When Is The HAMP Program Beneficial To You?

by

02 October 2018

Finance

HAMP Program

The Home Affordable Modification Program, called HAMP, provided individuals with aid in modifying their existing mortgage loans. This program was designed to provide homeowners with some financial relief to reduce the risk of foreclosure. The application of the HAMP program can make things work for you in all aspects. Do not make your choices in grey.

Is HAMP Program Available?

At the time of this writing, the Home Affordable Modification Program is no longer available as it was. The United States Department of Treasury established the program in March 2009. It was a part of the Making Home Affordable Program. It was effective on mortgages that were originated on or before January 1, 2009. The program was set to expire on December 31, 2016, with individuals able to apply for it through September 30, 2017. As of now, it is no longer available to individuals.

What Did the Home Affordability Mortgage Program Do?

The goal of this program was to encourage loan modifications for homeowners who were at risk of becoming delinquent on their loans. It worked to help reduce the frequency of missed monthly mortgage payments. HAMP program was beneficial for you and you have to make sure you do not make your choices in the wrong direction.

Who Was Eligible for HAMP?

Not all homeowners qualified for the home affordability mortgage program. To meet the requirements, individuals had to meet specific rules including the following:

  • The loan had to be a first lien mortgage (second mortgages and home equity lines of credit did not qualify).
  • It had the be a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan.
  • It applied to single-family homes, homes with up to four units, condos, cooperatives, and some manufactured homes.
  • Individuals with an FHA or VA loan could use the program (but this was not a requirement of obtaining the modification).
  • No vacant abandoned or condemned homes could obtain help.
  • Modifications could happen only one time through the HAMP program.

If the home met these requirements, a homeowner could then work with their existing lender to adjust their mortgage under some key guidelines. HAMP was not easy to qualify for, but for individuals who needed it, it provides a lifeline of important support.

To be eligible for the modifications, the borrowers had to meet specific requirements as well. These included the following:

  • Property owners that were current or no more than 60 days behind on their mortgage payments could be considered for a HAMP Trial Period. However, they must be determined to be in imminent default.
  • Borrowers could be in bankruptcy or foreclosure, or in some type of pending litigation regarding the property, such as in a judgment from lenders.
  • The key to obtaining these loan modifications was proving the borrower was struggling with some type of financial hardship.
  • Borrowers had to have an expense-to-income ratio related to housing expenses of no more than 31 percent (applied to their gross monthly income).
  • Individuals must still have some ability to make their monthly mortgage payments reliably after the modification occurs.

Why Did Borrowers Consider HAMP?

Borrowers were able to get help if they were struggling with financial hardship with the goal of avoiding foreclosure. This program was designed to help stop the flood of foreclosures entering the market after the housing crisis and financial difficulties that began in 2007. Individuals who qualified benefited by getting some type of modification to their loan. This may have included:

  • A reduction in their interest rate
  • Modifying the loan from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage
  • Getting a principal reduction or a forbearance
  • Getting a long term to help reduce the monthly payment

Over its lifetime, HAMP saw several modifications to determine which type of properties qualified and to reduce some financial strain. Most importantly borrowers were able to modify their loans so they could remain in the long term.

Lenders benefited from these modifications as well. Lenders were able to secure the loans for borrowers facing immediate financial hardship but had the likelihood of maintaining their mortgage payments over their lifetime. This helped reduce the risk of foreclosure, and an expensive process for lenders. Most importantly, it helped families remain in their homes.

What Options Are Available Now?

A home modification program is still an option for some homeowners. Other programs are available to help some borrowers such as the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Flex Modification Program. Many lenders offer modifications in-house as well. Borrowers who may be late on monthly mortgage payments or are facing financial hardship should consider speaking to their lender directly.

Additionally, the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, is available. This option remains in place and can help a homeowner to secure a lower interest rate on their loan, get into a shorter loan term, or adjust their loan from an adjustable-rate to a fixed rate.

Individuals facing financial hardship should seek out solutions from lenders. While the HAMP program is no longer accessible, other solutions may be available to help borrowers to avoid foreclosure, late payments, or even the loss of their home.

