Loan modifications are currently the most viable option to avoid foreclosure for most middle-income families. While they are not a traditional answer to avoiding foreclosure like refinancing, they are much more available and are effective in most situations.
When most people think of loan modifications, they think of a free break. But financial institution has for modifications are nowhere near as easy to get as many would hope. There are strict requirements each financial institution has for loan modifications, and although the Obama Administration has made great strides to make modifications much less difficult to obtain, they are still not a walk in the park.
Getting a loan modification requires the right paperwork, negotiations, and perseverance.
To start off, you need to determine whether or not you are really under financial hardship or not. Under the Home Affordable Modification Program, a homeowner must be going through financial hardship in order to qualify for loan modifications with any lender. Financial hardship is indicated by having a high debt to income ratio, so much so to the point where making payments are almost impossible. Luckily, or unluckily, a large portion of homeowners in the United States are currently going through financial hardship and they at least have that requirement filled.
Besides financial hardship, your lender is going to need proof of your income and expenses, and will also take a look at your credit, and take a look at the initial and current values of your home.
If you're confident you're in financial hardship or think you might be, it's time to fill out the loan modifications application. Several financial institutions have the applications on their website to give you an easier and streamlined process, but sometimes it can be better to fax, mail in, or even take the application in to a local office. Sending it in online can be easier, but giving it a more personalized touch can help you in negotiations, especially if you are working with a smaller lender.
Along with your application, you're going to need to submit a letter of hardship. The hardship letter is the sole medium a lender will listen to pertaining to your take and circumstances. Any particular circumstances that have led to your current financial hardship are to be described in the letter. The letter may seem like a step you can skip, but in reality the hardship letter can prove to be the most important and tide turning part of your application.
After the application and letter comes the negotiations. It's possible to successfully negotiate on your own, but you have a better chance with a loan modifications attorney or a representative from the FHA backing your argument. And even after the negotiations, it can take eight weeks for loan modifications applications to be approved, so while the modification can help you, it is not a temporary or quick fix.
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