Showing posts with label FICO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FICO. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Wisconsin State Tenant Protection Act help foreclosed owners stay in Home 90 days

The Wisconsin Economic Recovery Act, Act 2 was recently enacted, with an effective date of March 7, 2009. Sections 847 through 850 of Act 2 contain the Tenant Protection Act.
The Act requires that the plaintiff in a foreclosure action provide notice to tenants three different times during the foreclosure.
The first notice must be provided to tenants within five (5) days of filing the foreclosure action. The next notice must be provided within five (5) days of the Judgment Entry showing the redemption expiration date. The third notice is sent once notice of confirmation of hearing is scheduled. This is notice of the hearing date and time. All notices must be sent by Registered Mail or personal service.
The Act also gives a tenant the right to remain in a foreclosed property for ninety (90) days after the foreclosure process has concluded. There is a $250.00 penalty, plus attorney fees for noncompliance.

http://www.legis.wi.gov/2009/data/acts/09Act2.pdf

Click the link above to learn more about this law.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Freddie Mac Release a bulletin

Freddie Mac has issued the following Single Family Seller/Servicer Guide Update regarding Bulletin 2009-10
Today we issued Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide Bulletin 2009-10, which announces important updates to requirements for the Home Affordable Modification program, including new criteria for determining whether a borrower is in imminent default, information and tools for Servicers to perform the required Net Present Value (NPV) test, and other changes to borrower eligibility and underwriting requirements.
Criteria for Determining Imminent Default
The Guide Bulletin provides criteria for determining whether a borrower who is current or less than 31days delinquent, and claims a hardship, is in imminent default. Using the process, requirements, and definitions outlined in our revised Guide Section C65.4, Servicers must consider the borrower for a modification under the Home Affordable Modification program if, after using the screening criteria outlined in this Guide section, the Servicer determines:
The borrower’s Debt Coverage Ratio is less than 1.20 and
The borrower’s cash reserves are less than three times the current monthly PITIA payment.
The Borrower Qualification Worksheet may be used to determine if a borrower, who is current or less than 31 days delinquent, is in imminent default. The updated Freddie Mac Borrower Qualification Worksheet will be available as a secure link on our Home Affordable Modification program Web page on Thursday, April 23. In addition, Freddie Mac is developing an automated solution to assist Servicers with the imminent default evaluation, and it will be available at a later date.
Net Present Value Calculations
All mortgages that meet Home Affordable Modification program criteria must be evaluated using the standardized NPV test that compares the NPV result for a modification to the NPV result for not modifying the mortgage. Today’s Bulletin and newly revised Guide Section C65.6 include detailed requirements for performing this test. These requirements include revisions for determining the amount of principal forbearance that may be permitted in order to achieve the Target Payment.
To assist Servicers, we are also introducing the Net Present Value (NPV) Calculator. The NPV Calculator is available on the Home Affordable Modification Servicer Web page. A user ID and password are required for access to the Servicer Web page. Servicers must complete and submit the HMP Registration Form to obtain a user ID and password.
Additional Updates
With today’s Bulletin, we are also announcing revisions and updates to these and other program requirements:
Revising requirements for verification of income when the Servicer uses stated income to create and send the borrower a Trial Period Plan, along with revising the income documentation requirements.
Revising the timeframe for when a borrower must respond to the Trial Period Plan offer package from 14 days to 30 days, and providing additional guidance if the borrower does not submit the required documents by the specified deadline.
Updating the definition of Interest Rate Cap.
Updating requirements for Servicers to continue to report “full-file” status reports to the four major credit repositories when borrowers enter the Trial Period, with criteria for borrowers who are current and borrowers who are delinquent when they enter the Trial Period.
Revising collateral valuation requirements used for the NPV test and for determining the mark-to-market LTV ratio.
Revising eligibility requirements to allow modifications of FHA, VA, and RHS mortgages, in accordance with guidance issued by the respective agency.
Revising documentation requirements for verifying that eligible mortgages are occupied primary residences.
Updating requirements for verifying installment debt and other expenses that must be included in the calculation of the borrower’s total monthly debt payment-to-income ratio.
Providing further guidance on the Servicer’s “Pay for Success” and Borrower’s “Pay for Performance” incentive fees.
Revising the Hardship Affidavit to now include a section for the collection of government monitoring data.
Adding requirements for reporting data to Fannie Mae in its capacity as Financial Agent.
Adding requirements provided by Freddie Mac, the Compliance Agent for the U.S Department of the Treasury.
Reminders
As a reminder, Servicers should continue to:
Suspend all foreclosure sales on owner-occupied properties for borrowers who may be or are eligible for a modification under the Home Affordable Modification program.
Report weekly Home Affordable Modification activity each Monday using the Program Performance Reporting Spreadsheet.

Please read the original bulletin: http://www.freddiemac.com/sell/guide/bulletins/pdf/bll0910.pdf

Monday, April 13, 2009

C.A.R. launches mortgage protection plan for first-time home buyers

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today launched the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program (C.A.R.H.A.F. MPP), for first-time home buyers.Through the Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, and receive a monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six months. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit. C.A.R.’s Housing Affordability Fund is dedicating $1 million toward its Mortgage Protection Program, and estimates that as many as 3,000 families will benefit from the program this year. To qualify for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must:· Be a first-time home buyer – someone who has not owned a home in three or more years· Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009· Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction· Purchase the property in California· Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed) To apply for the program, home buyers must request an application for the H.A.F. Mortgage Protection Program from their REALTOR®. This week’s Mortgage Update contains information about mortgage rates; mortgage refinancing and how to get the best refinancing deal.Mortgage rates drop to record lowRates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.85 percent for the week ending March 26, following an announcement by the Federal Reserve that it is launching a new effort to assist the U.S. housing market. The rate marked a record low in the history of the Freddie Mac survey. The previous low was 4.96 percent set during the week of Jan. 15.Get the best refinancing dealThe recent declines in interest rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages have resulted in many homeowners seeking to refinance. Due to the large number of requests to refinance, some homeowners are experiencing difficulty in trying to reach their lender. According to Fannie Mae’s chief economist, it may take as long as three months for the mortgage industry to start working at full capacity. To ensure they receive the best refinancing deal possible, consumers should be patient and follow a few tips from industry experts: First, consumers should recognize there is opportunity for significant savings by refinancing. Rates currently are hovering around 4.6 percent, but historically hover around 8 percent. Second, homeowners should be aware that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have increased their fees, so borrowers could be paying extra fees of 1 percent or more of the total loan amount. To qualify for the best rates, most borrowers must have at least 20 percent equity in their homes and FICO scores of 720 or higher.