia homeowner, a trustee or noteholder is obligated to confirm that the District’s land records demonstrate that the noteholder has the security interest that will be listed in the foreclosure sale notice. Each assignment of interest (or other document) by which the security interest was transferred to the noteholder, or to one of the noteholder’s predecessors in the chain of conveyances from the maker of the note, must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. A document that lists MERS as a nominee, but does not identify the actual holder of the security interest, will not suffice.

If homeowners or their advocates provide information to the Washington, D.C. Office of the Attorney General establishing that foreclosures continue to be commenced or pursued with deceptive foreclosure sale notices, the Attorney General may bring enforcement actions under the Consumer Protection Procedures Act to enjoin foreclosure proceedings, secure restitution for injured homeowners, and seek appropriate civil penalties.

To report the continued use of deceptive foreclosure sale notices, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at (202) 442-9828.

On October 29, 2010, Fannie Mae issued Announcement SVC-2010-16 to servicers stating they are retiring the Payment Reduction Plan (PRP) program effective December 31, 2010.

The PRP program, introduced in 2009, was designed to provide borrowers ineligible for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) with temporary payment relief while the servicer and borrower worked together to find an appropriate permanent foreclosure prevention solution.

Under the program, a homeowner’s mortgage payments can be reduced up to 30% of the contractual monthly payments of principal and interest. The program covers owner occupied properties, as well as investment properties and second homes.

According to the Announcement, all PRPs must be initiated on or before that date and must end by July 1, 2011, or within 6 months of commencement, if earlier.

Servicers must continue to report PRP data on a monthly basis in the HomeSavers Solution® Network. Servicer incentives will continue to be paid on eligible PRPs upon the successful completion of a permanent foreclosure prevention alternative.

A spokesperson for Fannie said recent volumes in the program were relatively small, and borrowers experiencing hardships such unemployment and problematic drywall, can still be put into regular forbearance plans and extensions.

Servicers should continue to use other foreclosure prevention options available, as indicated in the Servicing Guide, Part VII, Chapter 6: Foreclosure Prevention Alternatives, and as updated by subsequent announcements.

On October 5, 2010, HUD released details about the $1 Billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP) authorized by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

EHLP will offer declining balance, deferred payment “bridge loan” (non-recourse, subordinate loans with 0% interest rate) for up to $50,000 to assist eligible homeowners with payments of arrearages, including delinquent taxes and insurance plus up to 24 months of monthly payments on their mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance premiums, taxes, and hazard insurance.

Borrowers living in the following jurisdictions are eligible to receive funds through the EHLP:

Program Administration

Delegated Approach: Borrowers who are listed in one of the above 32 states or Puerto Rico will meet with non-profit housing counselors who are part of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks® America to receive funding.

The non-profit housing counselors will provide intake and outreach services including:

• (i) developing and disseminating program marketing materials, (ii) providing an overview of the program and eligibility requirements, (iii) conducting initial eligibility screening (including verifying income), (iv) counseling  potential applicants, providing information concerning available employment and training resources,  (v) collecting and assembling homeowner documentation, (vi) submitting homeowner application, and (vii) providing transition counseling to explore with the homeowner other loss mitigation options, including loan modification, short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or traditional sale of home.

• The counselors shall also be encouraged to conduct outreach to entities in local communities to provide information on assistance available to unemployed homeowners through this program and shall publicize the list of entities approved to assist potential applicants with applying to the program

State Law Approach: Borrowers or state HFAs that operate loan assistance programs that are determined by HUD to be substantially similar to the EHRF program will receive allocations to fund emergency loans for borrowers in the states below:

Allocation of Program Funds

Recipient Geography: HUD will assist borrowers living in Puerto Rico and the 32 states otherwise not funded by Treasury’s Innovation Fund for Hardest Hit Housing Markets (Hardest Hit Fund) program.

