Independent Foreclosure Review FAQs

 

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 Reviews of Foreclosure Cases Begin

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.

Fannie Mae Launches Distressed Borrower Education Site

 

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.

Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP)

 

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.

Bank of America NHRP Enhancements FAQs

 

Am I eligible for the National Homeownership Retention Program (NHRP)?

First, Bank of America (BOA) Home Loans will need to determine your financial situation and hardship. Once BOA has your current financial information, BOA will evaluate the your loan for all possible home retention options so that you can determine which option might be right for you.

You may be eligible for the enhancements to the NHRP if you meet the following program requirements:

• Have a Countrywide subprime mortgage, a Pay-Option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a prime two-year hybrid ARM
• Originated your loan on or prior to January 1, 2009
• Are 60 days or more delinquent or in imminent danger of default and the current loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is 75% or higher (The LTV ratio is the ratio between the unpaid principal amount of your loan and the appraised value of the homeowner’s home)
• Have a subprime hybrid ARM and are current but believe you will not be able to afford your mortgage payment in the near future as a consequence of a rate reset, and the LTV ratio at the time of the modification is 75% or higher
• Have a Pay Option ARM and are current but believe you will not be able to afford your mortgage payment in the near future as a consequence of a rate reset or payment recast, and the LTV ratio at the time of the modification is 75% or higher
• Have a property that is a 1-to-4 unit owner-occupied residential property
• For the earned forgiveness program, be 60 days or more delinquent and the current LTV ratio is 120% or higher
• For the negative amortization principal reduction program, be 60 days or more delinquent or be current but reasonably likely to become 60 days or more delinquent (i.e. facing imminent default) and the current LTV ratio is above 95%.

***Note: You may go online and fill out the Financial Worksheet to update BOA on your current financial situation. BOA will compare this information to all available home loan assistance programs***

Exactly what will BOA offer to eligible borrowers?

BOA Home Loans offers a range of modification solutions for customers facing financial hardship. The NHRP is one of the programs that BOA offer for customers with subprime loans, Pay-Option ARM loans or prime two-year hybrid loans who meet program requirements. Other programs, such as the Home Affordable Modification program (HAMP), are also available and designed to provide more affordable mortgage payments to customers facing financial hardship. Modifications will provide more affordable payments using a combination of the following:

• Reducing interest rate
• Providing a term extension
• Providing principal forgiveness or principal forbearance

Once the enhancements are launched, BOA Home Loans will both mail and call all eligible customers to collect the necessary information and determine if they qualify for the NHRP.

How do I know if I have a Subprime loan, Pay-Option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loan, or a two-year hybrid ARM?

If you are not sure what type of loan you have with BOA Home Loans, please call them at 800.669.6607 and they can provide you with that information.

***Note: Prior to calling, please print out the Call Information Sheet and take note of your account number and any questions you may have. You’ll be given a lot of information during your conversations. It’s a good idea to take notes for future reference***

How do I find out if I am eligible?

Click here to determine if you are eligible through the online questionnaire

How do I apply?

Please call BOA Home Loans Customer Service at 800.669.6607.

BOA Home Loans will also be contacting eligible customers to see if they are interested in applying for the program.

When will the program start or go into effect?

The program launched in 2008, and was enhanced in mid-May.

How will the NHRP use principal forgiveness to make my mortgage payment more affordable?

The NHRP looks at each customer’s situation and determines how they can provide you with an affordable mortgage payment. Depending on your situation, the NHRP may use principal forgiveness to do this. The NHRP may offer principal forbearance with an opportunity to earn principal forgiveness.

Principal forbearance provides temporary relief during a time of hardship. This means after demonstrating a hardship, BOA Home Loans will defer or postpone your mortgage payment for a period of time. For purposes of NHRP and the HAMP, BOA Home Loans offers interest-free forbearance to qualifying borrowers for the life of the loan. At the end of the loan term or at the time the loan is paid off through sale or refinancing, any remaining forborne amount must be paid by the borrower.

You may also qualify for earned principal forgiveness where a portion of the debt or loan amount is waived and you are no longer responsible to pay back that amount. However, you must remain in good standing on your payments or you will not receive forgiveness. The principal forgiveness occurs over 5 years. The amount of principal forgiveness that you can earn remains the same for the first 3 years. In the 4th and 5th years, the amount of forgiveness may be less, if an increase in the property value since the modification was made would result in your principal balance dropping below the current value of the property.

***Note: There may be tax implications. You may want to consult a tax professional regarding your individual tax situation***

I wanted principal forgiveness when I was reviewed for a modification and I didn’t get it. How do I get it now?

All BOA Home Loans modification solutions are designed to bring a loan payment to an affordable and reasonable amount that borrowers are able to sustain over time. If you have completed a loan modification or are currently in a trial period for a modification, your loan likely received a rate forgiveness and/or term extension in order to achieve an affordable and reasonable payment. Principal forgiveness is another tool to achieve this same result. In addition, under the federal government’s HAMP, you can only qualify for one modification, so if you are in a trial period plan or a permanent modification, you would not qualify for another modification.

However, BOA will consider the application of the principal reduction enhancements to potentially eligible trial and permanent modifications, and will notify eligible borrowers accordingly.

I am in my Trial Period and have not received my final modification yet. How do I get a principal forgiveness too?

If you are currently in a trial modification, a solution to bring your mortgage to an affordable and reasonable payment has been achieved and no additional tools (including principal forgiveness) would be necessary. BOA encourages you to continue making timely payments and to return all required, completed documents to ensure your trial will convert to a permanent modification, as you cannot be considered for another HAMP modification if you do not fulfill your trial modification requirements.

