Wednesday, 17 August 2011

What To Know About Mortgage Modification in 2011

By Mike Rockwood


When considering home loan modification programs nowadays, understand that they've generally come about because of general economic circumstances in the wider world. Many people are struggling to pay their home loans, in other words. But there are several programs that those holding a mortgage may be able to take advantage of, including modifying it so that a monthly payment that's lower will result.

Unfortunately, many people assume, wrongly, that loan modification programs just aren't available, either from their lender or because of their own particular circumstances. However, the federal government has entered the arena and begun a special program aimed at assisting those who want to stay in their homes do so. With a lower payment, though, many people are able to make their mortgage payments.

The first thing to understand when it comes to trying to obtain any modification of a home loan is that asking for such a modification is, in effect, asking the lender to adjust mortgage terms. Of course, these new terms need to be favorable so that a lower (sometimes significantly so) monthly payment is the end result. Usually, that means the lender will be writing off a portion of the loan.

It's the case that most lenders wouldn't normally be amenable to such an action but, with economic circumstances being the way they are, more are coming on board every day. They all understand that it's better to get at least a little of a home loan than to get nothing at all if it goes into foreclosure, in other words. And, with the government now involved, lenders are a bit more at ease in doing so.

As well, it should come as good news to know that almost all lenders also have their own private modification programs available should one of their mortgage holders not qualify for the government version. They're usually not as generous as government terms might be but they normally result in a lower monthly payment nonetheless. Check with the lender to see about rates in this instance.

It's always much smarter to contact a lender about a modification at the beginning, when financial hardship first begins to rear its ugly head, than at the end when the loan is so far gone and into default that there's almost nothing that can be done about it other than foreclosure. Taking care of the issue at the beginning might also result in more favorable new terms than waiting, for what it's worth.

Another thing to understand is that all modification programs, even the government's, require documentation of financial condition before any such program participation will be approved. Both government and private programs generally require some sort of hardship letter in which the reasons for why the modification is needed are laid out. Also; there needs to be enough income available to make payment.

Because of economic circumstances nowadays, there are several different ways to obtain a loan modification favorable enough to result in a lower monthly mortgage payment for most people. There must be sufficient income to meet the new monthly payment, and there also needs to be enough documentation proving real financial hardship in order to obtain one. Keep these things in mind before applying.




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