Mortgage Help
An Americans Guide to the 2009 Government Mortgage Assistance Payments and Help Programs
The recession has caused the government to pass a lot of spending bills in this year of 2009. The intent of the bills is to help people who own homes avoid foreclosure. If you’re a homeowner, you should know about the government programs that will assist you with your mortgage.
The government programs were announced in February of 2009 and are part of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. This plan is complicated and can be difficult to understand. The reason is because there has been a lot of press conference, there are many programs that sound the same, and there are a lot of cryptic acronyms.
To help you make sense of it all, we have put together this helpful article which will explain the mortgage assistance programs. You can see if you’re eligible for these programs by clicking on the links in this article. We’ll begin by providing you some background information.
On February 18, 2009 mortgage assistance was announced by President Obama when he unveiled the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. The program will provide about $75 billion in assistance to struggling homeowners.
This government mortgage assistant program is designed to accomplish two goals. First, it will help some homeowners avoid foreclosures this year and for years to come. Second, it will help current homeowners refinance their mortgages so they make less payment every month by using fixed-rate loans. So this program helps people modify existing mortgages and refinance their homes.
The above picture demonstrates that if you qualify for any program, how you’re paying your current program shows which program you’ll be able to use. The first option is for people who have not been able to keep up with their monthly mortgage payments. The second option is for people who are current on their monthly mortgage payments.
This article will provide in depth information about both options.
First Option – Loan Modification
This option is designed to help if you haven’t been able to keep payments current on your existing mortgage. You should also consider this option if you think you’re going to have problems meeting mortgage obligations in the near future. Here is some more information.
- If you are not able to keep up with your monthly mortgage payments, you might be able to work with a lender to get the terms of your mortgage changed.
- Your lender should be able to reduce how much money you’re expected to pay every month, helping you avoid foreclosure. This benefits the lender as well as you. You get to keep your home and the lender avoids having to go through the foreclosure process.
- Your monthly mortgage payments would only be about 31% of your gross monthly income. Most of the time this is accomplished by reducing the interest rate, allowing you to pay off more of the principal.
- Your decrease in monthly payments would only last a certain length of time. Most of the time, it will be five years. After the time period is over, the monthly mortgage payments would slowly increase to be equal what it was at the time the mortgage was modified.
- Homeowners and lenders both have motivation to participate in this government mortgage modification program. If you are able to make your monthly payments on time, you may be eligible for a reduction in your principal balance. Over the 5-year modification period, you could cut $5,000 from the amount you owe on your home. Lenders benefit by qualifying for incentive payments for each loan they successfully modify.
- In order to be eligible to take advantage of this program, the amount of money left owing on your house without interest needs to be less than $729,750.
- The program is designed to help people who have their homes as the primary place where they live. Speculators and investors will not benefit from the plan.
- After December of 2012, nobody will be able to become eligible for this part of the mortgage assistance program.
What is my next step? Contact your lender to see is they are participating in this mortgage assistance program. Go to the government website at Financial Stability.gov for more information.
Second Option – Mortgage Refinance
Suppose you are able to make your monthly mortgage payments, but you can’t refinance because the value of your home has gone down. In that case, you could get help under the mortgage refinance option of the mortgage assistance program. Here is some more information.
- This part of the government mortgage assistance program opens the door so more people can take advantage of refinancing their homes. It will mostly help people who have lost a lot of their home’s value.
- Under normal circumstances, you would need at least 20% equity to be eligible for a refinance. This program helps people with no equity and even those who have a negative equity qualify for refinance loans.
- In order to be eligible for mortgage refinance, you current loan must be owned by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. We have included some links to help you determine if you qualify, or you can just ask your current lender.
- If the value of your property has plummeted too low, you may not qualify for this part of the mortgage assistance program. This has unfortunately has been the case in many areas, especially California. To qualify, you cannot be underwater by more than 5 percent. Even a tiny bit of equity increases your chances of qualifying.
- To qualify for this refinance program, you must be consistently making your monthly mortgage payments. For the past year, you must have been making your monthly mortgage payments within 30 days of the due date.
If your loan is more than $417,000 then odds are you will not qualify for refinancing. This is what is called a jumbo loan.- However, if you live in an area with higher property values such as New York, then you may qualify even if the loan is more than $417,000. The loan in this case is called a “conforming” loan instead of a jumbo loan. If you are not sure whether you qualify for assistance, be sure and ask. Click on one of the links we provide underneath this article to find out more.
