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HomeMortgage Modifications: Statistically Insignificant
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 29th, 2009 4:16 PM |
How meaningful is the mortgage modification program? What have we gotten for the billions committed to this initiative? Are you sitting down?
For frame of reference, the U.S. Census Housing Data indicates there were 110.3 million occupied housing units in the country in 2007. Of that number, 68.1% were owner-occupied. Simple math tells us 75.1 million people owned their home at that point.
Various studies indicate that approximately one of every three homeowners are now ‘underwater’ (mortgage balance exceeds home value). Many analysts believe that number is headed higher. A Deutsche Bank analyst projects one of every two homeowners will ultimately be ‘underwater.’
Simple math indicates that approximately 25 million homeowners are underwater. What is being done to support these homeowners? Uncle Sam’s primary program to support this growing problem is the ‘mortgage modification’ program. This program is supposed to be driven by mortgage servicers. How is it working? Let’s navigate. (more…)
What Is a Mortgage Cram Down?
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 1st, 2009 11:35 AM |
On December 23rd in my piece, “Everything’s Negotiable…“, I wrote that I thought for those financially challenged and potentially facing personal bankruptcy with resulting mortgage default and foreclosure that principal reduction was definitely on the horizon. I wrote in that piece:
Additionally, the likely first piece of government assistance to come from the Obama administration is capital to help homeowners in foreclosure or approaching foreclosure. I expect that that assistance will incorporate some degree of mortgage principal reduction.
I would definitely broach with your banker the topic of principal reduction after laying out your budget. The worst that the bank can do is say no. If that is their response you will have been on record as having been proactive in the process and that can’t hurt you if in fact you end up actually defaulting.
Given the anemic response to the current loan modification programs along with the high level of re-defaulting, it is readily apparent that the powers that be should have been listening to Sheila Bair’s proposal on principal reduction from the outset. Sheila promoted the concept of government funding sharing in the losses with the banks in the principal reduction process.
