Saturday, October 10, 2009

Hardship Home Loan Modifications : Some Background

Author : Kristopher Michael

Hardship home loan modifications have been in the news since the 1990's. They are not new. The lending companies have kept them quiet. There has been very little incentive on the part of the lenders to publicize this type of loan relief. Until now.

President Obama didn't design this modification, he publicized it. He announced incentives for the lenders to make them more receptive to negotiations with homeowners. He brought us the possibility that more families may keep their homes with payments that they can afford.

With the economy in the worst condition that most of us can remember, there are simply very few alternatives for homeowners that have found themselves victims to the economy. When you open the newspaper and find page after page of foreclosures, that translates to families in trouble!

With the liberal lending practices that we have seen in the last 10 to 15 years, many families ended up with a mortgage that they simply can no longer afford. With falling housing prices, many of these families have mortgages higher than the value of the property.

Along comes the hardship home loan modifications program. Just like any other loan, this type of negotiation has very specific documents that must be filed with the lender along with the supporting documentation. There are guidelines that must be met in order to qualify. These guidelines include proving hardship!

Proving hardship does not only mean a reduction in salary. It could mean marital difficulties or a payment adjustment that is unaffordable. It could also mean that you have excessive obligations and cannot meet the current payment. Not that all of these obligations will be acceptable, but they should be negotiable.

There are no new closing costs, legal fees, survey fee, appraisal costs, or taxes that must be paid, unlike any other type of new mortgage. These fees have all been paid already and are part of the original loan.

Even bad credit is not enough to disqualify you from this. Your credit worthiness is not part of the negotiation. Affordable payment terms for you are.

Even if you are behind in payments, you may be in a position to qualify for a loan modification.

If you qualify, the lender may reduce the loan interest rate, reduce the monthly payment amounts or change some of the other loan terms to allow you to keep your home and avoid foreclosure.

Starting this process will remove your loan from a delinquent or late status. If your home is already at the point of foreclosure or sheriff's sale, it may be tougher to get your lender to negotiate. There is no guarantee that the lender will negotiate with you at this stage. There is also no reason not to try. If you are still willing to negotiate and get the loan back in good standing, it's a bonus for your lender.

All lenders work on the same basis. Outstanding loan balances equal money coming in. In the case of a defaulted loan, there are additional costs associated with the loan and no income from it. The foreclosure costs alone should be incentive enough to get your lender to negotiate.

Don't assume that they won't negotiate at any stage. It's your home, fight to keep it!

Start your research today. Don't become an unwilling victim of the economy without a fight. When your home is submitted for sheriff's sale, the chances of negotiating drop significantly. Be sure to start your fight as early as possible to increase your chances of keeping your home.

Sheriff's sales are a good thing, they help keep the number of abandoned homes down so that our neighborhoods are not overrun with them. Sheriff's sales are a good thing, but not when it's your home!

Documents for loan modifications are pretty standard. Get your copy of these documents and be prepared to fight your case, go to http://hardshiphomeloanmodifications.info

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

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Friday, October 9, 2009

Loan Modification : Writing an Effective Letter of Financial Hardship

Author : Michael Petrone

When buying a home ones worst fear is losing that home to foreclosure. If refinancing your mortgage loan is not an option for you, your next best choice is loan modification. Mortgage modification can be the answer you have been looking for to avoid foreclosure and staying in your home.

Although loan modification can be the answer to your problem, your approval does depend on how you set your request up. If you are looking for a loan modification to help solve your financial problem you have to prepare a letter that will bring you the very best of results.

When writing your letter for possible approval for a loan modification you should include a detailed description of your current financial problem along with any other reasons you are in need of a modified mortgage loan. You have to make it obvious and clear that the only way you are going to be able to keep your home is if they approve you for a loan modification. Explain that your current situation was caused by things that you had no control over and that staying in your home is very important to you.