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Role in Disability

8 Factors That Play a Role in How Long-Term Disability Premium Is Calculated

Even if you know how beneficial long-term disability insurance can be, you may not know what to expect as far as rates are concerned. It’s not easy to just throw out a few figures; rates vary from one person to another, and they depend on various factors. Below, we’ll explain some of these factors in greater detail. 1. Your Age As we age, we’re more likely to suffer a long-term disability. Because of that unfortunate fact, insurance rates increase with age. Keep in mind that your cost for long-term disability insurance will never be as low as it is today, and consider purchasing a policy as soon as possible. 2. Your Income In the long-term disability insurance niche, the terminology is a bit misleading; it should really be known as ‘income insurance’. Because it is designed to protect or replace your income, it pays more if you make more. Therefore, rates are higher for those with elevated incomes. In most cases, long-term coverage costs from one to three per cent of your gross yearly income. 3. Whether You Smoke Those who smoke are more likely to become disabled in the future. Not only do they pay more for health and life insurance, but they also pay more for disability coverage as well. If you smoke, consider quitting; if you don’t smoke, don’t start. 4. Your Job As a worker, your long-term disability insurance rate is determined based on your job’s risks or physical demands. For instance, if you’re an office worker, you may pay less than a manual labourer would pay. 5. The Definition of a ‘Disability’ Every policy has a unique definition of the term ‘disability’. Most question whether you can do your previous job, or whether you’re unable to do any work at all. The looser the definition, the more you’ll pay for coverage. A policy covering ‘own occupation’ disabilities will pay out if you can’t do the same work, even if you could hold a different type of job. However, a policy covering the ‘loss of earnings’ will bridge the gap between your pre- and post-disability income. Finally, an ‘any occupation’ policy will only pay out if you cannot perform any type of work. By considering this from Darras Law, you will get the help needed to encourage your insurer to fulfil its obligations.  6. The Potential Payout While your policy’s cost will, of course, depend on your income, not all long-term disability policies pay 100% of what you make. Some pay just a fraction of that amount; the closer the policy comes to a 100% payout, the higher the rate you’ll pay. 7. Elimination Period Length A policy’s elimination period is sometimes referred to as a waiting period. It’s the time that has to pass between the onset of your disability and when the policy starts paying out. A policy may come with a 30-, 60-, or 90-day elimination period, and those with shorter periods will cost more. 8. The Benefit Period A disability insurance policy’s benefit period is the length of time it will pay out following the waiting period. Two- and five-year policies are common, as are lifetime policies and those that pay out until retirement age. The longer the benefit period, the more the policy will cost. In Conclusion Now that you’ve gained an understanding of the factors affecting your long-term disability insurance rates, your next step should be to determine how much coverage you need. While an insurance agent can help you find a new policy, a local disability attorney will help you get the benefits to which you’re already entitled. Read Also:  4 Expert Tips For Finding The Cheapest Insurance For You Your Simple Guide To GAP Insurance Tips For Breaking Into Finance And Banking

READ MOREDetails
Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended

Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended for Credit Card Consolidation

Debt consolidation has become a very common practice in the modern world. Financial advisers encourage people to take this approach especially if you want to become debt-free. Always go for a credit card loan during emergencies and look for means and ways of clearing it fast. Credit cards loans only assist you because you get them very fast. However, they come with more disadvantages the benefits to the borrower. At this point, consolidating all your credit card loans into one big but cheaper loan becomes a necessity. Importance of Debt Consolidation: Debt consolidation loan refers to taking out a personal loan that is equivalent to the sum you owe on your high-interest credit cards. After you use the loan to pay off the credit card, you must now pay back the lender that extend the loan to you. If you can find a personal loan with a low-interest rate, you will be saving money in repaying your credit card debt. Lower interest rate means that you can pay off your credit card debt and become debt-free faster. How Debt Consolidation Works: Many online personal loan lenders offer a loan amount of up to $35,000 to more than $100,000. The loan amount that you get approved will depend on whether you have the income to pay back. Once you are approved of the loan, they may send you a check or direct deposit the amount into your bank. You can then use the funds to pay back the credit card debt yourself. Some lenders can help you to submit the payment to your preferred credit card companies. In this case, you have to tell them what lenders to submit the payment and the amount to submit for each lender. Read More: Top 5 Types Of Startup Business Loans Other benefits of Debt Consolidation: Now that you can afford to pay back the loan, you must be diligent in making the repayment every month. In this way, your credit score will be build-up by the time you finish repaying the loan. You should check your credit report prior to applying for a personal loan use for the purpose of debt consolidation. The debt consolidation loan could also help to extend your loan term and reduce the monthly payment. Making a minimum payment on the loan means that you are only paying the interest rate. The actual amount you owe will remain the same in this case. This option is ideal for people who have limited income and need help in repaying the loan. The lender will review your credit profile and financial documents when deciding whether to approve the loan. It is easy to get a low-interest debt consolidation loan when you have a good/excellent credit score. In addition, you also must have a low outstanding debt to qualify for a low-interest rate. The length of repayment will also affect the interest rate. Longer repayment term causes you to pay a higher interest rate. A debt consolidation loan can consolidate your credit card debts into a single monthly payment. Before that, you have to remember different due dates from different credit cards to make sure you promptly submit the payment to the credit card company. It is easy to miss a payment when you have multiple due dates to remember. Now, you just have one repayment date to remember. This ensures that you will always remember to make the repayment on time. Read More: How To Get An Auto Loan At A Low-Interest Rate Conclusion: It’s a nice move to consolidate all your credit cards debts into a single but less expensive loan. You will have a peace of mind from the single installment and reduced interest rates. You will also rebuild your credit history as you continue repaying the loan as long as you make timely monthly installments. Read More: Best Home Buying Tips For First Time Buyers Oh, Crop! Killer E-Commerce Mistakes You Need To Conquer Questions To Ask When Working With A Web Developer