Two months ago this would have helped me but now my house is on the market for a short sale. How do I get a principal forgiveness and a modification now?

Even though you have started the short sale process, you can still be evaluated for a loan modification unless you have already been in a modification trial period or have received a permanent modification. If your financial situation has changed, BOA can collect your new financial information and reevaluate your loan for this program and other foreclosure prevention options. Please call BOA at 800.669.6607 to learn how to provide this new information.

This is something I asked for months ago, and now I am in foreclosure. What are you going to do for me now?

If your financial situation has changed since your loan was last evaluated for a modification, BOA can collect your new financial information and reevaluate the loan for this and other foreclosure prevention options.

What happens if I can’t qualify for a modification or a principal forgiveness?

Your loan will be considered for all modification programs available to you to help you achieve an affordable monthly mortgage payment. If you are not eligible for a loan modification, BOA can discuss other options.

What do I do if my state is not mentioned or included in this agreement?

Your state does not have to participate in the program for you to be eligible or considered for a modification. If you are a BOA Home Loans customer, BOA can discuss your situation and see if you qualify for NHRP or other modification options to assist you. Please call BOA Home Loans Customer Service at 800.669.6607.

I have a rental/vacation/investment property. Does that qualify?

No. This program is only for owner-occupied properties.

I have a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or second mortgage. Does the NHRP apply to that loan?

No, the NHRP does not cover HELOCs or second mortgages. If you have a HELOC or second mortgage with BOA Home Loans, BOA will review it when they review your first mortgage. If your HELOC or second mortgage is with another lender, you will need to discuss your options with that lender.

If your first lien is held by an investor other than BOA or one of its subsidiaries and you have a second lien on the property, BOA is unable to consider your first lien for modification under the new programs, but they will review your eligibility for another solution using HAMP or their proprietary modification programs.

Do I have to pay a fee to participate, or are there closing costs related to this program?

There are no fees assessed for participating in any modification program with BOA Home Loans.

What if I’m already in the foreclosure process?

You may still be reviewed for a modification. If you are eligible for one of BOA’s programs, your foreclosure sale may be placed on hold while BOA works to qualify you for the program and work through the modification process.  Please call BOA at 800.669.6607.

What if I’m current on my loan, but would like to be considered for this program?

Customers current on their loans may qualify for this program if they can demonstrate in good faith that they are reasonably likely to become 60 days or more delinquent as a result of a rate reset on a subprime loan or a Pay-Option ARM loan or prime two-year hybrid ARM, or a payment recast based on negative amortization on a Pay-Option ARM loan, and their LTV ratio is 75% or higher. You will be asked to provide financial documentation demonstrating financial hardship to qualify for the program. With respect to the recently announced principal reduction enhancements to the program, the negative amortization write-down solution is being offered to certain Pay Option ARM borrowers who are current on their payments but facing imminent default.

I’m current on my mortgage, but I owe more than my home is worth. Can I qualify for principal forgiveness?

If you are current on your loan, BOA will first evaluate you for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), which BOA is required to do under the government guidelines. If you do not qualify for a refinance, BOA will then evaluate your loan for the HAMP under Imminent Default if you have a financial hardship and will not be able to afford your current mortgage payment in the immediate future.

How long will BOA Home Loans offer this program?

BOA has expanded the program until December 31, 2012, six months longer than the original program date.

Bank of America Begins Implementation of NHRP Enhancements

 

 

Bank of America (BOA) has begun implementing the National Homeownership Retention Program (NHRP) enhancements, announced in late March 2010, to modify the mortgages of qualified homeowners who are experiencing financial hardship.

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What is the National Homeownership Retention Program (NHRP)?

NHRP, launched in October 2008, is a loan modification program that emerged from an agreement with several state attorneys general to provide assistance to former Countrywide borrowers with Sub-prime and Pay-Option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans.

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BOA found that many homeowners who owe considerably more than their home is worth are reluctant to accept a solution that does not address a reduction in the principal balance due. In BOA’s outreach to date, about 30% of underwater and delinquent customers who had not responded to offers of modifications without a principal reduction component did respond when offered a significant reduction in principal.

Expanding NHRP will enable BOA to more effectively help customers, especially those who are severely underwater. Enhancements to the mortgage modification program include:

• Earned Principal Forgiveness – A first look at principal forgiveness coupled with an innovative solution to help delinquent borrowers who owe more than 120% of their property’s current market value.
• Principal Reduction for Negative-Amortization Loans – Also a first look in the HAMP sequence of solutions for certain qualifying loans. On delinquent and imminent default Pay-Option ARM loans with negative amortization, Bank of America will lower the principal balance to the extent of the negative amortization incurred to as low as 95% loan-to-value (LTV).
• Program Expansions – Now covers prime two-year hybrid ARM loans and the entire program will be extended 6 months through the end of 2012. In addition, qualifying mortgages eligible for NHRP will be expanded to include those originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009. Eligible relocation payments will have a floor of $2,000 per loan, and this benefit will be extended to tenants as well as borrowers.

Earned Principal Forgiveness

For NHRP-qualifying mortgages with current loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 120% or higher, BOA will take a first look at offering an interest-free forbearance of principal that the homeowner can turn into forgiven principal annually over 5 years, provided the homeowner remains in good standing on payments.

This “earned principal forgiveness” can result up to a maximum 30% decrease in the principal balance, with forgiveness of principal in installments over 5 years to as low as 100% LTV.

If the forbearance is not enough to meet the HAMP payment target of 31% of the homeowner’s income, an interest rate reduction and other steps in the standard sequence of solutions will be employed.