Allocation Amount: The total amount reserved will be based on the state’s approximate share of unemployed homeowners with a mortgage relative to all unemployed homeowners with a mortgage

Targeting Funds to Local Geographies: HUD will provide information that identifies pockets within each of the designated states that have suffered the most from recent spikes in unemployment and/or mortgage delinquencies.  HUD will encourage the use of program dollars in these hardest-hit areas.

Homeowner Eligibility and Program Operation

Income Thresholds: Has a total pre-event household income equal to, or less than, 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which includes wage, salary, and self-employed earnings and income.

Significant Income Reduction: Has a current gross income (income before taxes) that is at least 15% lower than the pre-event income.

• “Pre-event income”: the income prior to the onset of unemployment, underemployment, or medical emergency
• “Current income”: the income at the time of program application, as well as income during the period that the homeowner continues to receive assistance from the fund

Employment type: Both wage and salary workers and self-employed individuals are eligible.

Delinquency and Likelihood of Foreclosure: Must be at least 3 months delinquent on payments and have received notification of an intention to foreclose.  This requirement can be documented by any written communication from the mortgagee to the homeowner indicating at least 3 months of missed payments and the mortgagee’s intent to foreclose.  In addition, the homeowner can self-certify that there is a likelihood of initiation of foreclosure on the part of their mortgagee due to the homeowner being at least 3 months delinquent in their monthly payment.

Ability to Resume Repayment: Has a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of the first mortgage obligations within 2 years, and meet other housing expenses and debt obligations when the household regains full employment, as determined by:

• The homeowner must have a back-end or debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 55%

Back-end DTI ratio:

Total Monthly Debt Expenses ÷ Total Gross Monthly Income

• Total monthly debt expenses = mortgage principal, interest, taxes, insurance, & revolving and fixed installment debt

***Note: For this calculation, gross income will be measured at the “pre-event” level***

Principal Residence: Must reside in the mortgaged property and be your  principal residence.  The mortgaged property must also be a single family residence (1 – 4 unit structure or condominium unit).

Creation of HUD Note:  After the first assistance payment is made on behalf of the homeowner, the fiscal agent will create an open-ended “HUD note” and a mortgage to be  in the name of the Secretary HUD of sufficient size to accommodate the expected amount of assistance to be provided to homeowner.

Ongoing Qualification of Homeowner

Termination of Monthly Assistance: Assistance is terminated and the homeowner resumes full responsibility for meeting the first lien mortgage payments in the event of any of the following circumstances:

• The maximum loan ($50,000) amount has been reached;
• The homeowner fails to report changes in unemployment status or income;
• The homeowner’s income regains 85% or more of its pre-event level;
• The homeowner no longer resides in, sells, or refinances the debt on the mortgaged property; or
• The homeowner defaults on their portion of the current first lien mortgage loan payments

Income re-evaluation: After initial income verification at application intake, the homeowner shall be required to notify the fiscal agent of any changes in the household income and/or employment status at any point throughout the entire period of assistance

Forms of Assistance

Use of Funds for Arrearages: On behalf of the homeowner, the fiscal agent shall use loan funds to pay 100% of arrears (mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance premiums, taxes, hazard insurance, and ground rent, if any)

Homeowner Payments: Homeowner contribution to monthly payment on first mortgage will be set at 31% of gross income at the time of application, but in no instance will it be less than $25 per month

Use of Funds for Continuing Mortgage Assistance: The fiscal agent will make monthly mortgage payments to the servicer of the first lien mortgage in excess of the payments made by the homeowner

Duration of Assistance: If at any time the household’s gross income increases to 85% or more of its pre-event level, assistance will be phased out by the fiscal agent over a 2 month period.  In any event, assistance with monthly payments may not continue beyond 24 months

Repayment Terms

Transition Counseling:   The designated counseling agent shall contact each homeowner that is approaching the last months of program eligibility and remains un/underemployed (3-6 months before the assistance ends) and require the homeowner  to meet with a HUD approved counseling agent to explore other loss mitigation options, including loan modification, short sales, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or traditional sale of home

