Friday, September 18, 2009

Loan Modification - Help For Homeowners in Financial Hardship

Author: Suzan Smith

Loan modifications are nothing new; they have been around as an option for homeowners who are in trouble on their mortgage. They have become more available since President Obama passed the Making Home Affordable Plan. The approval process has become easier, so you really should find out if you qualify.

If you are struggling with your house payments or even in default, don't delay. Be proactive and consider your situation while you still have available options to consider. There are nonprofit agencies that can help you with counseling concerning your mortgage situation. There are free services available through any HUD-approved organization. This is the Housing and Urban Development branch of the federal government. Recently, many businesses have sprung up that claim to help people obtain a loan modification, since more and more people are seeking assistance. Using free or fee-based services to obtain your mortgage assistance have some positives and negatives associated with them. Some of these services include legal advice and assistance, and if you have the option, use one of these. You may require some legal help in acquiring a loan modification.

If you are paying for help with your loan process, be very, very careful. There are businesses who are preying on people that are desperate for a solution to keep their home. They are vulnerable, and these opportunists are taking advantage of them. Be sure you check out the company thoroughly, and always run checks with the Better Business Bureau. Begin with talking with a mortgage counselor. They will begin by examining your financial documents, and evaluating your present circumstances. Your options will be presented, and they will show you the best alternatives available to you.

If a loan modification is a good option for you, the counselor can help you with writing a loan modification hardship letter that is a required part of your application process. This letter details to the bank why you need a loan modification and what has caused your present financial distress. Some acceptable reasons are: divorce, illness, unemployment, death of a spouse, or other events beyond your control. You will need to be truthful and to-the-point. Your counselor will assist you, and help you attach the correct documentation that the lender needs. They will function as an advocate and a intermediary on your behalf with the lender throughout this application process. If you are in a mortgage that is stressing you every month or are already in default, you should immediately consider the feasibility of a loan modification.

To save your home, click here to learn more about Obama's home stimulus package.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzan_Smith.

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Loan Modification Hardship Letter - The Best Chance For Approval

Author: Tim C. Wood

Are you a homeowner who is struggling with the burden of an overwhelming house payment? If you want to obtain a loan modification, you will have to write a loan modification hardship letter. This is a major part of your application package in which you convince them you qualify for this reworked mortgage plan.

You should include three specific elements in your hardship letter. Using these three ideas as a framework, you can keep your thoughts organized and coherent. You need to be sure you have included everything the bank needs to know in order to understand your situation. You want to create a picture that they feel is deserving of their help.

First, you need to explain your financial hardship in a clear manner. You need to detail why your income has decreased or why your expenses have increased. This could involve job loss, medical bills, or adjustable interest loans that have escalated unreasonably.

Another area you need to discuss is the actual beginning of the financial problems. When did you actually begin to be late or defaulted with payments, and exactly what precipitated this.

You need to discuss what measures you have taken in order to improve the situation. You need to show your current income, projected income, and how you have trimmed your budget in order to have a more stable financial future. How will you make your new modified payment?

You present your case to your lender through a loan modification hardship letter. This could be your only window of opportunity to get your side across. Be sure you stress how much it means to you to keep your family in your home and community. Be careful and thoughtful in the writing of your letter, even if it is a short one. Include each of these areas of information, and you will increase your chances of success. Of course, it is important to note that not everyone will qualify; there are other criteria that the bank will examine.

For more information about the home stimulus package, check out: http://FirstTimeHomeBuyerStimulus.org/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_C._Wood.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Hardship Letter Example : Key Points You Should Know Before Beginning Your Application

The main part of any type of loan modification is the hardship letter. The financial institution will want one from you before starting the approval process on it. The financial hardship letter is a detailed accounting of the events that led up to you not being able to keep up with your monthly payments. This will also aid in stopping the foreclosure process, if they have started it, while you are going through the process of trying to get a loan modification.

The letter is mainly a short biography of the events that led to your financial problems. It is a detailed accounting, that states if you lost your job or suffered some other financial issue. You must give them enough details to know your situation, but don't drag it out. They are not after your whole history. You will also be telling the loan mitigator what you are capable of doing to aid in fixing the problem.

The easiest way to write this letter is by following a detailed outline of the letter. This can be very helpful, since most of us would not know really where to start and how to format it. This will give you an idea of how to put your letter in order. They can be very busy, so you must keep on point, but not going into enough detail to let them know completely of your situation is not good. You must give them enough information that they know how to respond.

