Home loan modifications, the bailout plan for homeowners
Right now the country is seeing record high foreclosure rates. People across the nation are literally walking away from their homes and letting them go back to the bank. The important thing to realize here is that the banks do not want the homes back. Banks are not in the real estate business, they are in the banking business. Why is this important? If you are in a situation where your mortgage payments are too high due to a financial difficulty, an adjustable rate mortgage, or other reason, there are programs available to re-negotiate the terms of your existing loan to allow for you to stay in your home and get back on top of your home loan.
Loan Modification, Loss Mitigation and Home Loan workout programs are some options to consider. If you enroll in any of the aforementioned programs, you should be cautious about the company you work with. Make sure they’re reputable! A good company can make the programs incredibly successful in offering you financial relief.
Take, for example, a borrower with a $400,000 mortgage loan at 8%, living in a home worth $340,000. Once the home has been foreclosed, the bank has to either re-list the home on the market or sell it at an auction. Re-listing or auctioning off the home could potentially add another $60,000 in losses for the bank.
Going off the example above, the bank will wind up losing at least $120,000. However, if the bank were to accept a modified loan and lowering the interest rate to a 30 year fixed term loan at 5.25%, the bank will net nearly $400,000 in future interest payments. It’s a definite win/win situation!
Homeowners can occasionally be successful at working out loan modifications on their own, however default rates with attorney-backed modifications are 5% or less. Self-help modifications are defaulting at over 50%. This is why banks prefer to work with attorneys.
The costs vary for this type of program but are usually fully refundable if the attorneys are not able to modify your home loan. The types of workout remedies that they are able to achieve are amazing. They range from interest rate reductions, lower monthly payments, extended payment terms, and loan principal reduction.
If you are having trouble making your current mortgage payments or are in an adjustable rate mortgage that has or is about to adjust, give us a call and get a free consultation to see what can be done for you. There is no charge unless we determine that we can help and you decide to get started. Give us a call at 1.888.282.1011 and ask about our home loan modification program.