For each of the first 5 years that the homeowner’s payment record remains in good standing, the borrower may earn forgiveness of up to one-fifth of the forborne principal amount. The amount is set at 20% in the first 3 years. In the 4th and 5th years, the amount of forgiveness will take into account any increase in the property value over the period of the modification such that the then-current LTV will not be reduced to below 100% through principal forgiveness – helping strike a critical balance between customer and investor interests.

Principal Reduction for Negative-Amortization Loans

BOA has begun offering two other affordable and sustainable payment solutions on certain Pay-Option ARMs.

• If the principal balance on the loan has grown because the borrower selected an option to make payments that did not cover the interest due and this payment difference was added to principal – known as negative amortization – the bank will consider offering a HAMP modification eliminating the negative amortization feature and forgiving all or part of the negative amortization amount to reduce the principal to as low as 95% LTV.
• If a pending recast of a Pay-Option ARM will increase the customer’s monthly payments, a preemptive modification that eliminates the negative amortization feature of the mortgage and converts it to a fully amortizing market rate loan may be offered.

With implementation of these enhancements, BOA will make principal reduction the initial consideration toward reaching the HAMP’s target for an affordable payment equal to 31% of household income when modifying qualifying Sub-prime, Pay-Option ARM and Prime 2-year hybrid ARM loans that are also eligible for NHRP. An interest rate reduction and other steps would then be considered, if additional savings are necessary to reach the targeted payment.

Fannie Mae Relaxes Waiting Period for Buying a New Home After a Short Sale

 

In Announcement SEL-2010-05, Fannie Mae updated several policies regarding the future eligibility of borrowers to obtain a new mortgage loan after experiencing a preforeclosure event (preforeclosure sale, short sale, or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure).

The “waiting period” – the amount of time that must elapse after the preforeclosure event – is changing and may be dependent on the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for the transaction and whether extenuating circumstances contributed to the borrower’s financial hardship (for example, loss of employment). In addition, Fannie Mae is updating the requirements for determining that borrowers have re-established their credit after a significant derogatory credit event.

***Note:  The terms “short sale” and “preforeclosure sale” both referenced in the Announcement have the same meaning – the sale of a property in lieu of a foreclosure, resulting in a payoff of less than the total amount owed, which was pre-approved by the servicer.***

Waiting Period After a Preforeclosure Sale, Short Sale, or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure

Fannie Mae is changing the required waiting period for a borrower to be eligible for a mortgage loan after a preforeclosure event. The waiting period commences on the completion date of the preforeclosure event, and may vary based on the maximum allowable LTV ratios.

Preforeclosure Event	Current Waiting Period Requirements	New Waiting Period Requirements(1)
Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure	4 years	2 years – 80% maximum LTV ratios,  4 years – 90% maximum LTV ratios,  7 years – LTV ratios per the Eligibility Matrix
Short Sale	2 years

 

Exceptions to Waiting Period for Extenuating Circumstances
Preforeclosure Event	Current Waiting Period Requirements	New Waiting Period Requirements (1)
Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure	2 years      Additional requirements apply after 2 years up to 7 years	2 years – 90% maximum LTV ratios
Short Sale	No exceptions are permitted to the 2-year waiting period

 ⁽¹⁾ The maximum LTV ratios permitted are the lesser of the LTV ratios in this table or the maximum LTV ratios for the transaction per the Eligibility Matrix.

Bankruptcies

The multiple bankruptcy policy is being clarified to state that 2 or more borrowers with individual bankruptcies are not cumulative. For example, if the borrower has one bankruptcy and the co-borrower has one bankruptcy, this is not considered a multiple bankruptcy. The current waiting periods for bankruptcies remain unchanged.

Effective Date

This policy is effective for beginning July 1, 2010.

Requirements for Re-Establishing Credit

The requirements for borrowers to re-establish their credit after a significant derogatory event are also being updated. Fannie Mae is replacing the requirements related to the number of credit references and applicable payment histories with the waiting periods and other criteria.

After a bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or preforeclosure or short sale, the borrower’s credit will be considered re-established if all of the following are met:

• The waiting period and the related requirements are met.
• The loan meets the minimum credit score requirements based on the parameters of the loan and the established eligibility requirements.

The “Catch”?

Now to qualify after that 2 year period, the new regulations state that a minimum 20% down payment will be required; 10% for a down payment, the wait will revert to the 4 year minimum; less than 10% for a down payment, the wait could be even longer — UNLESS there are “extenuating circumstances” such as job loss, health problems, divorce, etc…

But doesn’t pretty much any short sale by default involve “extenuating circumstances”? Just show them the hardship letter you submitted with your short sale docs. Case closed.

Why This Matters?

So why does this matter, and how should you, as distressed homeowners, USE this information?

Well for starters, if you couple this with the Obama administration’s new short sale assistance program (where mortgage servicing companies are paid $1,000 to handle successful short sales and mortgage holders get $1,500 for signing over their property), you’ve now got more compelling reasons than ever to pursue a short sale rather than just throwing up your hands and “letting things go”.

Bank of America’s Mortgage Modification Lottery

 

Bank of America (BOA) announced last week that it would begin cutting loan balances for distressed mortgage borrowers, and in the process created a lottery – if you’re lucky enough to be in its portfolio and smart enough not to pay your mortgage, you win.

Until now, big lenders and servicers, such as BOA, have only given principal reductions to a microscopic number of borrowers — and only then as a last resort.

But they’re now having to play catch up to a new kind of mortgage servicer — a so-called “specialty servicer” — that is seeing success in avoiding foreclosures.