Repayment of HUD Note: Following the last payment on behalf of the homeowner, the fiscal agent will process the homeowner’s “HUD Note” and record a mortgage with a specific loan balance.  The note and mortgage will be in the form of a 5 year declining balance, 0% interest, non-recourse loan, and the mortgage shall be in the form of a secured junior lien on the property

Terms for Declining Balance Feature:  No payment is due on the note during the 5 year term so long as the assisted household maintains the property as principal residence and remains current in his or her monthly payments on the first mortgage loan.  If the homeowner meets these two conditions, the balance due shall decline by 20% annually, until the note is extinguished and the junior loan is terminated

Events Triggering Note Repayment: The homeowner will be responsible for repayment of the applicable balance of the HUD note to the fiscal agent or its successor,  if, at any time during the 5 year repayment period, any of the following events occur:

• The homeowner no longer resides in the mortgaged property as a principal residence, but maintains ownership;
• The homeowner defaults on its portion of  the current mortgage; or
• The homeowner receives net proceeds from selling or refinancing debt on the home.

***Note: Net proceeds — after paying outstanding applicable brokers fees, first balances (and second lien balances, as applicable), and an allowance of $2,000 to the homeowner for relocation expenses when the home is sold — will go towards paying down the HUD note.  In the event that proceeds of a sale or loan refinance are not sufficient to repay the entire HUD note, the remaining applicable balance of the HUD note shall be considered to have been met, and the lien against the property shall be released***

Provisions for Underwater Homeowners: At all stages of the program, “underwater” homeowners will be encouraged to explore participation in short sale or short refinancing programs offered by their servicer and/or the federal government (i.e. Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives), which will not trigger repayment of the HUD note

• Underwater homeowners = homeowners with mortgage debt in excess of the market value of their home

Program Start Date

HUD intends for EHLP to begin taking applications by the end of 2010

The National Association of Broker Price Opinion Professionals (NABPOP) and eMortgage Logic released Version 4.0 of Broker Price Opinion Standards and Guidelines (BPOSG) effective September 16, 2010.

BPOSG is a compilation of standards and best practices for BPO practitioners – real estate agents and brokers. A Broker Price Opinion (BPO) is a report that is prepared by a real estate agent or broker that details the probable selling price of a house or property. The standards and guidelines contained in BPOSG are utilized in determining the probable selling price of residential real estate properties. BPOSG can be thought of as set of quality control measures that adhere to the fundamentals, techniques, procedures, and best practices for real estate price evaluations.

The standards portion dictates what a BPO practitioner must do such as ethics and conduct, disclosures, proper application of techniques, etc. Guidelines are best practices and/or procedures that are widely accepted, yet allow for flexibility in application. The guidelines contained in BPOSG allow for flexibility in order to meet a diversity of requirements that are needed throughout the valuation industry.

BPOSG has been well received within the industry since its first edition and the latest version serves to bring the guidelines up-to-date and make sure they are still relevant.

eMortgage Logic supports the education and training that NABPOP provides and encourages their partners to adhere to the BPOSG and become NABPOP certified.

President and CEO of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based NABPOP Ralph Sells said of the release, “The BPOSG has grown to be a collaborative effort by many industry professionals and has expanded in scope and recognition.”

Sells continued, “We feel the BPOSG is important and imperative to the success of our partners in the field as well as our employees reviewing BPOs. The BPOSG is quickly becoming the industry Gold Standard for real estate and mortgage professionals. I’m pleased with its wide use and acceptance and we look forward to new changes and ideas from the community since the BPO Standards and Guidelines are a dynamic document meant to grow and evolve.”

On August 11, 2010, the Obama Administration announced additional support to help homeowners struggling with unemployment through two targeted foreclosure-prevention programs.

Through the existing Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets (HFA Hardest Hit Fund), the U.S. Department of the Treasury will make $2 billion of additional assistance available for HFA programs for homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments due to unemployment. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will soon launch a complementary $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to provide assistance – for up to 24 months – to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition.