- In June of 2010, the mortgage refinance option is scheduled to expire.
What is my next step? Find out if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Ask your current lender or use the resources provided by the Fannie Website and the Freddie website. Go to the government website at Financial Stability.gov for more information.
If you’re having trouble meeting your mortgage obligations, hopefully this article provided you some useful information. As the government plans or changes are made to it, I will update this information. If you have questions about government mortgage assistance programs or other types of homeowner assistance,including assistance with mortgage payments please feel free to contact us through the contact us page.
The Oregon Hardest Hit Fund
The Oregon Hardest Hit Fund consists of five components: The Unemployment and Loan Preservation fund which provide funds to assist the unemployed and others to pay their mortgage and any other fees that have incurred during a period of financial distress or unemployment. People need to apply for aid and eligibility is determined by Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative. The Mortgage Loan Assistance program provides borrowers with a one-time financial assistance up to a total of $10,000 or is used to reduce outstanding principal balance on the borrowers’ loan or help them pay delinquent escrow. The Loan Refinancing Assistance program is only available in Jackson County and Deschutes County due to the fact that they have been hit hard by this economic crisis. They want to make sure that the homeowner is able to keep their home. Mortgage Payment Assistance program is available to the unemployed, the underemployed, or anyone has experienced a loss of income. It provides up to six months of assistance with mortgage payments and the lender is required to provide a 1-to-1 match for a total likely benefit of 12 months. The Transitional Assistance program works in combination with short-sales and DIL programs. If the homeowner qualifies, the program will provide up to $3,000 on a one-time basis.
Foreclosure Mediation from Senate Bill 628
The foreclosure mediation law requires that mortgage lenders meet with borrowers before foreclosing on their home, in an effort to find a solution.
Oregon Housing and Community Services
This is a government agency that provides foreclosure assistance and prevention services to homeowners who has defaulted on their mortgage or whose home has been filed for foreclosure.
Countrywide Financial Corporation
Countrywide Financial Corporation has agreed to settle mortgage lawsuits and fraud claims in Oregon by adjusting about 5,000 Oregon mortgages and paying over $1 million to the state to provide mortgage and foreclosure assistance. They have also agreed to modify interest rates and mortgage loan terms for Oregon households that obtained uncertain mortgages from Countrywide.
Check out http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/oregon_mortgage_assistance_and.html, and http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/ for more information on these and other mortgage assistance programs available in the state of Oregon.
New Residential Sales Dropped Dramatically in the previous Thirty days
Product sales of new real estate dropped unexpectedly in July, the government stated on Thursday inside the 2nd article this week that showed that the real estate market stalled previous 30 days.
The Commerce Department reported that income of new real estate in July fell twelve.four pct from June, to a seasonally adjusted yearly rate of 276,000 units. That was the smallest level in July because the government began keeping track in 1963
July product sales of new real estate were 32.4 % below sales for July last year. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected revenue to be flat in July from June. June revenue were revised down to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 315,000, from 330,000, after May well fell to an yearly rate of 267,000.
The document also said the median revenue selling price was $204,000 in July, down 6 percent from June and four.8 % from July 2009. The average product sales price tag was $235,300 in July, down three.1 pct from June.
July was the initial thirty days that house buyers could possibly no longer are eligible for a tax credit of as a lot as $8,000, which analysts said may well have contributed to the decline.
The article was unveiled a day soon after the Countrywide Association of Realtors reported that revenue of employed real estate in July plunged to their lowest level in far more than a decade, as home buyers lost the incentive of a govt tax credit. The association stated that the seasonally adjusted yearly sales rate of 3.83 million was 25.5 percent below the degree of July ‘09.
Mortgage rates are the smallest in modern memory whilst affordability, simply because of price tag declines of 30 pct in many areas, could be the highest in at least a decade. The federal government permits buyers to put only a token amount down, guarantees loan providers against default and regularly issues proclamations that the worst is over.
Still, with unemployment steady for months at much more than 9 pct, and with millions heavily in debt or simply skittish, numerous potential buyers are sitting on the sidelines.
Actual estate assisted drive this recession, and no one should expect it to lead the way out. Instead, the urgent question is how significantly it may hinder other parts with the fragile recovery
Some other economic statistics released Wed also reflected the sluggish pace from the recovery. Even the manufacturing segment, once considered a strong point, appeared to struggle.
