Feldman Law Center – Federal Government Prodding Loan Companies
Loan modifications have grown in popularity over the years because they have been increasingly successful in keeping people in their homes. As a result, the federal government has become a big fan of loan modifications and is getting more involved. The Obama administration is pressing mortgage servicing companies to step up their efforts to modify troubled loans under its housing rescue program. The White House is frustrated with the pace at which homes are being foreclosed on, as well as the pace with which loan modifications are being processed.
The Obama administration has seen a significant “ramp up” of loan modification activity, but it often times does not seem like enough when so many people are hurting. Federal loan modifications have helped some people stay in their homes, but the federal government often cannot give enough attention to all of the people who need help right now. Think about the millions upon millions of homeowners who need assistance with their mortgages and how few government representatives there are helping them. What many people need is a California loan modification attorney working with them, one on one, to keep their homes.
Housing counselors say they are disappointed by the progress made so far under the current Administration’s program, saying they are not getting anywhere near the results they were hoping for. They are saying the services are not up to par, which often means that there are not enough people answering phones for those who are calling. Sometimes, housing counselors have to educate the staff about their own programs, which means the government is not properly educating the people who were hired to help the public. In fact, Maeve Elise Brown of the Housing and Economic Rights Advocates said “Homeowners on their own are not able to navigate the system.”
All of this translates into homeowners needing an advocate who can take the time to listen to their needs, help them with their problem and be their advocate when no one else is helping them. A qualified loan modification attorney can walk you through all of the challenges and headaches that people are dealing with, whether you are considering a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy. A loan modification attorney can act on your behalf and aggressively fight for you, your family and your home.
Loan modifications can help you avoid foreclosure and stay in your home by renegotiating your mortgage terms to get your monthly payments much lower. This can be done by lowering your interest rate, getting a fixed rate instead of an adjustable interest rate, getting a principal reduction or some other option. A qualified California loan modification attorney will be able to effectively negotiate with banks and lenders, getting you the best terms possible for your loan modification. These are not easy times we live in, and everyone around you might be facing the most difficult financial circumstances anyone has faced in the last fifty years. However, with a loan modification attorney, you can rest assured that you have someone working on your behalf to help you avoid the storm.
Visit us at http://www.feldmanlawcenter.com or call 800-588-0425
Legal Disclaimer
The information contained herein is provided for general information and advertising purposes only and is not intended to convey a legal option nor legal advice for any particular case or situation. Nothing in this article shall create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing sent to this law office via e-mail shall constitute an attorney-client relationship. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to be a guarantee or prediction of result. Prior results are provided for general information purposes only and do not guaranty, warranty or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Results achieved depend on individual circumstances and not everyone will qualify or be successful in restructuring their mortgage loan.
Author: Greg Feldman
Feldman Law Center – California Loan Modification Information For 2009
Over the last two years, tens of millions of people have learned far more about loan modifications than they ever thought they would. The economic crisis and real estate crash forced people caught in difficult situations and overwhelming mortgages to look for their best options to keep their home. Foreclosure signs littered entire neighborhoods, and the state of California was thrown into a tale spin from which is has not yet recovered.
The question then becomes “how can I keep my home in spite of everything that’s happening?” The answer might be different for everyone, but one thing is for sure, a California loan modification attorney might just be your new best friend. It has become clear that Wall Street’s interference with the real estate industry has caused more chaos than every before. Entire neighborhoods used subprime mortgages to buy their homes, and as a result those neighborhoods are at risk of total collapse.
Contrary to popular belief, loan modifications have been around for a long time, helping people throughout California, and the rest of America, stay in their homes. Yet, since our current economic crisis has led to so many foreclosures and bankruptcies, homeowners, politicians and even lenders are trying to find the best way to get a loan modification.
In order to qualify for a loan modification in 2009, here is some information you might want to know:
Every creditor and lender has their own loan modification guidelines. For example, the loan modification process at Wells Fargo might be completely different than the one at Washington Mutual. It’s vital that you spend time learning your lender’s criteria, and how their loan modification application works.
Learn about your debt ratio. A debt ratio lets you know how much you owe versus your monthly income. Your lender will use this information to determine the new target amount of your monthly mortgage payment.
Your disposable income is important. You are going to have to take stock of how much you spend each month, if you haven’t already. Loan modification applications include a financial statement which represents a complete breakdown of how much money you bring in every month and what your expenses are. The person applying for the loan modification has to show all of his or her monthly bills against the monthly income in order to prove it’s possible to continue to make monthly mortgage payments at a lower rate.
Hardship letters are an important part of the process. Possibly the most important part of the loan modification process is the hardship letter which details your explanation of the financial situation you find yourself in. It also explains why you want to keep your house and your future plans. All of this will give the lender a clear picture of your situation.
As you can see, the loan modification process is not simple, and in fact it requires a great deal of preparation, research and knowledge to execute properly. Contact a loan modification attorney today to help you carry out your loan modification application in the best way possible.
Visit us at http://www.feldmanlawcenter.com or call 800-588-0425
Legal Disclaimer
The information contained herein is provided for general information and advertising purposes only and is not intended to convey a legal option nor legal advice for any particular case or situation. Nothing in this article shall create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing sent to this law office via e-mail shall constitute an attorney-client relationship. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to be a guarantee or prediction of result. Prior results are provided for general information purposes only and do not guaranty, warranty or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Results achieved depend on individual circumstances and not everyone will qualify or be successful in restructuring their mortgage loan.