“HUD’s new Emergency Homeowner Loan Program will build on Treasury’s Hardest Hit initiative by targeting assistance to struggling unemployed homeowners in other hard hit areas to help them avoid preventable foreclosures,” said Bill Apgar, HUD Senior Advisor for Mortgage Finance. Together, these initiatives represent a combined $3 billion investment that will ultimately impact a broad group of struggling borrowers across the country and in doing so further contribute to the Administration’s efforts to stabilize housing markets and communities across the country.”

Hardest Hit Fund

President Obama first announced the HFA Hardest Hit Fund in February 2010 to allow states hit hard by the economic downturn flexibility in determining how to design and implement programs to meet the local challenges homeowners in their state are facing.

Under the additional assistance announced, states eligible to receive support have all experienced an unemployment rate at or above the national average over the past 12 months. Each state will use the funds for targeted unemployment programs that provide temporary assistance to eligible homeowners to help them pay their mortgage while they seek re-employment, additional employment or undertake job training.

States that have already benefited from previously announced assistance under the HFA Hardest Hit Fund may use these additional resources to support the unemployment programs previously approved by Treasury or they may opt to implement a new unemployment program. States that do not currently have HFA Hardest Hit Fund unemployment programs must submit proposals to Treasury by September 1, 2010 that, within established guidelines, meet the distinct needs of their state.

The states eligible to receive funds through this additional assistance, along with allocations based on their population sizes, are as follows:

HUD Emergency Homeowners Loan Program

This new program will complement Treasury’s HFA Hardest Hit Fund by providing assistance to homeowners in hard hit local areas that may not be included in the hardest hit target states. Those areas are still being determined.

The program will work through a variety of state and non-profit entities and will offer:

• a declining balance
• deferred payment “bridge loan” (0% interest, non-recourse, subordinate loan) for up to $50,000 on their mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance, taxes and hazard insurance for up to 24 months.

Under the program, eligible borrowers must:

• Be at least 3 months delinquent in their payments and have a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of their mortgage payments and related housing expenses within 2 years;
• Have a mortgage property that is the principal residence of the borrower, and eligible borrowers may not own a second home;
• Demonstrate a good payment record prior to the event that produced the reduction of income.

HUD will announce additional details, including the targeted communities and other program specifics when the program is officially launched in the coming weeks.

Fannie Mae launches a borrower-facing outreach site designed to educate distressed homeowners on potential retention strategies and foreclosure alternatives.

The online education resource — available in both English and Spanish — offers calculators to demonstrate to borrowers the mechanics of refinance, repayment, forbearance, and modification options if the borrowers would like to keep their home. In addition, it covers information on Fannie’s Deed-For-Lease program, which allows borrowers to become renters in the same property after pursing deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

For borrowers who would like to leave their home, the online education resource offers possible options such as, a short sale and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure when you can no longer stay in your home but want to avoid foreclosure.

For borrowers who aren’t sure what the best option is for them, the Options Finder can assist you. By answering some questions, the Options Finder determines which option may be right based on your current situation.

When you need additional assistance, the Resources section offers the following and much more:

Fannie Mae Resources

Review what Fannie Mae is doing to assist homeowners and how they can help you.

Contact your Mortgage Company

Find and contact your mortgage company to discuss your situation.

Helpful Forms

Download forms to help you prepare for (and keep track of) working with your mortgage company or a housing counselor.

Calculators

Use the calculators to determine which scenario fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Search for helpful answers to some of the most common questions regarding your options.

Take Action – What You Should Do Next

Once you ’ve learned about options that may be available for your situation, it’s time to take action.

Step 1: Research

Be sure to bookmark the page and print the information on the option(s) that applies best to your situation. You will want to refer to this information when speaking with your mortgage company.

Step 2: Gather

Gather the information shown below. You’ll need this information handy so you can refer to it during your discussion with your mortgage company. Use the Financial Checklist to help get organized and prepared.

• Your mortgage(s): Loan number, past due notices, monthly statement, etc. for your first mortgage and second mortgage or other liens (if applicable).
• Your other debts: Copies of bills and monthly statements for all other debts such as credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, utilities, etc.
• Your income: Paystubs, unemployment benefits letter, alimony, child support, etc. for all borrowers on the mortgage.
• Your hardship: Explain your situation and any hardship that has affected your income or ability to make your payments, etc.