They handle the worst-of-the-worst, loans at least 90 days late, and one of the tactics they have used is offering principle reductions.

Of course, few mortgages end up in the hands of these speciality servicers, and whether yours lands with one is really just the luck of the draw. But now BoA is taking the practice mainstream, and not surprisingly more loans are going 90 days late.

What are Servicers?

Unlike the person who owns your mortgage, either the bank (rarely) or a group of investors (more common), mortgage servicers are the companies that handle the day-to-day administration of mortgages. They collect payments, maintain escrow accounts and confront borrowers about late payments. They also initiate the foreclosure process when borrowers default.

Most servicer operations were set up in better times, when nearly everyone paid their loans regularly. But when the foreclosure crisis hit, they had to scramble to keep up with the added workload of managing non-performing (bad) loans.

As a result, dozens of specialty services have sprung up to take on these difficult jobs. They mostly deal with loans 3 payments or more late, which is about 5% of all mortgages, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

“Some lenders are so large they can’t handle delinquencies efficiently,” said Rick Smith, CEO of Marix, a specialty servicer. “They’re reaching out to [firms] that specialize in non-performing  (bad) loans.”

Plus, he added, companies don’t want to staff up for what is hopefully a temporary problem. “If you hire 500 people to handle it and then the economy improves, then you’re overstaffed by 500,” Smith said. 

When can they cut the principal?

Sometimes investors purchase whole portfolios of bad loans. These hedge funds and other groups don’t service the loans themselves and their chief aim is to get the mortgages to pay off again. So they hire one of the specialty servicing firms and give them a lot of leeway to get the loans back on track.

One of their main solutions is cutting the principal balance so that homeowners no longer owe more than their houses are worth.

“Our clients would rather do a principal-reduction than an interest-reduction workout,” said Gagan Sharma, CEO of BSI Financial. “Many bought the loans at discount so they’re happy to pass the savings down to consumers.”

This encourages people to keep paying loans rather than walking away. If property values increase, the owners can turn a profit when they sell.

Conventional servicers have been loathe to cut principal because the investors who actually own the loans don’t want to accept immediate losses and lenders don’t want to encourage more people to press for reductions.

In fact, less than 2% of trial loan modifications under President Obama’s foreclosure-prevention plan, Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), have cut the balance owned.

Loan Balance cut in half

It doesn’t always work out so smoothly, however, because borrowers are hesitant to return phone calls or answer letters; sometimes they think the servicers are a scam.

“We have a hard time getting people to respond,” said Vicki Lester, president of Mortgage Servicing at RoundPoint. “Borrowers are still in denial.”

To get to people they start with a call campaign and then they mail out welcome letters and information packets. “Where all else fails, we send out people to knock on doors,” Lester said.

So, the servicers remind, if you’re lucky enough to win the modification lottery, please answer the phone. Talking to someone could mean cutting your loan balance and saving your home.

Making money on a short sale?

Not every home can be saved and specialty servicers employ strategies other than principal reduction. For example, short sales — often with a twist.

Some specialty servicers have a short-sale program in which it pays borrowers a percentage of any price they sell the house for over a “quick sale value.”

For example, if they determine that a normal market value for a house is $200,000 but to sell it quickly the price would have to be $180,000, they give the borrower 3 months to sell the house for whatever he or she can get.

The servicers share with the borrowers anything over the quick sale price. Borrowers may keep 30%, even 40%, of the overage.

Summary

Now that BoA has made the practice widely known, we can expect a lot more lottery winners. So it seems that BOA is implying that if you don’t like the terms of your mortgage,  just stop paying!

FAQs for Fannie Mae’s Alternative HAMP Modification

 What is Fannie Mae’s Alternative Modification™ (Alt Mod™)?

The Alt Mod is an alternative to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) modification for those borrowers who were eligible for and accepted into a HAMP trial period plan but were subsequently not offered a HAMP permanent modification because of eligibility restrictions.

Are servicers required to offer the Alt Mod?

Yes, for mortgage loans in active HAMP trials initiated prior to March 1, 2010, all Fannie Mae-approved servicers must consider the Alt Mod prior to the initiation of foreclosure for all eligible borrowers who were not offered a permanent HAMP modification after making all required payments under a HAMP trial period plan. All borrowers must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

What are the benefits of an Alt Mod?

An Alt Mod offers you a permanent long-term solution to make your mortgage more affordable.

If I didn’t qualify for a permanent modification under HAMP, will I qualify for an Alt Mod?

The requirements for an Alt Mod have been designed specifically to assist borrowers, who were unable to qualify for a permanent modification through HAMP. If borrowers made their HAMP Trial Period Plan payments and have completed the HAMP Trial Period Plan, borrowers are likely a candidate for an Alt Mod. Once the servicer has the borrower’s required information, the servicer will review to see if the borrowers are eligible.

How do I qualify for Alt Mod/What do I need to do to get approved?

To begin the qualification process, review the Alt Mod Loan Modification Agreement and the Hardship Affidavit and return back to the servicer by the specified date.

Why do I need to sign another Loan Modification Agreement…I already did this for HAMP?

Alt Mod is a new loan modification option offered by Fannie Mae (the owner of your loan). It is not a part of the government’s loan modification program, HAMP. The Alt Mod was created for borrowers who were not approved for HAMP. The borrowers’ terms and payment amount should be the same as that of HAMP. All eligible borrowers who want to accept the terms of an Alt Mod, must read, agree, and sign a new Loan Modification Agreement. 

I am currently paying the trial period payment that was specified under HAMP. Do I keep paying this same amount? Will my payment change if I get an Alternative Modification?

