According to the LA Times, Many mortgage lenders are “overwhelmed and disorganized but they continue to foreclose on borrowers who are actually in the process of finalizing a home loan modification that would ensure more affordable monthly payments. At a time when the housing market is flooded with foreclosed homes, this doesn’t help anyone. The federal government rolled their attempt to stem the foreclosure crisis with the Home Affordable Modification Program that was created to stop lenders from foreclosing while a modification is pending, but other initiatives don’t.  

California Senators Mark Leno and Darrell Steinberg are proposing to extend the same protection to all Californians seeking loan modifications. The California loan modification bill (SB 1275) would stop a home loan lender or mortgage service company from initiating the foreclosure process until after a mortgage loan modification application was denied. It’s a modest change that wouldn’t require mortgage lenders to change the terms of any loan modification program. Nor would it require lenders to do more to reach borrowers before foreclosing than state law already requires or to slow down foreclosures on borrowers who are beyond help.  The law would require mortgage lenders to notify borrowers who get behind on their home loan payments about the foreclosure process and the availability of home refinancing or loan modification options, if any. And if borrowers applied unsuccessfully for a loan workout, the mortgage company would have to send them a letter explaining why they were denied and how they can appeal the decision before filing a notice that the mortgage was in default.  The purpose of the bill was not just another attempt to help homeowners avoid making their mortgage payments; but it was created to help protect lenders from themselves.  A recent report revealed that Housing counselors say the No. 1 problem is poor communication between mortgage companies and distressed borrowers.

Adrian Sainz wrote an article a few days ago, that I wanted to share with you. Homeowners worried about missing mortgage payments and entering foreclosure may have another option: a loan modification. Despite some signs of stability in the housing market, foreclosures remain a major obstacle to a meaningful recovery. And more borrowers in good standing are likely to miss their mortgage payments as the recession claims more jobs.  That’s why some people have gone for a loan modification — a permanent change in a mortgage that results in more affordable payments for the borrower.

Efforts to modify home loans have been easily outpaced by the number of new delinquencies, according to a Treasury Department report released in late June. In the first quarter, loan companies modified 185,156 mortgages, up 55 percent from the previous quarter, while the number of foreclosures in process increased to 844,389, up 22 percent.  Still, modification has been an option for many troubled homeowners. Lenders have been overwhelmed by calls from people seeking to modify their home loan, leading to reports of frustration and delays, according to mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac, which recently released an Internet video discussing this topic.  In the face of these delays, it’s important to start the loan modification process fully prepared. That means having the correct paperwork handy before calling or meeting with a loan servicer or housing counselor.  Here are some questions and answers about what you should have on hand.

Question: What are some basic documents to gather ahead of a loan modification meeting?

Answer: First, the servicer will want to quickly find the file in question, so have the monthly mortgage statement in hand.  Next, find the most recent statement for any homeowners’ or condominium association fees. Some borrowers have seen association fees increase in light of more home vacancies brought on by foreclosures, stressing monthly budgets — so you’ll want evidence of what you’ve been paying each month.  Also, borrowers who took out home equity lines of credit, and second or third mortgages, should have paperwork for those loans handy.  All of these documents go a long way in displaying a troubled borrower’s financial situation and determining their eligibility for a loan modification. Borrowers should also enter the process with a budget plan that includes how much they can actually afford to pay in monthly housing expenses, including insurance and taxes.

Question: Are there any documents not specifically related to the home that should be nearby during the meeting with the loan servicer?

Answer: Yes. Bring along statements showing balances and minimum monthly payments on active credit cards, car loans, student loans and other debts or obligations, Freddie Mac says.  These documents give the servicer a sense of the borrower’s monthly expenses outside of housing-related expenditures, to come up with a manageable monthly mortgage payment that will be sustainable.

Question: Is that all?

Answer: Actually, no. Freddie Mac recommends that homeowners write a statement that discusses the financial problems that are or could be leading to foreclosure.  This should be an honest account — the writer should set pride aside and give the servicer a sense of how bad the situation really is.

Loss mitigation and mortgage relief can be a complex decision for some mortgage lender, so remeber that you have the opportunity to make another 1st impression, so don’t blow it…process. In most cases, homeowners should have an attorney guide them through the loan modification process to work through any technicalities and make sure the lender is taking the correct steps.