Making Home Affordable Program
If you are considering applying for the making home affordable program (HAMP), you need to have a thorough understanding about how the HAMP really works. Additionally, you also should know the eligibility requirements. Here is some crucial information which could guide you on the matter.
The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is supported by $75 billion stimulus package and is designed to help homeowners in preventing home foreclosures. The federal plan would ensure this by directly working with the mortgage servicers to convert non-performing mortgage loans into performing ones by involving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA or the FDIC.
How does the HAMP work?
The HAMP is slated to benefit millions of struggling homeowners, whose homes are at-risk, by engaging a five point plan as mentioned below.
- Device standard guidelines for home loan modification programs.
- Make lending institutions follow the guidelines while modifying mortgage loans.
- Permit judicial mortgage modifications even during filing bankruptcy.
- Monitor compliances being made during process of granting loan modifications.
- Strengthen FHA plans by offering active financial support to local communities.
Who can apply for the HAMP?
You have better chances of qualifying for the HAMP home loan modification plan, if you can meet the following requirements.
- Faced with foreseeable financial hardship situation.
- Likelihood of imminent home mortgage loan default.
- Only owned homes which are your primary residences.
- All FHA conforming loans sans jumbo mortgages.
- Receive credit counseling through HUD approved credit counselors.
You also have another viable option on mortgage refinancing under the federal scheme which is popularly known as the home affordable refinance plan (HARP).
The typical HAMP plan process
- Mortgage servicer would lower the mortgage rates on the existing loans to as low as 2% in order to achieve a DTI ratio of 31% which is stipulated by the HAMP program guidelines.
- If reduction in interest rates is not enough to realize the objective, the durations of the current mortgage loans would be extended to 40 years.
- After executing steps 1 and 2, still if DTI ratios are above 31 %, your lender might consider principal forbearance with 0% rate of interest till such time the ratio is met.
- The federal government would share the costs, which might accrue while ensuring the reduction of ratios from 38% to the required 31%, with your home affordable modification program lender.
- HAMP home mortgage modification plans would be provided for a period of five years after which the rates of interest could be increased by 1% annually depending upon the conforming loan rate prevailing at the time of granting a loan modification.
- Lenders are entitled to receive $ 1,000 from the government for approving borrowers who have successfully fulfilled the HAMP loan modification process requirements.
To get more information about the HAMP or Bank of America loan modification program process and requirements, it is suggested to use the professional help provided by reputed online service providers like LoansStore.