Yes, keep paying the same payment amount you were paying during the HAMP Trial Period. If you are eligible for an Alternative Modification, your payment should stay the same. The Alt Mod Loan Modification Agreement will specify your payment amount and when your payments are due.

When are my payments due?

If you are eligible for an Alternative Modification, you will sign an Alt Mod Loan Modification Agreement which specifies your payment amount and the day each month that your payment is due.

Is there a trial period I have to complete?

No. There is no trial period for Alt Mod. If you are eligible for an Alt Mod, once approved and the Loan Modification Agreement completed, your loan will be permanently modified.

Will I still receive the incentive compensation offered through the HAMP program?

No. An Alt Mod does not offer an incentive compensation for borrowers. The borrower incentive compensation is only available to borrowers who were eligible/qualified for a permanent modification under HAMP.

Is the Alt Mod a temporary servicing policy change?

Yes, Alt Mod cases must be submitted through the HomeSaver Solutions® Network (HSSN) prior to the final date of the program offering, August 31, 2010.

Which Fannie Mae loans are eligible for an Alt Mod?

All conventional mortgage loans held in Fannie Mae’s portfolio and mortgage loans that are part of an MBS pool that has the special servicing option or a shared-risk MBS pool for which Fannie Mae markets the acquired property.

Who qualifies are an Alt Mod?

To be eligible for the Alt Mod:

• The loan must have been evaluated and considered eligible for HAMP
• The HAMP trial period must have been initiated prior to March 1, 2010
• The loan must be secured by a 1- 4 unit owner-occupied property
• The borrower must have made all required payments in accordance with a HAMP trial period plan, including subsequent payments that may have been due while the servicer attempted to convert the trial period to a permanent modification
• Any subsequent trial period payment(s) due from the borrower must be submitted prior to executing a permanent modification agreement

Additionally, one of the following is required for Alt Mod eligibility:

• The monthly mortgage payment ratio based on verified income was less than 31%
• The target monthly mortgage payment ratio of 31% based on verified income could not be reached using the standard HAMP modification waterfall
• The borrower failed to provide all income documentation required for a HAMP modification but meets the streamlined income documentation requirements for the Alt Mod as described below

 What are the underwriting guidelines for an Alt Mod?

A servicer must have a property valuation as required for HAMP in Announcement 09-05R. The servicer must use that valuation to underwrite the Alt Mod.

For loans with a current mark-to-market loan-to-value (LTV) of 80% or greater (LTV ratio based upon the HAMP valuation), the payment calculated for HAMP using the standard modification waterfall should be used for the Alt Mod, and verification of income documentation (as described below) is not necessary.

For loans with a current mark-to-market LTV ratio of less than 80%, the payment calculated for HAMP using the standard modification waterfall should be used for the Alt Mod and income verification is required (as described below). However, the Alt Mod mortgage payment may not be reduced below 20% of the borrower’s verified monthly gross income.

• If the borrower did not qualify for a HAMP modification because the borrower failed to provide all required income documentation but the income documentation meets the streamlined income documentation requirements for the Alt Mod, the servicer may use the payment previously calculated for the HAMP trial period for the Alt Mod provided that the payment meets the criteria outlined above.
• If, after applying the modification waterfall steps based on verified income documentation, the borrower’s monthly mortgage payment cannot be reduced without going below a 20% monthly mortgage payment ratio, the servicer may not perform the modification without the express written consent of Fannie Mae. A principal write-down or principal forgiveness is prohibited on Fannie Mae mortgage loans.

What are the Alt Mod income verification requirements for loans with current mark-to-market LTV ratios less than 80%?

A servicer may use the verified income documentation required under HAMP to calculate the payment for the Alt Mod. If the borrower is ineligible for a HAMP modification because of failure to provide the required income documentation, the servicer may rely upon the following streamlined documentation requirements for the Alt Mod.

If the borrower is employed: A copy of the most recent paystub indicating year-to-date earnings or if year-to-date earnings are not available, copies of paystubs for the last two months.

If the borrower elects to use other earned income such as bonus, commission, fee, housing allowance, tips, overtime: Reliable third party documentation describing the nature of the income (for example, an employment contract or printouts documenting tip income).

If the borrower is self-employed: A signed copy of the most recent federal income tax return, including all schedules and forms, if available, or signed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Request for Transcript of Tax Return (Form 4506-T); and copies of bank statements for the business account for the last two months to document continuation of business activity.

If the borrower elects to use alimony or child support income to qualify, acceptable documentation includes: Photocopies of the divorce decree, separation agreement or other type of legal written agreement or court decree that provides for the payment of alimony or child support and states the amount of the award and the period of time over which it will be received; and documents supplying reasonably reliable evidence of full, regular, and timely payments, such as bank deposit slips or bank statements for the last two months.

If the borrower has other income such as Social Security, disability or death benefits, a pension, public assistance or adoption assistance: Acceptable documentation includes letters, exhibits, a disability policy or benefits statement from the provider that states the amount, frequency and duration of the benefit; and the servicer must obtain copies of the most recent bank statement showing these deposits.

If the borrower receives unemployment: Acceptable documentation includes letters, exhibits or a benefits statement from the provider that states the amount, frequency, and duration of the benefit. The servicer must have determined that the income will continue for at least 9 months from the date of the HAMP eligibility determination.

If the borrower has rental income, acceptable documentation includes: Copies of all pages from the borrower’s signed federal income tax return and Schedule E – Supplemental Income and Loss, for the most recent tax year.