The letter should be short but to the point and if possible should not be more than one full page. It should be limited to the basics and not to long so that the lender does not feel that you are trying to pull at their heart strings, don't waste your time either because they don't have any. It's important to understand that you are not the only one writing a letter in order to get approved for a loan modification. Lenders are constantly getting letters from people looking for the possibility of modifying their mortgage loan so make sure your mortgage modification hardship letter stands out so you don't get lost in the shuffle.

Writing an effective letter when applying for a loan modification can be a daunting task but there are people that can help you if you need. Financial advisers are available if you are in need of some assistance. However, if you are unable to find an adviser that you are comfortable with there are templates available online that can also help.

At my site I will teach you how to properly refinance or modify a home mortgage saving you thousands of dollars, or even your home. A lot of Greedy Mortgage Lenders will try to suck you dry if you let them. Learn the right way to refinance or modify your home loan at my site: http://www.refinancingcondo.com

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

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Hardship Home Loan Modifications : Relieving Financial Hardship

Author : Kristopher Michael

Standard industry loan modifications, don't usually lower monthly payments enough to keep borrowers in their homes. The administration's plan will lower housing payments from 38 percent of monthly income to 31 percent. The new modification plan should keep borrowers in their home.

It is a standard, streamlined process for evaluating new applications and for loan modifications for all lenders. The goal is to provide you with a mortgage payment you can afford. It is similar to a refinance, but instead of finding a new mortgage that you can afford, this is designed to modify your current mortgage so that it will fit into your budget. There are numerous benefits and it can even get you out of debt.

For lenders, it is a loss avoidance tool. It should drastically reduce the number of foreclosures that the lender is forced into. The cost of a single foreclosure to the lender is between $50,000 and $80,000 by some estimates. With these numbers, you can see where the lender should be willing to work with you towards a payment that will benefit both parties.

Generally, homeowners that qualify for this service have already missed several payments. Be prepared to prove your hardship when you sit down for the negotiation. This of course means paperwork. Make sure that you have done you homework and that you have all the proper forms filled out completely. This should make the negotiation process go much smoother.

Be prepared for these negotiations to take time. The representative that sits at the table with you has already received a set of terms that (s)he's authorized to approve. If your situation or needs require adjustments from this, you probably won't get much satisfaction on the spot.

Do not agree to any new loan terms that will not fit your budget. This is important since any missed payments after the modification is in effect can be declared as default on your part with the lender filing foreclosure.

Some of the terms that can be modified:

* Changing an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) to a fixed conventional mortgage

* Lowering your interest rate

* Any missed payments can be added onto the back end of the mortgage

Get a copy of the paperwork that you'll need and have it filled in completely. Meet with your lender's representative and find out what terms they're prepared to offer. If you cannot get close enough to the terms that you need, consider hiring a professional to plead your case for you.

Start your research today. Don't become an unwilling victim of the economy without a fight. When your home is submitted for sheriff's sale, the chances of negotiating drop significantly. Be sure to start your fight as early as possible to increase your chances of keeping your home.

Documents for loan modifications are pretty standard. Get your copy of these documents and be prepared to fight your case, go to http://hardshiphomeloanmodifications.info

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

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How to Write an Loan Modification Hardship Letter

Author : David Pit

For homeowners who cannot meet their mortgage commitments or those who are heading towards a foreclosure home loan modification can be a life saver. If all avenues of refinancing have failed you, mortgage modification may be your only and best option. In order to avail the advantages of home loan modification you will need to start by submitting a hardship letter to your loan provider. This letter should include clearly outline your financial situation and the reason for mortgage modification.

The letter should clearly explain the factors that led to your current financial condition and the steps that you intend to take to get out of it and stay out of it. Given the current economic crisis, loan providers receive thousands of hardship letters for mortgage modification every month so you need to ensure that your letter stands out in some way.

In order to do so make sure that your letter and concise and pertinent; a good hardship letter for home loan modification should not be longer than two pages. Instead of writing lengthy explanations which your lender will not have the time to read go for simple explanations on why you need mortgage modification. With the sheer number of letters that they receive chances are that they have already heard every explanation in the world.

