HAMP homeowners stuck in limbo

By Alan White

More than 700,000 homeowners are in three-month "temporary" trial loan modification plans, but mortgage servicers have managed to convert only 31,382 to permanent  modifications, according to the Treasury Department's November report released today.   

Given that the industry voluntarily modified, permanently, more than 100,000 mortgages per month just before HAMP was announced, these results are abysmal.  Testimony before a Congressional hearing Tuesday on HAMP confirmed that 70% or more of homeowners on temporary modification plans are making payments, so the problem is largely in getting the paperwork for permanent HAMP modifications done.  

Once again the report also highlights huge disparities in performance among different mortgage servicers.  The chart at right compares cumulative temporary modifications reported in the August report with permanent modifications reported through November.  The four big banks, BankofAmerica, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo, converted fewer than 1%, fewer than 1%, 4% and 11% of their temporary mods, respectively.  Ocwen, meanwhile, has converted 89% of borrowers who were on temporary modifications in August to permanent mods by November.  Although scale is clearly a problem, Aurora, servicer of a large portfolio, managed to convert 23% of its modified loans to permanent modifications. 

Homeowners on trial modifications continue to be reported as delinquent to their credit bureaus, continue to accumulate unpaid interest, and face continuing threats of foreclosure.  Given the very large subsidies HAMP will pay the mortgage servicers if they can do this right, and the fact that the four biggest servicers were bailed out by the taxpayers in numerous other ways, we ought reasonably to expect better performance than this.   

Although Treasury officials had promised to report some information on performance of modified loans, none was included in the December report.  The fiasco in the making that this report reveals, and the fact that HAMP still does not deal effectively with the huge negative equity problem, compel the conclusion that we need a new plan to tackle the foreclosure crisis.

Comments

[My99quest]

It's not surprising there are so few modifications. First, you usually will make either too much money or too little money to qualify for the program. Secondly, and perhaps more important, the average modification results in a loan that is equal to 136% of the fair market value of the house. For the homeowner, this is a toxic mortgage. It means you can't sell the house for years without getting a lender's short sale approval, and good luck with that.

[Anonymous Joe]

Notice that there are ZERO permanent mods for Countrywide, which is not combined with Bank of America in the statistics.

[ScrewedByWellsFargo]

I am currently going through this HAMP nightmare with Wells Fargo. After completing a 3 month trial period I have now received notice that unless I pay all past due amounts by 1/5/10 WF will accelerate my loan note and moved toward foreclosure. I can't find anybody or any agency to do anything but refer to somebody else or take a complaint . Is there any Class Action suit I can join re: unfair and deceptive collection practices, ruining my credit while I follow their rules, etc.?

[Jonas]

I have heard nightmare stories about HAMP borrowers falling into foreclosure, attempting to proceed with the modification, and then getting foreclosed upon. I honestly can't be sure I would recommend a modification - at least not with out a qualified written request first issued.

What I don't get is what game the banks are playing... ...why won't they modify these loans?

[Anna Bradley]

I've tried every which way to Sunday to modify my under water loan with Bank of America. With every combination of "income" I've stated and even trying to put the house up as a rental property, so I can move to a less expensive place, I have still gotten no help. The opperators are indifferent about helping and sound resentful when trying to help customers. I have written my congress man who refers me to HOPE NOW web sites. Big woop. It's like they are forcing me to walk the short sell plank. My home is worth a 1/4 of what I still owe on the mortgage- even after my years of remodeling the house. So, do I follow the trend and rape my own house just befor the foreclouser? I'd rather not haul out the new toilet and sink, but I will if I'm pushed.
Banks are being short sited and inflexible distroying communities and peoples lives - emotionally and finacially.
What's it gonna take to wake up the banks and the government to inforce some humanity? A suicide bomber in the branch office? I'm about there...

[Al S Louis]

It seems the Big Banks like Wells Fargo would rather see people foreclose instead of offering help under the HAMP program. I am waiting 9 months now for help, and no end in sight.

[Richard]

There is a very useful website located at www.ShortSaleLiveChat.com that provides an abundance of information on short sale... plus, it offers free 'live chat' with short sale senior negotiators. They are staffed with brokers that have a balanced background in both Mortgage Banking and Real Estate Transactions.

[webmaster@utahmodification.com]

This is a very experienced loan modification company. They will give advice for free. Give them a call. 8019311443
http://utahmodifications.com