Below I have listed some hardships that financial institutions will consider while going through the application process:

--Reset an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

--A Severe Illness in the Family.

--The Layoff from your Job.

--An Income Decrease. (Explain Circumstances Surrounding It)

--A Business Failure. (You Must Be A Vital Part Of The Company For This)

--A Relocation Of Your Current Job.

--The Demise Of Your Significant Other or A Primary Helping Family Member.

--Incarceration Of One Of The Main Supporters.

--A Divorce Where The Circumstances of Income Changes Due to One Leaving The Home.

--Duty In The Military.

--Extensive Medical Costs.

--Extensive Damage or Loss From A Fire or Other Natural Disaster.

--Certain Other Factors That Produce A Financial Hardship.

Remember, your hardship letter is the one, vital piece of your loan modification process that is personal and explains why you have found yourself in your predicament. This can help to stop the foreclosure process on your home. Utilizing a template of a letter is the easiest way to make sure you format your letter as your loss mitigator would like it to be. An easily read letter will get your further faster.

To get a copy of a FREE Hardship Letter Sample Program you can visit:

Click Here

Which provides you with valuable resources including:
- Free Mini Course on how to stop foreclosure and save your home
- Up to the minute information you can use to keep your home
- Free sample hardship letter

Author : James Kelley

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Kelley

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Monday, September 14, 2009

Writing a Successful Loan Modification Hardship Letter

The bank is looking for three main things in your hardship letter and the better prepared you are to address them, the more likely chance you will have of being approved for loan modification.

An outline is a good place to start before composing the letter so that you can map out all the areas that you want to cover and not leave anything out.

First, tell that what happened to put you in this financial hardship. Did you lose your job? Was there a medical emergency or increased medical bills? Did you go through a divorce? Explain to your bank, being completely honest about it, how you got into the situation that you currently face in terms of struggling with or being about to struggle with making your monthly mortgage payments.

Second, explain to your bank about the timing surrounding these hardships. It will be in your favor if you can demonstrate that you've never missed a payment and never made a late payment until you met with adverse circumstances.

Third, create a plan that shows the bank what you're going to do to ensure that after loan modification you won't once again struggle financially. Create a budget and share this with your lender to demonstrate that you are taking your situation seriously and going to work on it proactively. If your family is going to make sacrifices in order to pull out of debt, such as giving up club memberships or foregoing a family vacation, tell the bank that as well. What you're trying to do is show the mortgage lender that you are committed to homeownership and will do whatever it takes to rise above your financial hardship.

The loan modification hardship letter is really the only opportunity you get to tell your side of the story and humanize it so that you're not just looked at as an account number or a credit history. Be compelling in your letter, but don't whine, complain, or start to place blame. Outlining your hardship story, the timing of events, your good faith efforts, and your recovery plan, in concise, believable, and sympathetic language will help you write a compelling letter.

Author : Walter Sigmore

For detailed facts and essential tips about writing a successful loan modification hardship letter, visit this simple, easy to understand loan modification guide and resource:http://HomeLoanModifications101.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/writing-a-successful-loan-modification-hardship-letter-1230978.html.

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sample Hardship Letter - Use This One

Each of us can't deny the fact that our economy today is bankrupt, so many of us find it difficult to continue their lives because not only them who suffer the consequences but also their children who didn't even know what's going on. As a result, many are facing -foreclosure; some can't rise from their debts and others committing suicides just to cut off their burdens in life as if there's no remedy in their problems. One way to avoid foreclosure is a home loan modification. Refinancing is the answer also to financial difficulties, but now it no longer qualifies, because individuals today are growing bigger. The home loan modification is the best remedy to save their homes and even their companies from foreclosure.

Hardship letters is a letter you send to your mortgage lender. In your letter, you explain the circumstances you've encountered that led you delinquent on your loan. In order to have a loan modification, you must submit a hardship letter along with other documentation. The hardship letter will serve as your explanation letter of why you fell behind, what's your remedy to solve the situation, and evidence that you will be able to stay current on your loan from this point on.

The elements of hardship letter are:

o Your loan number
o Main hardship that caused you to become delinquent
o Secondary hardship contributing to your delinquency
o Details proving you will be able to keep current in the future.