• When Schedule E is not available because the property was not previously rented, servicers may accept a current lease agreement and bank statements or cancelled rent checks.
• If the borrower has rental income from a 1 – 4 unit property that is also the borrower’s principal residence, the monthly net rental income to be calculated for HAMP purposes must equal 75% of the gross rent, with the remaining 25% being considered vacancy loss and maintenance expense.
• If the borrower has rental income from a property that is other than the borrower’s primary residence, the income should be 75% of the monthly gross rental income, reduced by the monthly debt service on the property (i.e., principal, interest, taxes, insurance, including mortgage insurance and association fees, if applicable

Income documentation previously obtained during the HAMP evaluation may be relied upon for the purposes of verifying income for the Alt Mod. All other income documentation must not be more than 90 days old from the date of the Alt Mod evaluation.

Is a hardship affidavit required for Alt Mod?

Yes, in all cases a signed hardship affidavit is required. For borrowers that did not provide one under HAMP, a hardship affidavit may be included in the Alt Mod offer package for signature along with the Loan Modification Agreement (Form 3179).

How should servicers treat loans with mortgage insurance?

Fannie Mae is seeking blanket delegations of authority from mortgage insurers so that servicers can more efficiently process Alt Mods without having to obtain mortgage insurer approval on individual loans. Servicers must obtain approval on a case-by-case basis from mortgage insurers that have not provided delegated authority agreements.

Servicers must include the mortgage insurance premium in the borrower’s modified payment and must ensure that any existing mortgage insurance is maintained. Servicers must maintain their mortgage insurance processes and comply with all reporting required by the mortgage insurer for Alt Mod loans.

What are the escrow requirements for Alt Mod?

All of the borrower’s trial period payments under HAMP as well as the payments due under the Alt Mod must include a monthly escrow amount unless prohibited by applicable law.

What are the messaging requirements for the Alt Mod offer from servicers to borrowers?

• Clearly indicate that, while the Alt Mod contains the same payment terms as the HAMP modification, the borrower did not meet the requirements of HAMP and as a result, the Alt Mod does not include borrower incentive payments that are otherwise payable under HAMP
• Provide the borrower with a simplified Summary of the Loan Modification Agreement
• Inform the borrower that, in the event of re-default, the servicer will pursue liquidation options
• Remind the borrower of the consequences of material misstatements when submitting documentation in connection with a request for a loan modification

What are the timing expectations for Alt Mod offers?

For qualified borrowers who are already identified as ineligible for a permanent HAMP Modification, Alt Mod offers should be sent no later than 30 days from the date of Lender Letter LL-2010-04. Going forward, for other borrowers who:  1) entered into a trial period plan prior to March 1, 2010, 2) fail to qualify for a permanent HAMP modification, and 3) are determined to be eligible for Alt Mod, offers should be sent within 10 days of completion of the trial periods and expiration of the 30-day HAMP Borrower Notice. All Alt Mod offers should also include an expiration date of 30 days from the date of the offer

For borrowers who do not respond to the Alt Mod offer, servicers must conduct follow-up:

• Between the fifth and the 15th days after the offer is mailed, servicers must attempt at least 3 phone calls.
• On the 15th day after the offer is mailed, servicers must mail a follow-up letter by either mail or a direct contact, door-knocking campaign.
• Between the 15th and 30th day, after the offer is mailed, servicers must attempt to contact the borrower a minimum of 3 additional times regarding the offer by either phone calls and/or use of field servicers (door knockers).

What are the incentive fees for Alt Mod?

A servicer will receive compensation of $800 for each completed modification. Incentive fee payments on eligible mortgage loans will be sent to servicers upon receipt of a closed case entered into HSSN. Servicers need not submit requests for payment of modification incentive fees. Modification incentive fees on eligible mortgages will be sent to servicers on a monthly basis.

Unlike HAMP, there are no borrower incentive payments available with Alt Mod.

How should servicers handle a borrower who re-defaults after receiving an Alt Mod?

If a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent on the Alt Mod within the first 12 months after the effective date of the modification, then the servicer must immediately pursue either a pre-foreclosure sale (short sale), deed-in-lieu (DIL) of foreclosure or commence foreclosure proceedings in accordance with applicable state law. Should a servicer determine that another modification is appropriate for the borrower; the servicer must submit the loan information as a non-delegated case into HSSN for Fannie Mae’s prior approval.

Fannie Mae Introduces Alternative HAMP Modification

In Lender Letter LL-2010-04, Fannie Mae introduces the Alternative Modification™ (Alt Mod™),  an alternative to the HAMP modification for those borrowers who were eligible for and accepted into a HAMP trial period plan but were subsequently not offered a HAMP permanent modification because of eligibility restrictions.

For mortgage loans in active HAMP trial period plans initiated prior to March 1, 2010, all Fannie Mae-approved servicers must consider the Alt Mod prior to the initiation of foreclosure for all eligible borrowers who were not offered a permanent HAMP modification after making payments under a HAMP trial period plan. All borrowers must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

A borrower that entered into a trial period plan prior to March 1, 2010 will be considered eligible for the Alt Mod as long as the case is submitted through the HomeSaver Solutions® Network (HSSN) prior to the final date of the program offering, August 31, 2010.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Alt Mod, the mortgage loan must first have been evaluated and considered eligible for HAMP as described in Announcement 09-05R,  including confirmation that the mortgage loan is secured by a 1 – 4 unit owner-occupied property. The HAMP trial period must have been initiated prior to March 1, 2010. The borrower must have made all required payments in accordance with a HAMP trial period plan, including subsequent payments that may have been due while the servicer attempted to convert the trial period to a permanent modification. Any subsequent trial period payment(s) due from the borrower must be submitted prior to executing a permanent modification agreement.

