Faith Schwartz

Apache is functioning normally

Foreclosure prevention alliance Hope Now completed 123,000 loan modifications and 125,000 repayment plans in January, a slight increase from the 239,000 workouts in December.

It was the largest number of loan modifications in a single month since the program began in July 2007, while repayment plans matched a record high previously seen in October 2008.

“In the midst of this ever-changing and extremely challenging mortgage crisis, Hope Now members continue to increase the number of homeowners they are helping and are trying hard to provide additional positive solutions,” said Faith Schwartz, Hope Now’s executive director.

“The increasingly frequent use of modifications as the primary way to help homeowners is very likely to continue,” she added.

For the second month in a row, loan modifications accounted for roughly half of all loan workouts, a growing theme as mortgage lenders become increasingly desperate.

That said, the number of foreclosures started in January increased by over 14,000 from December, while completed foreclosure sales jumped to 68,000 from 56,000.

“It’s clear that the mortgage problem is still growing,” Schwartz added. “That’s why Hope Now members are looking for additional ways to help homeowners and are working hard to assist the Obama administration implement its just-announced foreclosure-prevention initiative.”

Both prime (options arms anyone) and subprime delinquencies continue to rise industry-wide, troubling because the re-default rate on modified loans throughout 2008 ranged between 30 and 40 percent (maybe that can be attributed to a larger share of inferior repayment plans?).

Hope Now considers a loan a “re-default” if it’s 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure six months after it was first modified.

On a positive note, 55 percent of all mortgage modifications are being applied to mortgages owned by private label investors, which I noted were at the root of the crisis.

A couple more interesting tidbits: nearly half of all loan mods in the third quarter went to borrowers with Fico scores below 620, and approximately 25 percent of homes lost to foreclosure were non-owner occupied (speculators).

(photo: poopfaceproductions)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

Nearly a quarter-of-a-million loan workouts were carried out by foreclosure prevention alliance Hope Now last month as modifications finally accounted for more than half.

Completed loan workouts totaled 244,000 in February, down ever so slightly from January, but more favorable loan modifications increased nine percent.

The combination of 134,000 loan mods and 110,000 repayment plans made February the sixth straight month where workouts surpassed the 200,000 mark, a 30 percent increase over the previous six months.

“We expect the trend to continue as many companies expand their offerings to include the administration’s Making Home Affordable refinance and modification programs,” said Faith Schwartz, Hope Now’s executive director, in a release.

“The mortgage lending industry is responding to the needs of its customers and offering solutions that are appropriate to the current market and economic conditions.”

Unfortunately, Hope Now’s efforts are being tested by rising foreclosure sales, which totaled 87,000 in February, up from 68,000 a month earlier.

Nearly two-thirds were tied to prime loans, a huge swing from last month, marking the first time such loans have outnumbered subprime-related foreclosures (could it be a lack of home equity thing?).

However, workout plans for subprime loans continued to outpace those directed towards prime borrowers.

“Currently 5.5 percent of the total mortgage market is 60 days or more delinquent,” Schwartz added.

“Because of this, HOPE NOW members are working hard to help the administration implement its recently-announced foreclosure prevention initiative as well as working on additional ways we can be more efficient in helping at-risk homeowners.”

Perhaps a greater reliance on more sustainable loan modifications will lead to a lower re-default rate, which ranged between 30 and 40 percent in 2008.

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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