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Loan Modification Guidelines: How to Get Approved For a Modification

By Ken Melblock


Do you understand what it takes to qualify for you to receive a lower monthly mortgage payment? Are you aware of the criteria needed for being approved for loan modification? If you have been wondering if you qualify for President Obama's Federal plan, make sure you are aware of what the bank's guidelines are in order to be approved, before you apply. According to the plan, $75 billion has been set aside to assist eligible homeowners. Unfortunately, not everyone will qualify.

The aim of this program is to modify the loan agreement so that the borrower pays no more than 31% of his monthly income on his mortgage. When negotiating with a borrower who is in danger of falling behind on his payments or who is facing the foreclosure of his home, lenders now have an understandable, uniform set of guidelines to follow. These instructions are known as the Standard Waterfall. Following the Standard Waterfall, here are the steps the lender will take:

It is crucial that your financial statement presented to your bank reflects your ability to afford the reduced mortgage payments. Alter your budget ahead of time, cutting any unnecessary expenses. The bank will want to see that you are making an effort to improve your situation the best you can, with the funds needed available to maintain your payments. Under the Federal plan, your payment will be no between 31-38% of your gross monthly income, factoring in your property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and HOA dues. Whatever that figure is, set your expenses and adjust your budget around it.

If the targeted 31% goal cannot be reached, the length of the loan may be extended to be up to 40 years long. If the 31% goal still cannot be met, the lender can, but does not have to, start to forbear principle. This means a specific amount will be due in one payment at the end of the loan.

Lenders are encouraged to perform loan modifications through incentive payments for each one they do. If they follow the above steps, do a cost analysis and then find that the incentive payment will give them more money than they would get with a foreclosure, they will modify the loan. After trying the new payments out for three months, the interest rate is then locked in for five years.




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