Author: Greg Feldman
Feldman Law Center – Avoiding Loan Modification Scams
Avoiding a loan modification scam can be difficult, especially if you have not done your homework. Today, recent statistics show that one in ten homeowners is either in foreclosure or behind on their payments. This means there are millions of homeowners in dangerous financial positions, with millions more on the brink of chaos. There are so many loan modification companies in California, let alone America, that keeping on top of the illegitimate ones is impossible.
Here are some common loan modification scams being perpetrated throughout California:
The Disappearing Foreclosure Professional – This is the kind of person who promises the world, then takes a payment and finally just vanishes. This individual will perform little or no service, will take your money and will leave you with all the problems you had to start with.
Loan Modification Helpers – In this situation, a loan modification “expert” claiming they can negotiate directly with your bank. However, they never produce the results they promise. Sometimes, the expert will gain your trust and try to get you to make payments directly to them. Unfortunately, this loan modification scam can take quite a bit of your money.
Sale and Leaseback Scams – There are people out there claiming to be able to bail you out of a jam. You sign over your house to the scam artist and then pay that person rent. They then claim that they will sell the house back to you at a bargain price later. Of course, being that this is a scam, these people often sell the house out from under the former owner, and they don’t tell the current occupants. What winds up happening is that you rent the home you used to own, then the home gets sold and you are left homeless.
Books and Seminars – While attending a loan modification seminar, or buying a “do your own loan modification” book is not necessarily a scam, they can be misleading. Good writers and good public speakers can often portray a scenario as being much easier than it really is. For example, the loan modification process is complex, and there is quite a bit on the line for you and your family. A loan modification seminar or loan modification book will suggest that it is a simple process that you can handle all on your own. However, without a solid understanding of real estate, mortgages, foreclosure, the courts and lenders, doing a loan modification on your own is extremely difficult. You wind up exposing yourself to all kinds of mistakes, and without someone helping you there is a great chance you could be taken advantage of by a lender.
Finding a quality loan modification company is important. The Feldman Law Center has been around for many years, and we are constantly helping people who are facing foreclosure and other financial challenges. If you are afraid of losing your home, a California loan modification attorney can walk you through the loan modification process, negotiate with lenders and help keep you in your home, where you belong.
Visit us at http://www.feldmanlawcenter.com or call 800-588-0425
Legal Disclaimer
The information contained herein is provided for general information and advertising purposes only and is not intended to convey a legal option nor legal advice for any particular case or situation. Nothing in this article shall create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing sent to this law office via e-mail shall constitute an attorney-client relationship. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to be a guarantee or prediction of result. Prior results are provided for general information purposes only and do not guaranty, warranty or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Results achieved depend on individual circumstances and not everyone will qualify or be successful in restructuring their mortgage loan.
Author: Greg Feldman
Feldman Law Center – Loan Modification FAQs
You may have a number of questions regarding loan modifications and how they can help you avoid foreclosure. Loan modifications have been all over the news lately. President Obama has passed major, historic legislation giving homeowners more access to loan modifications; the California legislature has also passed legislation promoting loan modifications.
Here are some questions and some answers for loan modifications:
Q: What is a loan modification?
A: A loan modification is an agreement between a lender and a borrower to change the original terms of a loan in order to make payments more affordable. For homeowners, a California loan modification could be a way to stay in their home. A loan modification attorney can be a major asset when trying to get a loan modification.
Q: How can a loan modification be accomplished?
A: There are actually a number of different ways to get a loan modification. The interest rate on a loan can be either lowered temporarily, or permanently set at a lower rate. An adjustable rate could be set to a fixed rate. The term of the loan could be changed, from say 30 years to 40 years. There could be a principal reduction of the loan amount. There are other ways and you could also have any combination of options. All of this is geared towards lowering your monthly payments and making your mortgage more affordable.
Q: How common are loan modifications?
A: As the real estate crisis continues, loan modifications are becoming increasingly common. Loan modifications have been around for a very long time, but only when many people are in danger of losing their homes does everyone begin to ask questions. Some think loan modifications are a new invention, or a scam, but people with mortgages have been getting loan modifications for quite a while.
Q: Does the federal of California state government play a role in loan modifications?
A: As so many people are suffering due to the economic crisis, President Obama and the California legislature have passed various laws pressuring lenders to offer loan modifications. Lenders are not opposed to loan modifications, especially at a time when so many Americans are facing foreclosure. A foreclosure hurts the banks’ bottom lines, and the industry has already seen hundreds of billions of dollars in financial loss due to the mortgage crisis. California passed a law in 2008 promoting loan modifications, and in early 2009 President Obama wasted no time in helping people get the loan modifications they need to stay in their homes. With Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in serious trouble due to foreclosures (both of which are federal entities), it behooves the federal government to act that much quicker in saving people’s livelihood.
As you can see, there is a lot of information out there on loan modifications, and many people are unaware as to whether or not they qualify. If you are facing foreclosure or facing another financial crisis, contact a qualified California home loan modification attorney today and get “in the know.”