Orders of big-ticket items from American factories rose lower than forecast in July, an indication that manufacturing was beginning to weaken, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
It stated orders to American factories for tough goods rose .three % last thirty days, very much below the three % development that had already been forecast. Excluding the volatile transportation market, orders slipped 3.8 %. Orders for machinery dropped 15 %, while those for capital goods decreased eight pct.
On Friday, the govt can offer its latest estimate on second-quarter growth. Analysts now assume that development inside quarter will probably be revised down to an annual rate of 1.4 % from the previous estimate of 2.4 pct.
Though the low rates have not spurred home getting, the interest in home refinancing loans very last week hit a 15-month high, the Mortgage loan Bankers Association claimed Wed in a statement.
Refinancing accounted for 82.four pct of overall applications final week up from 81.four % the previous week, which may be the highest share considering that January 2009, the association stated.
138 million dollars have been approved by the federal government to help Oregon with its current mortgage crisis. Oregon residents only need to look around them to know that unemployment is high, creating difficulties for people all across the state to make their mortgage payments.
The Oregon Housing and Community Services Department is using the 138 million dollars to setup four programs that will begin helping people refinance or transition to less expensive housing by this coming December of January. More information about these programs can be found at www.oregon.gov/OHCS.
What if you are one of the many Oregonians who has lost their income and is experiencing difficulty in making your mortgage payments now? If you are having difficulty making your payments and fear foreclosure, there are steps you can take now.
The first step you should take if you are having trouble staying current with your mortgage payments is to go to your lender and explore workout options. Your lender will let you know the options you have available to you under your current loan or through your lender. Remember, your lender stands to benefit from you being able to stay current on your mortgage. For more information on this first step, go to HUD’s webpage describing workout options for you and your lender at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/loanworkoutsolutions.cfm.
If you speak with your lender and are not able to find an option that provides the relief you need to avoid or get out of foreclosure, your next step is to contact a foreclosure counselor. There are several areas in Oregon that have HUD approved foreclosure counseling offices. If you live in the greater area of Albany, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Klamath Falls, McMinnville, Medford, Portland, Redmond, Roseburg, Salem, Springfield, and St. Helens communities, there are foreclosure counseling offices in your area. Foreclosure counselors can help by advising clients of their rights and explaining available resources to clients. You can find the counseling service in your area at this website: http://www.cbs.state.or.us/dfcs/ml/foreclosure/counselors.html
If you have tried both workout and counseling options, then try talking to your loan servicer. If the FHA services your loan, then contact the FHA service center. If your loan is with the VA, then contact the VA service center. A representative will not only help to make sure that your lender is following service guidelines, but will also try to come up with creative solutions to help you avoid foreclosure. T o contact the FHA, visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/nsc/nschome.cfm. Contact the VA at http://www.vba.va.gov/ro/cleveland/foreclosure_alternatives.htm
By following the above tips, you will be taking the necessary steps to protecting one of the most important things for your family – your home.
Foreclosure has become a very real threat to American homeowners struggling in the bad economy. Ohio homeowners looking for foreclosure or prevention relief can find aid from companies like Save The Dream Ohio.Ohio Housing Finance Agency is another valuable resource for Ohio homeowners. They provide a listing of resources including HUD programs that can prevent foreclosure by guaranteeing mortgages for homeowners. They also provide county specific information so homeowners can get specific foreclosure prevention information. Ohio Housing Finance Agency has a long list of partnerships and networks that work with and counsel at risk homeowners. Contact information is provided on all of their programs, most of which are available 24 hours a day. The programs presented with Ohio Housing Finance Agency is perfect for homeowners who have not been given a foreclosure notice as of yet but are at risk. More information can be found at http://www.ohiohome.org/homebuyer/foreclosure.aspx
Housing and Urban Development better known as HUD is one of the most useful resources because it connects homeowners with counselors who walk you through foreclosure options. They also let you check your eligibility for programs such as the making home affordable program available to unemployed homeowners. They also provide information on programs such as the Hardest Hit Program aimed at helping homeowners who were hit the hardest by the down economy. There are available funds given to in need homeowners regularly and HUD shows individuals how to qualify and receive aid. A HUD approved housing counselor works with homeowners to help them avoid and prevent foreclosure especially in the early stages of foreclosure. Information is available by visiting http://hud.gov
Information and assistance for all three programs are free. No matter what stage of foreclosure a homeowner is in help can be received if they reach out. Though foreclosure can be overwhelming it can also be prevented if steps are taken early enough.