The Alt Mod may be considered if:

• the monthly mortgage payment ratio based on verified income was less than 31%,
• the target monthly mortgage payment ratio of 31% based on verified income could not be reached using the standard HAMP modification waterfall, or
• the borrower failed to provide all income documentation required for a HAMP modification but the income documentation meets the streamlined income documentation for the Alt Mod (described in the Underwriting section below).

When a borrower is considered eligible for the Alt Mod, the servicer must:

• document the borrower’s file to evidence compliance with the requirements for resolving active trial modifications in accordance with Announcement SVC-2010-03,
• cancel the HAMP modification in HSSN and the Treasury Department’s system of record, and
• send the borrower the appropriate Borrower Notice as outlined in Announcement 09-36. The servicer must include the Alt Mod offer and Loan Modification Agreement (Form 3179) with the HAMP Borrower Notice when possible.

The Alt Mod offer must clearly indicate that, while the Alt Mod contains the same payment terms as the HAMP modification, the borrower did not meet the requirements of HAMP and as a result, the Alt Mod does not include borrower incentive payments that are otherwise payable under HAMP.

Before any permanent modification can become effective, the servicer must:

• provide the borrower with a simplified summary of the Loan Modification Agreement (Instructions for Form 3179),
• inform the borrower that in the event of re-default the servicer will pursue liquidation options, and
• remind the borrower of the consequences of material misstatements when submitting documentation in connection with a request for a modification.

Timing of Borrower Solicitation & Follow-Up

For qualified borrowers who are already identified as ineligible for a permanent HAMP modification, Alt Mod offers should be sent no later than 30 days from the date of this Lender Letter.

Going forward, for other borrowers who entered into a trial period plan prior to March 1, 2010 and failed to qualify for a permanent HAMP modification, but are determined to be eligible for Alt Mod, offers should be sent within 10 days of completion of the HAMP trial period and expiration of the 30-day HAMP Borrower Notice. All Alt Mod offers should also include an expiration date of 30 days from the date of the offer.

For borrowers who do not respond after the Alt Mod offer has been sent, servicers must conduct follow-up:

• between the 5th and the 15th day after the offer is mailed, servicers must attempt at least 3 phone calls;
• on the 15th day after the offer is mailed, servicers must deliver a follow-up letter, by either mail or a direct contact, door-knocking campaign; and
• between the 15th and 30th day after the offer is mailed, servicers must attempt to contact the borrower a minimum of three additional times by either phone calls or the use of field services (door knockers).

Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in forfeiture of incentive payments to the servicer.

Underwriting

A servicer must have obtained a property valuation as required under the HAMP modification as described in Announcement 09-05R. The servicer must use that valuation to underwrite the Alt Mod.

Mark-to-Market LTV 80 Percent or Greater

If the current mark-to-market loan-to-value (LTV) ratio (current LTV based upon the new valuation) is 80% or greater, the payment calculated for HAMP using the standard modification waterfall should be utilized for the Alt Mod and verification of income documentation as described below is not necessary.

Mark-to-Market LTV Less than 80%

When the current mark-to-market LTV ratio is less than 80%, the payment calculated for HAMP using the standard modification waterfall should be utilized for the Alt Mod, and income verification is required (as described in the Streamlined Income Documentation section below). However, the Alt Mod mortgage payment may not be reduced below 20% of the borrower’s verified monthly gross income.

• If the borrower did not qualify for a HAMP modification because the borrower failed to provide all required income documentation but the income documentation meets the streamlined income documentation requirements for the Alt Mod, the servicer may use the payment previously calculated for the HAMP trial period for the Alt Mod provided that the payment meets the criteria outlined above.

If, after applying the modification waterfall steps based on verified income documentation, the borrower’s monthly mortgage payment cannot be reduced without going below a 20% monthly mortgage payment ratio, the servicer may not perform the modification without the express written consent of Fannie Mae. A principal write-down or principal forgiveness is prohibited on Fannie Mae mortgage loans.

Streamlined Income Documentation

A servicer may use the verified income documentation required under HAMP to calculate the payment for the Alt Mod. If the borrower is ineligible for a HAMP modification because of failure to provide the required income documentation, the servicer may rely upon the following streamlined documentation requirements for the Alt Mod.

If the borrower is employed:

• a copy of the most recent paystub indicating year-to-date earnings or, if year-to-date earnings are not available, copies of paystubs for the last two months.

If the borrower elects to use other earned income such as bonus, commission, fee, housing allowance, tips, overtime:

• reliable third party documentation describing the nature of the income (for example, an employment contract or printouts documenting tip income).

If the borrower is self-employed:

• a signed copy of the most recent federal income tax return, including all schedules and forms, if available, or signed Internal Revenue Service Request for Transcript of Tax Return (Form 4506-T); and
• copies of bank statements for the business account for the last two months to document continuation of business activity.

If the borrower elects to use alimony or child support income to qualify, acceptable documentation includes:

• photocopies of the divorce decree, separation agreement or other type of legal written agreement or court decree that provides for the payment of alimony or child support and states the amount of the award and the period of time over which it will be received; and
• documents supplying reasonably reliable evidence of full, regular, and timely payments, such as bank deposit slips or bank statements for the last two months.

If the borrower has other income such as Social Security, disability or death benefits, a pension, public assistance or adoption assistance:

• acceptable documentation includes letters, exhibits, a disability policy or benefits statement from the provider that states the amount, frequency and duration of the benefit; and
• the servicer must obtain copies of the most recent bank statement showing these deposits.