Here is the list of so many hardship letter examples:

1. Job relocation
2. Unemployment
3. Reduction of Income
4. Divorce or Separation
5. Payment Increase on Adjustable Rate Mortgage
6. Medical bills or prolonged illness
7. Death of the mortgagor
8. Death of spouse or family member
9. Failure of a business
10. Military service
11. Incarceration
12. Problems with the property
13. Victim of fraud
14. Payment dispute

Another difficulty of many people when it comes to keeping up with their monthly mortgage payments is chase foreclosure. Whether it is due to economic crisis. Fannie Mae introduced two initiatives-Home Affordable Refinance and Home Affordable Modifications that available to all services and borrowers.

For me, we can't stand in our own. We need someone to help us to solve our problems so that we can surpass it. Therefore, we must be thankful that there are a home mortgage loan modifications, bankers and lenders who can help us in times of our needs.

To prepare these critical documents you can use the Complete Loan Modification Kit which provides you with all the forms, document templates and an extensive how-to guide.

To learn more about the loan modification process please visit: http://www.foreclosuresmedic.com

Author : Jonathan Gillham

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Gillham

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Writing an Effective Loan Modification Hardship Letter

Don't continue to struggle with meeting your monthly home loan payments. You can work with your lender to apply for a mortgage loan modification with the goal of reducing your monthly mortgage payment either through an interest rate reduction or extension of the number of years on the loan. As part of the loan application process, you will be required to fully explain your circumstances and give valid reasons why you should be considered for a modification in the form of a hardship letter.

Why are you in the situation that you're in? Did you or a family member become ill and incur exorbitant medical bills? Were you involved in an accident or injury preventing you from being able to work? Were you downsized or laid off from your job? Any of these reasons (and others) is valid and all you need to do is explain in detail to your lender what circumstances led to your financial hardship.

When did your financial hardship begin? Lay out a time line for your lender showing them that you never had any late payment or missed payments until the unfortunate circumstances you described above occurred. Take the opportunity to demonstrate to your lender that you had a good credit history and track record up until you ran into extenuating circumstances.

Finally, explain to your bank or mortgage lender what actions you are willing to take in order to remedy your financial situation. Are you going to cancel your gym membership or sell off that extra car? Show them that you're willing to do whatever it takes and set a budget and stick with it.

Be sure to tell your lender that you and your family are committed to home ownership and if you are involved in volunteer activities in your community, list those in your letter to demonstrate that you plan to stay a responsible and active member in your neighborhood.

Author : Walter Sigmore

About the Author : For detailed facts and essential tips about how you can get approved for a loan modification, visit this simple, easy to understand loan modification guide and resource: Home Loan Modifications

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/writing-an-effective-loan-modification-hardship-letter-1209385.html

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Loan Modification : How Do I Know If I Am in Financial Hardship?

If you are in an all-out panic mode because of your mortgage situation, you should definitely check out whether you might qualify for a loan modification. You have probably already heard about the program through the Home Affordable Mortgage Plan. President Obama has set this part of the program up for those who are either behind on their mortgage already, or who are quite probably going to be in arrears very soon. The financial requirements revolve around a concept of Financial Hardship. Exactly what is financial hardship?

You could simply state that financial hardship occurs when someone is the victim of a situation that caused them to be unable to pay their monthly mortgage payment. This event was not anything they caused or could do anything about. Their income was significantly impacted by the event; income was decreased or expenses increased.

Some life events that could cause financial hardship are: Job displacement, divorce, military service, increased house payments, death of a spouse, and medical bills. Any statements you make concerning these facts and figures regarding financial hardship determination must be backed up with documentation. A letter must also be written that details the event briefly and factually.

It is important to note, also, that an equally important part of the financial requirements for a loan modification are the figures that show that you are quite capable of affording the modified monthly mortgage payment. They are, in essence, evaluating your credit risk for the future, so you don't want to paint your total financial picture as hopeless and bleak.

If you meet these and the other application guidelines, you may obtain a reworked mortgage with lower interest rates or a lengthened loan term. There is a possibility they could even lower your principal amount owed. The goal is to get you a payment that is less than 31% of your monthly income before deductions.

Author : Bruce E. Nelson

About the Author :

To save your home, click here to get the help you need to qualify for a mortgage modification loan.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_E._Nelson

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