Kentucky is one of the three states with the highest drop in house prices. Something investors in foreclosed properties are taking advantage of. Earlier in the foreclosure rise, the culprit for many people losing their properties were high-cost loans. At present statistics show that the “general economic decline” is the primary reason for most foreclosures. So that you are better informed, here is a list of a few Kentucky mortgage aid programs:
Home Family Program
This program gives mortgage assistance up to $10.000 with home purchase price up to $195,700. There is no monthly repayment; forgiven over 5 years. It’s targeted to those who are in existing homes, are a single or two parent household that has at least one dependent child under the age of 18 living in the home, are first time home buyers and have not owned a home or had interest in a home in the past 3 years. There are household income limits too. For example; for 1 person the limit is $23,7000, 2 persons $27,100, 3 persons $30,450 and 4 persons or more $33,850. If you think you may be qualify for this program contact the Kentucky Housing Corporation located in Frankfort, Kentucky.
FHA’s Home Affordable Modification Act
This program is for homeowners with FHA insured mortgage loans, who can’t pay their mortgage because of loss of employment or death in the family or serious chronic illness. Beforehand homeowners were not eligible for this assistance until they missed a mortgage payment. However, the homeowner must be current or not more than 30 days past due on their mortgage payments. The loan officer will postpone, reduce payments due on a loan for a circumscribed and definite time period or your monthly mortgage payments will be reduced to an affordable level. To utilize this program go to www.HUD.gov and put in the search engine Kentucky Mortgage Aid.
Kentucky Legal Aid
Neighboring Kentucky Legal Aid offices can help to arbitrate if the lender gave you a loan under precarious circumstances or did not reveal all the information in the loan certificate. If it is concluded that you were a casualty of unscrupulous lenders, you will be aided in receiving any compensation you might be owed. Its good to check with legal aid even if you have the slightest suspicion of foul play.
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/foreclosure.htm and www.kyhousing.org. These websites are beneficial whether you want to retain your home or release it into foreclosure.
Obama Government Adds to State Plans to Prevent A lot more Foreclosures
Called the “Hardest Hit Fund,” its aim is to help the worst struck property markets across The usa. Final week, the Obama administration added $2 billion in funds to this campaign. You can view the list of states and just how much they every received here. This comes only a few days after the Department of Treasury granted more than half a billion to five states (Rhode Island, Oregon, Ohio, too as North and South Carolina).<br>
Along with the recent additions to aiding homeowners, the federal government released that HUD (Department of Property and Urban Development) would likely also be adding to relief efforts by commencing a billion dollar relief software for those who’re vulnerable to foreclosure because of unemployment or health problems. This plan, entitled the Emergency House owners Loan Plan, has numerous requirements for eligibility:
* You has to be a minimum of three months behind on your home loan repayments.
* You has to be living in your residence as your principle residence.
* You ought to have a very good payment historical.
Where precisely this plan will target and for exactly how long is unknown at this time. It’s stated that individuals who are entitled for the program could be suitable to receive approximately fifty,000 in help to cover a assortment of home finance loan costs. One thing is clear: the Obama administration is taking numerous steps to assist People in america remain out of foreclosures this fall.
Obama Current administration Announces More Assistance
For Targeted Foreclosure-Prevention Plans
To Assist Property owners Fighting with Unemployment
The Obama Current administration right now released additional assist to aid homeowners fighting with unemployment by means of two targeted foreclosure-prevention software programs. By way of the existing Housing Financial Agency (HFA) Innovation Fund for the Toughest Strike Property Markets (the Toughest Strike Fund), the U.S. Department from the Treasury could make $2 billion of extra aid accessible for HFA applications for homeowners fighting to make their home owner loan obligations on account of unemployment. Additionally, the The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will soon launch a complementary $1 billion Emergency Property owners Mortgage loan Plan to offer support – for up to 24 months – to home owners that are vulnerable to foreclosure and have experienced a substantial decrease in income as a result of involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition.