If the borrower receives unemployment:

• acceptable documentation includes letters, exhibits or a benefits statement from the provider that states the amount, frequency, and duration of the benefit. The servicer must have determined that the income will continue for at least nine months from the date of the HAMP eligibility determination.

If the borrower has rental income, acceptable documentation includes:

• copies of all pages from the borrower’s signed federal income tax return and Schedule E – Supplemental Income and Loss, for the most recent tax year.
• When Schedule E is not available because the property was not previously rented, servicers may accept a current lease agreement and bank statements or canceled rent checks.
• If the borrower has rental income from a one- to four-unit property that is also the borrower’s principal residence, the monthly net rental income to be calculated for HAMP purposes must equal 75% of the gross rent, with the remaining 25% being considered vacancy loss and maintenance expense.
• If the borrower has rental income from a property that is other than the borrower’s primary residence, the income should be 75% of the monthly gross rental income, reduced by the monthly debt service on the property (i.e., principal, interest, taxes, insurance, including mortgage insurance and association fees, if applicable).

Income documentation previously obtained during the HAMP evaluation may be relied upon for the purposes of verifying income for the Alt Mod. All other income documentation must not be more than 90 days old from the date of the Alt Mod evaluation.

Executing the Modification Agreement

The servicer must prepare a Loan Modification Agreement to document the agreed-upon terms of the modification. Servicers must revise the Loan Modification Agreement by amending the existing paragraph No. 5 (d) in such agreement to reflect that the borrower will not be charged for administrative and processing costs as described in the Administrative Costs section below.

Unless a borrower or co-borrower is deceased or a borrower and co-borrower are divorced, all parties who signed the original note or security instrument, or their duly authorized representative(s), must provide income documentation and execute the modification agreement. If a borrower and a co-borrower are divorced and the property has been transferred to one borrower in the divorce decree, the borrower who no longer has an interest in the property is not required to execute the modification agreement. In cases where a borrower and co-borrower are unmarried and either the borrower or co-borrower relinquish all rights to the property securing the mortgage loan through a recorded quitclaim deed or other document sufficient under applicable state law to transfer title, the non-occupying borrower who has relinquished property rights is not required to provide income documentation or sign the modification agreement.

Servicers are reminded that modification agreements must be signed by an authorized representative of the servicer and must reflect the actual date of signature by the servicer’s representative.

Recording the Modification

For all mortgage loans that are modified pursuant to an Alt Mod, the servicer must ensure that the modified mortgage loan retains its first lien position and is fully enforceable. The modification agreement must be executed by the borrower(s) and, in the following circumstances, must be in recordable form:

• if state or local law requires a modification agreement be recorded to be enforceable;
• if the property is located in the state of New York or Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
• if the amount capitalized is greater than $50,000 (aggregate capitalized amount of all modifications of the mortgage loan completed under Fannie Mae’s mortgage modification alternatives);
• if the final interest rate on the modified mortgage loan is greater than the pre-modified interest rate in effect on the mortgage loan;
• if the remaining term on the mortgage loan is less than or equal to ten years and the servicer is extending the term of the mortgage loan more than ten years beyond the original maturity date; or
• if the servicer’s practice for modifying mortgage loans in the servicer’s portfolio is to create modification agreements in recordable form.

In addition, to retain the first lien position, servicers must:

• Ensure all real estate taxes and assessments that could become a first lien are current especially those for manufactured homes taxed as personal property, personal property taxes, condominium/HOA fees, utility assessments (such as water bills), ground rent and other assessments.
• Obtain a title endorsement or similar title insurance product issued by a title insurance company if
• the amount capitalized is greater than $50,000 (aggregate capitalized amount of all modifications of the mortgage loan completed under Fannie Mae’s mortgage modification alternatives), or
• the final interest rate on the modified mortgage loan is greater than the pre-modified interest rate in effect on the mortgage loan.

Record the executed modification agreement if:

• state or local law requires the modification agreement be recorded to be enforceable,
• the property is located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio,
• the amount capitalized is greater than $50,000 (aggregate capitalized amount of all modifications of the mortgage loan completed under our modification alternatives),
• the remaining term on the mortgage loan is less than or equal to ten years and the servicer is extending the term of the mortgage loan more than ten years beyond the original maturity date, or
• the final interest rate on the modified mortgage loan is greater than the pre-modified interest rate in effect on the mortgage loan.

Redefault

If a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent on the Alt Mod within the first 12 months after the effective date of the modification, then the servicer must immediately work with the borrower to pursue either a preforeclosure sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or commence foreclosure proceedings, in accordance with applicable state law. Should a servicer determine that another modification is appropriate for the borrower; the servicer must submit the loan information as a non-delegated case into HSSN for Fannie Mae’s prior approval.

Late Fees

All late charges, penalties, stop payment fees or similar fees must be waived upon conversion to an Alt Mod.

Administrative Costs

Servicers may not charge the borrower to cover the administrative processing costs incurred in connection with an Alt Mod. The servicer must pay any actual out-of-pocket expenses such as any required notary fees, recordation fees, title costs, property valuation fees, or other allowable and documented expenses. Fannie Mae will reimburse the servicer for allowable out-of-pocket expenses, with the exception of credit report fees, which will not be reimbursed.

Servicer Incentive Compensation

A servicer will receive compensation of $800 for each completed modification. Incentive fee payments on eligible mortgage loans will be sent to servicers upon receipt of a closed case entered into the HSSN. Fannie Mae will review eligibility for the modification incentive fee and make the final determination based on information provided by the servicer; therefore, servicers need not submit requests for payment of modification incentive fees. Modification incentive fees on eligible mortgages will be sent to servicers on a monthly basis.