Go for something simple like, "I have just had a decrease in hours at my workplace and this with the recent readjustments on my mortgage makes it difficult for me to keep up with the new higher payments". Here are some additional tips that will help you to draft your hardship letter for a home loan modification.

1. Make sure that you include all the necessary details, just because your trying to make your hardship letter for mortgage modification concise does not mean you should exclude necessary information and documents like death certificates, medical receipts and unemployment notices etc
2. Clearly explain the reasons for your requirement for a home loan modification.
3. Be clear about what you want in terms of mortgage modification, you need to tell the lender what you are looking for; a longer loan term, a lower interest rate etc. You may even want to tell your lender about the monthly payment amount that you would be able handle.
4. Write with feelings and emotions.
5. Don't be confrontational and don't complain; instead show your willingness to reach an equitable solution. Be polite
6. Include your contact information and enclosed bank statement for the past two months, last years tax returns, notices on the car and any other documents that can be used to veracity of your statement.
7. Under no circumstances should you try to threaten the bank, particularly with any talks of declaring bankruptcy.

If you are considering mortgage modification, you should really look into 60 minute home loan modification. It is a great resource that contains a lot of important information about the process of applying for a mortgage modification. It was created by a loan modification expert who has modified numerous home loans. The kit included a professional hardship letter outline, and one on one support in case you have any questions. It is a must have for homeowners. To learn more about 60 minute loan modification click here

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

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Writing Hardship Letters For Loan Modifications

Author : Lindsy Emery

Loan modifications can be requested if you are having trouble repaying your current loan for any reason. A letter needs to be given to your creditor explaining why you are experiencing financial hardship and for any requests to ease you situation.

The hardship letter is a main requirement in the process of loan modification. Your attorney will likely ask you to submit one in addition to your financial documents. They then evaluate your situation and the factors causing the hardship to try and present your lender with a strong case in your favor.

When you are in the process of writing this hardship letter, remember that lenders are looking for the reasons why you have delayed or been unable to pay your mortgage. Try to be as clear as possible, but at the same time be honest and add the correct amount of detail that is important to the lender.

Make your letter concise. Most lenders do not want to spend more than five minutes reading a hardship letter. A single page is best, if you go any longer than that the lender may not read it all and can skip parts that are actually important. Therefore you should lose all the unnecessary details and include only the most important facts that are relevant and can help your case.

Try not to beat around the bush. Lenders appreciate you getting straight to the point, so start off by stating the purpose with which you are writing to him. Tell them you need them to modify your loan, and then tell them why you need it. In the next few paragraphs, go into the important details.

Be sure to explain the hardship you are in, provided it qualifies as an actual financial hardship. Valid hardships can be natural disasters resulting in the loss of your home and assets, becoming suddenly unemployed and no longer having your source of income, illness leading to extensive medical bills, divorce or separation that leaves you unable to pay the mortgage on your own, or military service.

If your hardship isn't one of these things, that's understandable because everyone has their own situations and lenders understand this. Let your letter explain your situation to the lender. Once you state your hardship, use evidence to strengthen your case. Tell the lender how the situation came about, and how it is out of your hands.

Finally it is time to restate your request. End the letter by informing the lender once again of your purpose, and how this is the only option that will prevent foreclosure. Make sure you explain that you fully intend to make your regular payments after the loan is modified.

Overall, you need to be humble. Never imply that the situation you are in is the lender's fault. Don't blame anyone. You should focus instead on telling the real story and letting your lender judge your situation. End your letter with thanks and anticipation of further business with them.

For additional information on home mortgage loan modifications, please visit the #1 loan modification resource on the net: http://home-loan-modifications.info

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

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Loan Modification Hardship Affidavit : What it is and Where to Get One

Author : Susan V. Gregory

The primary qualification for a loan modification is the evidence of a financial hardship situation. This means that circumstances have caused your current mortgage payment to be unaffordable and you are at risk of losing your home of going into default. The Fannie Mae loan modification plan, sponsored by the Treasury Department and paid for with bailout money, requires that you complete a form called a Hardship Affidavit.

