For the past few years I have helped thousands of people by teaching them to help themselves through my blogs, forums and emails. I really enjoy assisting my fellow Americans in a time of need and have found a great new career working from home.
Since becoming a full time consumer advocate and blogger in 2007, I have found that one of the best teaching tools is to answer the questions I receive on my blog for the world to see and learn.
This morning I received this email and I though this exchange could help a few people out there that may have the same question.
from C*@bellsouth.net
to Moe@loansafe.org
dateSat, Jun 20, 2009 at 8:22 AM
subject: Your thoughtful Insight Needed
Greetings Moe,
I have read many of your different blogs on various websites. Your passion for helping others is well documented. If you don’t mind, I have almost completed my loan mod with American Home Mortgage. I’m pleased with their first offer, but should I asked for more. For example, could they wave the $500 Modification Fee?
I have listed below the details of my modification (my previous APR was 6.625%):
1st year APR 3.5%
2nd year APR 4.0%
3rd year APR 5.0%
4th year and beyond (25 yrs) APR 5.5%
Also, I have 2 months mortgages payments rolled up into the loan.
Our insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
C*
To: C*@bellsouth.net
dateMon, Jun 22, 2009 at 6:51 AM
subject Re: Your thoughtful Insight Needed
My answer:
Hello Cordie and thanks for the email!
This looks like a great offer. If you can afford this modification long term, then I advise you might want to accept it. As far as the $500 modification fee, many mortgage servicers do have these fees added in to handle their costs associated with processing your loan modification.
What upsets me is the fact that they get an additional $1500 from the US government and they still have their hands our for more money from homeowners. But I am not surprised to say the least.
By all means, you can counter this offer and do not have to take it. I have seen some people get better offers by doing this. I have also witnessed homeowners who countered the offer on the table, as the current offer expired, only to never receive another loan modification. Sadly, they ended up losing their homes.
If you counter or deny this offer, you run the risk of losing it and maybe all offers in the future. But do not take an unaffordable loan modification because you feel pressured to accept it. If you can’t afford it, then fight for better!
Loan modifications are what the industry calls a privilege and are not mandatory. You being an American, you have the right to choose what is best for you and your life.
With that being said, lets end this with an old country song by the great singer Kenny Rogers, “You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to run!”
I wish you the best in all you do and choose!
—————
Best Regards,
Moe Bedard
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
i am going thru a loan modification with american home mortgage and they have sent me 3 loan agreements. the first agreement was not acceatable because the payment would be going up until i ended paying more than my original payment. the second one was not to clear and the third party that is so called helping me said after 5 years the bank would raise the payment to whatever they wanted so they told me not to sign and resumit for the 3rd time. we now received the third agreement and the payment is more than the original payment and it will continue to increase for the next 3 years. i had requested interest only and i have paid my taxes and insurance and the bank gave me interest and principal and included taxes and insurance to my payment. can i resumit for a fourth time
Hi!
Help!
I don’t know where to turn for help or who to trust. I am behind on mortgage payments by about 6 months. I have been working with the local CDC authority (who is ‘working’ with the lender)(lender referred me to CDC). I received a loan mod offer with 6 days to answer the lender. It was decent. I responded by signing and the lender (Indy Mac bank for Deutsch Bank)declined to accept me. They said I could not prove my income (a rental unit in my home earns monthly income, but is currently empty pending this house resolution). Now, the lender has started the foreclosure procedure. I was served with summons (so was my ‘unnamed spouse’ who I didn’t even know at the time I purchased the house 5 years ago). I need to respond to this summons within the next 10 days. What do I need to include in my response letter in order to preserve any rights under the law that I may have? I paid $218K in 2004. My first mortgage (the MOST TOXIC in the industry according to Indy Mac representative) WAS $174,400, adjustable up to 9.25% (balance now $186+ due negative amortization) and the piggy-back second (Indy Mac for JP Morgan-Chase) is $21K, at 11.25%. My new husband and I both want to relocate within the year. We are willing to keep the house and rent it if it is sensible. How do we know whether we should try to keep it or just let go and take the loss?
By the way, the second loan mod offer (stamped ‘Final Offer’) just came in the mail. Again they want a response within 6 days. The payment has now been reduced further to only $375/mo. P&I for first 5 years (at 3%). The 6th year at 4 % and the 7th year at %%, and finally the 8th and all remaining years (up to year 2034) at 5.25%. This part is great. It actually pays off about $51K, according to the lender’s package. And we can afford this, which is awesome. But the problem I have is understanding the two balloon payments, one for $96K (remaining principal) and one for $46K(misc.?). Balloon comes due at time of sale, or refinance, or final (30th) year 2034. Oh, yes, the county just listed new property appraisals for our area this week. The ‘comparable sales value’ is $142,700. The ‘just/market value’ is $127,633. Is there any reason to believe that the house will be worth keeping? (p.s. We have been told that the 2nd mortgage of $21K will not be addressed until the first mortgage is settled.
What is going on here?) Many thanks for any help you can offer!!!
MANY MANY THANKS!!!
Kate
I have been attempting to get loan mod with Litton Loan Servicing since November, 2008. As of today, September 1, 2009, i was advised over the phone that they are placing us in a trial modification plan wherein they took the amount we were behind, placed it at the end of our loan and recalculated our payment at the same interest rate of 8.4%. So basically, our house payment will go up almost $400.00 per month, when we couldn’t afford the payment where it was. They have advised me that they do not have to participate in the Obama plan, but they took some of the bailout money. I have requested my entire mortgage file as well as the name of who owns my loan and I have not received that yet either. I don’t have thousands to give someone to try to work this out. I need advise.
I appreciate very much your dedication in helping us by explaining this complex matter.
I have a question…
Is it possible to get Bank’s approval for a Short Sale, when the property has already a Notice of Trustee Sale date?
Thank you
Hi,
I just received a loan modification offer that I don’t think is fair. I’m going from a fixed interest rate of 6.8% to an adjustable 3.5% for 5 years, then 6th year (unknown), 7th year (unknown) and …on until th 40th year where the amortization shows a single (last) payment of $50,0000. In addition, my current loan has not penalty for prepay and under this modication there will be a penalty. My current loan (40yr) principal is 270k. What will be my best counter offer?
Thanks in advance for your help!
JP
I started a daily blog with what I am experiencing as I go through a modification with a third party. I hope this helps anyone that might have to go through this.