Loan Modifications

According to the details of the HAMP plan:

• The lender would first be responsible for bringing down interest rates so that the borrowers monthly mortgage payment is no more than 38 percent of his or her income.
• Next, the initiative would match further reductions in interest payments dollar-for-dollar with the lender to bring that ratio down to 31 percent.
• Lenders will also be able to bring down monthly payments by reducing the principal owed on the mortgage, with Treasury sharing in the costs.
• Borrowers will be put on a trial modification at the new interest rate and payment for three months. If they make all their payments on time, the modification will be implemented at the new rate and be fixed for five years.

Who is eligible for a HAMP loan?

To qualify for a HAMP loan you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You obtained your mortgage on or before January 1, 2009
• You owe up to $729,750 on your primary residence or single unit rental property
• You owe up to $934,200 on a 2-unit rental property; $1,129,250 on a 3-unit rental property; or $1,403,400 on a 4-unit rental property
• The property has not been condemned
• You have a financial hardship and are either delinquent or in danger of falling behind on your mortgage payments (non-owner occupants must be delinquent in order to qualify).
• You have sufficient, documented income to support a modified payment.
• You must not have been convicted within the last 10 years of felony larceny, theft, fraud or forgery, money laundering or tax evasion, in connection with a mortgage or real estate transaction.

What programs does the State of Ohio offer?

Save the Dream Ohio is comprised of six programs designed to assist Ohio homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship and are at-risk of mortgage loan default or foreclosure. The program is free and can provide homeowners up to $35,000 depending on the programs utilized.

Save the Dream Ohio programs include:

Mortgage Payment Assistance (MPF) which provides up to 18 months of full mortgage payments for unemployed and underemployed homeowners.

Rescue Payment Assistance (RPA) which provides a payment to a participating homeowner’s mortgage servicer to help bring the homeowner current on their delinquent mortgage.

Mortgage Modification with Contribution Assistance (MCA) which provides a payment to mortgage servicers to reduce a participating homeowner’s mortgage principal in connection with a loan modification. A payment can also be provided to allow the homeowner to request a recast or re-amortization of their first mortgage lien.

Homeownership Retention Assistance (HRA) which provides a payment to assist homeowners with subordinate property liens and other ancillary costs such as delinquent property taxes and homeowner/condo association dues. Mechanics and tax liens are excluded from the program.

Transition Assistance which provides homeowners who cannot sustain homeownership with an alternative to foreclosure by offering relocation assistance in connection with an approved short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

Lien Elimination Assistance which provides a payment to a participating homeowner’s mortgage servicer and other lienholders to extinguish existing liens.