What is this form and why is it important? This is a 4 page form that basically explains to your lender the reasons you are facing a hardship and could be a candidate for a loan workout. There are multiple choices, and boxes that you must check off. In addition, there is a very important certification that you are asked to sign under penalty of perjury that you are not misrepresenting your circumstances or intentionally missing payments to get a loan modification.

The form also explains briefly the terms of the Home Affordable Modification trial period, and tells you that you may be required to attend credit counseling as a condition of your loan workout. You sign this form giving your bank the authority to check your credit report and verify your income and assets, and to start an escrow account for your property taxes and homeowners insurance.

This is an important part of your loan modification application and should be included with your submission. There is a final page where you can include your Hardship Letter, giving more specific details about your circumstances and why you deserve a loan modification. This is one of the 4 mandatory forms that you will need to prepare for a complete application package. You can get this form on the makinghomeaffordable.gov website, and it is also available, along with all of the other required forms, in a resource kit for homeowners.

Get all of the required forms and the help you need to apply and qualify for a loan modification by ordering and downloading the best selling handbook for homeowners, The Complete Loan Modification Guide. This is a low cost, easy to read home edition loan mod kit that will provide you with everything you need to prepare a professional and acceptable loan modification application. You are provided with all of the necessary forms and given detailed directions on how to complete them properly.

The Complete Loan Modification Guide will take you step by step through calculating your debt ratio, completing the financial statements, writing your hardship letter and then putting it all together to submit to your lender. Learn how to apply and qualify for the Obama federal program too. Get started today on the path to secure home ownership, order and download The Complete Loan Modification Guide.

For more information about mortgage loan modification, please visit us at: http://www.myloanmodificationcenter.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_V._Gregory.

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Hardship Financial Letter Guide : Three Most Common Financial Hardships

Author : Jonathan Gillham

One of the key parts of a loan modification is the hardship financial letter. Most lenders will request a hardship letter when you apply for a loan modification for a mortgage account in arrears. The hardship letter is a written account regarding the circumstances that caused you to get behind in your mortgage. It will also give keys facts to the lender to help you keep your home from foreclosure.

The hardship financial letter is basically story of how you got into the financial predicament and the events leading up to your present state of solvency. It will tell the lender's key person, the loss mitigator, the details of the problem and help them decide what to do to help you either keep your home or go for a short sale. This means that the lender might let you sell it for less than the mortgage value. It also will alert the lender as to how far you are willing to go to help with the process.

In order to get all the facts straight about your circumstances the best way to write a hardship financial letter is by following an example that has proven successful. By following a good letter you will make sure that all the bases are covered and that the loss mitigator has all the facts to help you.

A hardship financial letter is basically a concise outline of what the loss mitigator needs to know. Since these people are very busy you want to give them just the facts. Keep emotion out of it and don't go off on a tangent with blame.

Here is a list that convey hardship in a financial letter:

Three Most Common Financial Hardships:
1. Adjustable Rate Mortgage Reset
2. Family illness
3. Loss of job

Other Common Hardships:
4. Change of income downward
5. Failure of a business
6. A relocation for work
7. Spousal death or that of a cashflow contributor
8. Penal incarceration
9. Divorce proceedings
10. Military call out
11. Heavy medical bills
12. Damage of home due to natural disaster, accident or fire
13. Any other hardship items

The hardship financial letter is only one instrument in the loan modification process but it is the one that will get the attention of the loss mitigator. To proceed with writing one it is best to get an example to follow. In this way you will get it right the first time and be on your way to financial recovery through a loan modification.

FREE Financial Hardship Letter

You can receive a hardship financial letter by visiting:
http://www.hardshiplettersample.com/

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

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

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Monday, October 5, 2009

Writing a Mortgage Hardship Letter : How to Go About It

Author : Marqus Smith

A mortgage hardship letter is basically a type of letter that a borrower writes to the mortgage company, to ask for what may be described as a 'second chance' after having failed to honor their part of the mortgage agreement for what are taken to be 'reasons beyond their control.'