"We stay committed to helping struggling property owners, and this software will provide further help to states hit trickiest by unemployment," said Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herb Allison. "This is part on the Administration’s comprehensive real estate policy that has helped to stabilize a fragile housing marketplace and enables responsible property owners the likelihood to lessen their monthly home owner loan repayments to affordable levels."
"HUD’s new Emergency House owner Mortgage loan Software could build on Treasury’s Hardest Strike initiative by targeting help to fighting laid-off homeowners in other hard attack places to help these individuals prevent preventable foreclosures," claimed Bill Apgar, HUD Senior Advisor for Home finance loan Finance. "Together, these initiatives represent a combined $3 billion investment that will ultimately impact a broad group of fighting borrowers across the nation and in doing so further contribute to the Administration’s efforts to stabilize real estate markets and communities across the nation."
Toughest Hit Fund
President Obama very first announced the Hardest Hit Fund in February 2010 to allow states strike challenging by the economic downturn flexibility in determining exactly how to design and implement plans to meet the local challenges property owners in their state are facing.
Under the more assistance released right now, states eligible to receive help have all experienced an unemployment rate at or above the countrywide average in the last twelve months. Each and every state can make use of the funds for targeted unemployment software programs that provide temporary assistance to qualified homeowners to assist them pay their home finance loan while they seek re-employment, further employment or undertake job training.
States which may have already benefited from previously released help below the Most difficult Hit Fund could utilize these further resources to assistance the unemployment software programs previously approved by Treasury or they could opt to implement a new unemployment system. States that don’t presently have Most difficult Hit Fund unemployment software programs should submit proposals to Treasury by September 1, 2010 that, inside of established recommendations, meet the distinct needs of their state.
The states eligible to receive funds by way of this further assistance, along with allocations based on their population sizes, are as follows:
Alabama $60,672,471
California $476,257,070
Florida $238,864,755
Georgia $126,650,987
Illinois $166,352,726
Indiana $82,762,859
Kentucky $55,588,050
Michigan $128,461,559
Mississippi $38,036,950
Nevada $34,056,581
New Jersey $112,200,638
North Carolina $120,874,221
Ohio $148,728,864
Oregon $49,294,215
Rhode Island $13,570,770
South Carolina $58,772,347
Tennessee $81,128,260
Washington, DC $7,726,678
HUD Emergency Home owners Bank loan System
This new program could complement Treasury’s Most difficult Hit Fund by providing support to house owners in challenging attack local regions that may possibly not be included in the trickiest hit target states. People regions are still becoming determined.
The program will operate via a range of state and non-profit entities and will offer a declining balance, deferred payment "bridge loan" (zero percent interest, non-recourse, subordinate mortgage) for up to fifty,000 to help entitled borrowers with obligations on their mortgage principal, interest, home loan insurance plan, taxes and hazard insurance policy for approximately 24 months.
Below this program, eligible borrowers must:
1) Be a minimum of three months delinquent in their payments and possess a realistic likelihood of being able to resume repayment of their home loan repayments and related housing expenses within 2 years;
2) Have a mortgage loan home that’s the principal residence with the borrower, and qualified borrowers may not own a second residence;
three) Demonstrate a good payment record prior towards the event that produced the reduction of income.
HUD could announce further details, including the targeted communities and additional plan specifics when this program is officially launched inside the coming weeks.
"We stay committed to helping struggling homeowners, and this plan may provide extra help to states hit toughest by unemployment," said Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herb Allison. "This is part with the Administration’s comprehensive real estate policy that has helped to stabilize a fragile property market and allows responsible home owners the possibility in reducing their monthly home finance loan obligations to affordable levels."
"HUD’s new Emergency Prroperty owner Loan Software will build on Treasury’s Trickiest Strike initiative by targeting help to fighting unemployed homeowners in other tough strike regions to assist these people avoid preventable foreclosures," claimed Bill Apgar, HUD Senior Advisor for Property finance loan Financing. "Together, these initiatives represent a combined $3 billion investment that will probably ultimately impact a broad group of struggling borrowers across the nation and in doing so further contribute for the Administration’s efforts to stabilize housing markets and communities across the country."
Hardest Attack Fund
Us president Obama initial introduced the Most difficult Strike Fund in February 2010 to enable states attack hard by the economic downturn flexibility in determining how to design and implement plans to meet the local challenges house owners in their state are facing.
