The Federal Loan Modification Program
Here are six important things any homeowner needs to know about the federal loan modification program:
- Monthly Payments — President Obama's loan
modification plan focuses primarily on the concept that Americans will
continue to pay their mortgages so long as they can afford the monthly
payments. This means that rather than focusing on the value of
the home, loan modifications focus on lowering the amount of the
monthly payment.
- Thirty-One Percent - The plan calls for participating loan
servicers (lenders) to reduce monthly payments to no more than 38
percent of the borrower’s gross monthly income. Meaning, if the
person’s monthly income is $10,000, then the monthly payment cannot be
more than $3,800. The government would then chip in to further
bring the monthly mortgage payments down to no more than 31 percent of
the borrower’s monthly income.
- Cash Incentives – Loan processors are being
paid $1,000 for each loan modification and will get an addition $1,000
payout each year for as much as three years as long as the borrower
continues making payments. Borrowers can also get up to $1,000
knocked off of the principal of their loan each year for as many as
five years if their payments are made on time.
- Financial Hardship – The plan is
designed for responsible homeowners who are ensnared by the current
housing slump and the proceeding recession. Only
owner-occupied homes which are the primary residence with an
outstanding principal balance of less than $730,000 are eligible.
- Net Present Value – In order to determine if a
mortgage is eligible for a loan modification, the loan servicer must
perform a “net present value” test which compares the expected cash
flow the loan would generate if it is modified with the expected cash
flow it would generate if it was not modified.
- Second Mortgages and Equity Loans – The federal loan modification plan addresses the issue of second liens, such as home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, by offering special incentives to eliminate them.
Learn more about loan modifications
- The Federal Loan Modification Program
- Do You Qualify for a Loan Modification?
- The Loan Modification Process
- Loan Modification FAQ
- Making Home Affordable.gov
Explore all the options to avoid foreclosure
Find out if a loan modification can save your home. Call Peter at 800.611.5126 for a free consultation to see if you qualify.