Step 3: Contact

Contact your mortgage company and ask them about the options that are available for your specific situation. Also ask for the name and/or employee number of the mortgage specialist who is helping you and be sure to give them your up-to-date contact information. Use the Contact Log to keep track of your conversations and follow-up items.

Step 4: Discuss

Make sure you are ready to discuss everything about your current situation—the more the mortgage company understands and the more accurate the information, the more they can help you find the right option.

Step 5: Confirm

Ask them to confirm your current situation to be certain there are no other issues. Make sure you understand the next steps involved and if there is anything you will need to complete for the specific option.

The Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP) is a supplemental program to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) which provides assistance to unemployed borrowers. The Unemployment Program grants qualified unemployed borrowers a forbearance period which reduces or suspends their monthly mortgage payment.

***Note:  UP is for first lien mortgage loans that are not owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (Non Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) Mortgages) or insured or guaranteed by a federal agency, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).***

The program is effective for participating HAMP servicers on July 1, 2010; however, servicers may begin to offer UP earlier.

Eligibility

Servicers are required to offer UP when the following criteria is met:

• Loan is a first lien mortgage, originated on or before January 1, 2009, secured by a one- to four unit property, 1-unit of which is the borrower’s principal residence and the unpaid principal balance (UPB) is equal to or less than $729,750 on 1-unit properties (See Supplemental Directive 09-01 for amounts on 2 - 4 unit dwellings)
• Loan has not been previously modified under HAMP and the borrower has not previously received a UP forbearance period
• Borrower is unemployed at the date of the request for UP and is able to document that they will receive unemployment benefits or have been receiving unemployment benefits at commencement of the forbearance plan
• Servicers have the discretion whether or not to require a borrower to have received unemployment benefits for up to 3 months before commencement of the forbearance plan
• Borrower is either delinquent but has not missed more than 3 consecutive monthly payments or default is reasonably foreseeable

It is at the servicer’s discretion whether to offer UP if a borrower’s total monthly mortgage payment is less than 31% of the borrower’s monthly gross income.

Additional UP forbearance plan eligibility requirements include that the borrower:

• Makes a request before the first mortgage lien is seriously delinquent (before 3 monthly payments are due and unpaid). A request for UP may be made by phone, mail or email. Within 10 business days, servicers must confirm the receipt of the request with the borrower via mail or return email.
• Is unemployed at the date of the request for UP and is able to document that he or she will receive unemployment benefits in the month of the Forbearance Period Effective Date even if his or her unemployment benefit eligibility is scheduled to expire before the end of the UP forbearance period.

Terms

The UP forbearance period is 3 months or upon notification that the borrower has become re-employed; however, it can be extended in accordance with investor and regulatory guidelines.

The monthly payment MUST be reduced to 31% (or less) of the borrower’s gross monthly income. At the discretion of the servicer, monthly mortgage payments may be suspended in full.

Payment amount and due date, if any, is established by the servicer according to investor and regulatory guidelines.

Servicers are prohibited from:

• Initiating foreclosure action or conducting a foreclosure sale while the borrower is being evaluated for UP
• After the Foreclosure Plan Notice (FPN) is mailed
• During the UP forbearance or extension while the borrower is being evaluated for or participating in HAMP or HAFA following, the UP forbearance period

A borrower in a permanent HAMP modification that becomes unemployed is not eligible for an UP forbearance plan.

A borrower who was previously determined to be ineligible for a HAMP modification may request consideration for an UP forbearance plan if the borrower meets all of the eligibility requirements.

If the servicer is requiring a reduced monthly payment, the borrower’s reduced payment MUST be received by the servicer on or before the last day of the month in which it is due.

If the borrower fails to make timely payments, the UP forbearance plan may be canceled and the borrower is not eligible for HAMP consideration.

Reporting Requirements

To Credit Bureaus:

The servicer should continue to report a “full-file” credit report to each major credit repository.