Below the more help released these days, states eligible to acquire assist have all experienced an unemployment rate at or above the nationwide average over the past twelve months. Every state will employ the funds for targeted unemployment plans that supply temporary help to entitled house owners to assist these people pay their mortgage whilst they seek re-employment, more employment or undertake work training.
States that have already benefited from previously introduced aid under the Trickiest Hit Fund may possibly utilize these further resources to assist the unemployment programs previously approved by Treasury or they may possibly opt to implement a new unemployment system. States that don’t currently have Toughest Strike Fund unemployment plans must submit proposals to Treasury by September 1, 2010 that, within established suggestions, meet the distinct wants of their state.
The states entitled to receive funds via this additional assistance, along with allocations based on their population sizes, are as follows:
Alabama $60,672,471
California $476,257,070
Florida $238,864,755
Georgia $126,650,987
Illinois $166,352,726
Indiana $82,762,859
Kentucky $55,588,050
Michigan $128,461,559
Mississippi $38,036,950
Nevada $34,056,581
New Jersey $112,200,638
North Carolina $120,874,221
Ohio $148,728,864
Oregon $49,294,215
Rhode Island $13,570,770
South Carolina $58,772,347
Tennessee $81,128,260
Washington, DC $7,726,678
HUD Emergency Homeowners Mortgage Software
This new software can complement Treasury’s Most difficult Hit Fund by providing aid to house owners in hard hit local places that may well not be included in the hardest attack target states. People regions are still being determined.
The program may perform by means of a range of state and non-profit entities and can provide a declining balance, deferred payment "bridge loan" (zero pct interest, non-recourse, subordinate mortgage loan) for up to fifty,000 to help eligible borrowers with repayments on their home owner loan principal, interest, house loan insurance policy, taxes and hazard insurance policies for up to 24 months.
Beneath the program, entitled borrowers need to:
1) Be at the least 3 months delinquent in their repayments and have a acceptable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of their home loan repayments and related real estate expenses within 2 years;
2) Have a mortgage home that’s the principal residence from the borrower, and suitable borrowers may not own a 2nd house;
three) Demonstrate a very good payment record prior for the event that produced the reduction of income.
HUD can announce further details, including the targeted communities and additional system specifics when this program is officially launched inside the coming weeks.
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) assists first-time homebuyers, renters, senior citizens, and other populations with special needs who otherwise might not be able to afford quality housing. OHFA offers may programs to Ohioans in the purchase of qualifying properties. Qualifying properties are residential properties which are on two acres or less unless additional acreage is required by local health or safety code. Qualifying properties are classified into three categories: Existing Homes, Nearly Completed Homes or Spec Homes, and Manufactured or Modular Homes. A qualifying existing home may be a single-family dwelling, a duplex or a multi-unit property provided, however, that there are no more than four units. A qualifying nearly constructed or spec home is a one-unit single-family dwelling. A qualifying modular or manufactured home is a one-unit single-family dwelling which is permanently affixed to a foundation.
The First-time Buyer’s Program provides a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans with competitive below-market interest rates to first-time home buyers purchasing a home in any of Ohio’s 88 counties.
The Target Area Loan Program provides first-time home buyer loan products and interest rates available to any qualifying buyer purchasing a home in a targeted area. A target area is an economically distressed area designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Most counties in Ohio have both target and non-target areas. Applicants may also be eligible to participate in OHFA’s Mortgage Credit Certification Program and Down Payment Assistance Grant Program.
The Ohio Heroes Program offers Ohioans employed full-time in certain professions an interest rate .25 percent lower than OHFA’s First-Time Buyer’s Program interest rate. Applicants may also be eligible to participate in OHFA’s Mortgage Credit Certification Program and Down Payment Assistance Grant Program. Qualifying professions include the military, teachers, police officers, health care professionals, firefighters, and paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians.
The Grants for Grads program provides recent college graduate a favorable mortgage interest rate from a participating lender and a grant in an amount for 2.5% of a home’s purchase price. The grant is issued as a second mortgage with a 0% interest rate with no payment due. The loan is forgivable after five years unless the grantee moves out of Ohio prior to the five-years.
Down Payment Assistance Grant Program provides eligible home buyers participating in the First Time Buyer’s grant in an amount for up to 2.5 percent of a home’s purchase price.