Like any other piece of official correspondence that is written with the aim of getting a 'favor' from another party, how you go about writing your mortgage hardship letter goes a long way towards determining how the letter is received at the other hand.

Before even getting into the mechanics of writing the mortgage hardship letter, it is important to first have a self-assessment session: where you assess the current state of your finances, especially what you have coming in(in form of income) and what you have going out, in form of expenditure. Having seen where you currently are, financially, you might also want to know how and why you actually got to that position - and this calls for something in addition to self-assessment: namely deep soul-searching. This is important, because the worst thing you can do is write a mortgage hardship letter, indeed have it received favorably followed by the mortgage company 'working out' something for you: only for you to flounder again.

Having worked out the current state of your finances, and how you got yourself there, the next step in writing the mortgage hardship letter would be to work out what it is, actually, that you want to achieve through the letter. Would you want the mortgage company to give you a little more time to clear your obligations with them? Would you - in the event that you feel completely cornered - want the mortgage company to allow you to sell your house, and use the proceeds to pay your obligation to them? What exactly is it your want to achieve through your mortgage letter...the idea is to be sure to start with an objective in mind; and this way, you will have a direction to steer your mortgage hardship letter.

When you finally get to the actual jotting of the letter, it will be in your best interests to keep in mind that it is a piece of official correspondence you will be writing: and keep it brief and yet thoroughly communicative (which is called being concise). Resist the temptation to make your mortgage hardship letter a ranting tool (where you complain about all the various elements that have gotten you to the predicament you now find yourself). That is not what it is meant to be. On the contrary, your mortgage hardship letter should sound positive and uplifting to the mortgage lender - who is by now certain to be starting to wonder what is happening to your obligation with them. The idea should be to make the mortgage company see what it stands to gain by giving you a second chance, rather than by taking a drastic step against you, which is what it would be inclined to do by default; and this you can only achieve by making the suggestion you make to the mortgage company in the mortgage hardship letter look like a win-win proposal.

For more tips on how to write mortgage hardship letter, visit http://www.home-loan-mods.info/

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

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

Loan Modification : Help Getting Out of Hardship

Author : Bruce E. Nelson

Many people feel very confused when faced with any task related to finances. It is much more comfortable to just let someone else handle it. But, in difficult times it is even more important to be as thrifty as you can with your limited budget. Maybe if you become familiar with loan modification, you will decide that you can pursue this on your own and save some money.

Homeowners have started to get uncomfortable as they see many other homeowners losing their homes to foreclosure. Some had gotten bad loans, some have had job loss, and there are other causes. The facts are that foreclosure rates are at a record high across the United States.

If you are behind on your mortgage, you can prevent foreclosure by getting a loan modification. This is an attractive option for both the bank and the homeowner. But, it is not a simple process if you are unfamiliar with it. Reworking your mortgage is basically coming to an agreement with your lender to redo your home loan so that you have lower monthly mortgage payments. There are different requirements for a modification at each bank, but some things are the same anywhere. A FICO rating of 660 or below will increase your chances of success; your bank can see that you do require a lower rate.

Before you begin the modification process for your loan, you should determine a few things. Initially, you should examine how much monthly payment you can afford. This is very important. You also must determine what the current market value of your home is. There are times your will figure out that you have been struggling with a high interest mortgage payment unnecessarily.

When you are submitting your application, present a written plan that will show your lender why he should work with you. It is a much better option to rework your mortgage than to suffer the loss of your home through a foreclosure. You remain in your home, and you do not suffer a total credit meltdown. Your credit rating remains intact. Your house payment each month will probably be significantly less because of the lower interest rate. There are situations where the homeowner actually sees a reduction in the balance of the principle of the loan.

You should be sure you do all your preliminary research before you actually apply for a loan modification. If you are a victim of financial hardship or are already in foreclosure, you will have a better chance of success. In your research, you will certainly find that this is a great way to escape foreclosure.

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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