RESOURCES:
Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA)
http://www.ohiohome.org/
Need Help Paying Bills: Help with Mortgages and Foreclosures in Ohio
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/ohio_help_with_mortgage_and_fo.html
Save the Dream Ohio: Ohio Mortgage Help Workbook (March 1, 2010)
http://www.savethedream.ohio.gov/docs/MortgageWorkbook.pdf

The state of Ohio is no different than the rest of the country, but there is help available to those people that need it. Recently the Ohio Housing Financing Agency received 172 million dollars designated for foreclosure prevention. This money may reach up to 15,000 home owners that need help keeping their homes. This aid will help home owners in danger of losing their home to foreclosure by actually paying the homes mortgage for up to a year while the home owners try to find better ways to pay. This includes looking for full time or better paying jobs, but the assistance will also be geared to help entice mortgage lenders to lower borrowers overall bill. This is the second round of mortgage assistance that has been made available to home owners. Last year 1.1 million people applied for mortgage assistance, but as of today only 170,000 people have completed the program.
There are some stipulations for using this government aid; homeowners must be at least 3 months past due on their mortgage payments and not have a mortgage above the amount of 729,750 and you must be able to show that you are in a financial hardship. You must also be able to show that you have reasonable likelihood that you will be able to start making your payments again within two years time. You may not own a second home and must be the primary resident of the property in question; lastly your payment records will be brought into question. You will need to be able to show that your payments were being met before your financial hardship began. If you would like to know how to apply for mortgage aid contact your mortgage lender as well as your local HUD (housing and urban development) office. These two agencies will be able to assist you in filing the proper paperwork and being helping you get your mortgage back in good standing. Another useful source is www.financialstability.gov which can answer a lot of questions you may have. Look out for our next article on Ohio Mortgage Help.
Alabama Mortgage Help
13/08/10
Looking for Alabama Mortgage Help? If you are finding it hard to pay your mortgage or if you are looking for your first mortgage to buy your new home, you are in the right place. There are a small truckload of programs available to residents in Alabama.
The Alabama Housing Finance Authority has helped more than 85,000 families achieve their dream of owning a home. They offer a variety of loan programs that fit the needs of many buyers. AHFA enables low-to-moderate income buyers to purchase a home with low interest rates and down-payment assistance, not to mention the generous sales price and income limits make qualifying easy.
One of the programs The AHFA offers is called Step Up. Step Up is a program designed for the moderate-income home buyers. That is, people who can afford a mortgage, but may need help with the down payment. AHFA offers down payment assistance with no sales price limits and higher income limits than the First Step program.
The down payment funds are secured by a 10-year second mortgage and are combined with a 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgage. Because these loans are serviced by Alabama Housing Finance Authority, all the homeowners have to do is write one check each month. There is a education course with this program that the homeowner must complete inorder to qualify.
Participants may earn up to $97,300 and remain eligible for the Step Up program, regardless of household size or location. You do not have to be a first time home buyer to use this program. The federal recapture tax does not apply to this program and there are no sales price limits with this program.
You can find lenders for the Step Up Program here:
There is another program available to Alabama residents called the The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program. This program takes the AHFA’s Step Up program and combines it with the Mortgage Credit Certificate’s tax credit. This makes homeownership even more affordable for Alabama home buyers. This program offers reduction in the amount of federal income tax that a qualified homebuyers pays. MCC’s gives potential home buyers available income to qualify for a mortgage loan.
MCCs provide a direct dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal taxes worth 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid each year. The remaining 80 percent of the interest still can be claimed as a tax deduction. With this program there are income limits.
These limits (effective on applications taken as of June 1, 2010) are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be used with the First Step/Mortgage Revenue Bond loans and Mortgage Credit Certificates offered by AHFA. When you find a home you’re interested in buying, simply contact one of your local participating lenders to learn whether the address is located in a “target” or “non-target” area. Once you know that information you can find the income requirement for that area.
With the MCC there are also sales price limits. These limits (effective as of April 15, 2009) are set by the Internal Revenue Service to be used with the First Step/Mortgage Revenue Bond loans and Mortgage Credit Certificates offered by AHFA. Once again you must find out of the area is a “target” or “non-target” area as the price changes. It is $316,177 for target and $258,691 for a non target. This price is in all areas for new and existing homes. You can find MCC lenders here.
Habitat for Humanity works closely with the AHFA. The program works like this, the AHFA purchases mortgage loans from Alabama’s Habitat affiliates. This process allows the affiliates to receive the loan amount up front in a lump sum while AHFA receives the monthly payments from the affiliates for the life of the loan. The affiliate then uses the up-front funds to build more housing for low-income families.
Abiding by AHFA’s enabling legislation, the Habitat affiliate solicits the assistance of a local lender to serve as a conduit for the sale of the loan. The affiliate sells the mortgage to the local bank, which then sells the loan to AHFA. This productive cycle unites the local Habitat affiliates, the lending community and AHFA to give Alabama’s less fortunate families a chance at homeownership. You can find out more information here.
new Federal Housing Administration quick refinancing program.
Here are some on the details from the recent published Federal Housing Administration mortgagee letter around the new Federal Housing Administration short remortgage program.
On March 26, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plus the Department from the Treasury (Treasury) announced enhancements to the current Creating House Affordable Plan (MHA) and Federal Housing Administration (Fha) refinancing program that will give a greater number of responsible borrowers an possibility to remain in their real estate. These enhancements are created to maintain homeownership by providing borrowers, who owe far more on their home owner loan than the valuation on their residence, opportunities to remortgage into an affordable Fha loan. This possibility allows borrowers who’re present on their property finance loan to are entitled for an Federal Housing Administration remortgage bank loan provided that the financial institution or investor writes off the unpaid principal balance with the original 1st lien house loan by a minimum of 10 pct. …
Eligibility
Participation is voluntary and demands the consent of lien holders. In order for a loan to become qualified, the following conditions must be met:
1. The property owner has to be in a negative equity position;
2. The homeowner needs to be existing for the present property finance loan to become refinanced;
three. The house owner must occupy the subject home (1-4 units) as their primary residence;
4. The property owner need to are entitled for the new mortgage under standard Fha underwriting requirements and possess a “FICO based” decision credit score greater than or equal to 500;
five. The present mortgage to become refinanced must not be a FHA-insured mortgage loan;
6. The active 1st lien holder ought to write off at least 10 percent from the unpaid principalbalance;
seven. The refinanced FHA-insured initial mortgage must have a loan-to-value ratio of no a lot more than 97.75 pct;
eight. Non-extinguished current subordinate house loans has to be re-subordinated and also the new mortgage might not have a combined loan to value ratio greater than 115 percent;
9. For loans that receive a “refer” risk classification from Entire Property finance loan Scorecard (Overall) and/or are manually underwritten, the homeowner’s entire monthly property finance loan payment, including the first and virtually any subordinate home loan(s), can’t be increased than 31 pct of gross monthly earnings and entire debt, which includes all recurring debts, cannot be higher than 50 percent of gross monthly earnings;
10. Federal Housing Administration mortgagees aren’t permitted to employ premium pricing to pay off existing debt obligations to qualify the borrower for the new mortgage;
eleven. Fha mortgagees are not permitted to produce mortgage payments on behalf on the borrowers or otherwise bring the present home loan present to create it eligible for Fha insurance policy; and
twelve. The existing home loan being refinanced may possibly not have recently been brought present by the current 1st lien holder, except via an acceptable permanent mortgage loan modification as described below.
Principal Write off
The mortgagee should make sure that the current first lien holder writes off at least 10 % with the unpaid principal balance on the initial lien. The brief payoff serves as payment in 100 % for any debt extinguished.
Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio
Notwithstanding 24 CFR 203.32(c)(three), the combined amount of the new FHA-insured initial mortgage and virtually any subordinate non FHA-insured lien might not exceed 115 percent.
Second Lien Extinguishment and Servicer Incentive
To facilitate the refinancing of new FHA-insured loans under this plan, Treasury will provide incentives to current second lien holders who agree to total or partial extinguishment of liens effective on all case numbers assigned on or after September seven, 2010. Being entitled for incentives, the current 2nd lien mortgage servicer need to: Execute a Servicer Participation Agreement with Treasury to participate inside the Producing Residence Affordable Program; and, Agree to fully release the borrower from all obligations to repay the amount forgiven.
Present 2nd home loan lien servicers can be entitled to a one time incentive of $500 for each successful closing. Active 2nd property finance loan lien investors will probably be entitled to an incentive based for the combined home loan to worth of the active lien and all senior liens associated with the home loan.