READ MOREDetails
Preschool Franchise

Key Advantages Of Investing In A Preschool Franchise: The Comprehensive Guide!

If you’re passionate about working with children in a diverse, energetic environment while securing a solid income, you’ve come to the right place! Preschool franchise opportunities offer investors the best chance at success in this competitive economic landscape. As a franchisee, you’ll be able to gain an established brand name, which will assist you in finding the best training materials you need to thrive. When you decide to invest in this type of business, you’ll gain a loyal following while receiving the tools to reach more supporters and showcase your services to the general public. This blog article will explore the main benefits of investing in preschool franchise establishments. Let’s embark on this journey together. All The Tools Needed To Flourish In This Space Kickstarting a preschool franchise from scratch is no walk in the park! You’ll need to focus on a million moving parts while also trying to ensure that the children are taken care of and that their parents are happy with your service delivery. This is where franchising comes into play! Buying a franchise gives you the tools, training, and mechanisms to flourish and thrive in this industry. Your employees will receive the best training to help them take excellent care of the children, understand primary emergency medical care, and find the best resources to inspire them to provide the best quality services. As an owner, you’ll also gain the best plans and strategies to lead your team and take the establishment to the next level. This is where you’ll be able to acquire specialized tools and information about this dynamic, nuanced industry. The childcare and preschool industries are challenging to navigate! You’ll need excellent tools and plans to understand the environment and industry. Help In Standing Out From Other Preschool Franchises To make it in this cut-throat industry, you’ll need to stand out from the competition in the sector. This is where advertising and marketing come into play.  When you run a franchise business, you will need specialized, unique marketing and advertising strategies to help your business grow and develop! Franchisors offer these strategies to their owners. As a franchisee, you’ll acquire perfected digital marketing processes, SEO campaigns, and social media plans to increase engagement and find new clients. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are excellent platforms to contact your audience members. This is where you’ll gain valuable information about your customers, find out what they like, and how they will make it in this unique field. You’ll also gain the best SEO principles and information to grow your brand online and expand your digital footprint! You’re Not Alone On This Journey! Another very important aspect of investing in this field is that you’re never alone. When you invest in a trademarked business, you can join a thriving community of like-minded individuals working towards the same goal. This means that as an owner, you will form part of a group you can rely on to receive advice and essential tips when operating this type of business. These other franchisees will provide you with expert knowledge and critical factors that you can use to advance your business. This means you’ll learn how to run your franchise effectively while gaining valuable insights into the sector. Another important aspect is that this community will always be there for you. They’re only a phone call away from you should you need help or assistance handling a particular situation. Clients Will Only Support A Brand That They Trust It’s essential to understand that consumers will only support and use businesses and brands they trust and are aware of. This is where you’re going to need to come up with creative ways to promote your business. Luckily, when you invest in a franchise company, you gain an established brand name. This means that the franchisor has taken the time and effort to grow the business and stand out from the competition in your field. This means the business already has a loyal following and supportive consumer, so you can focus on other elements and aspects of your business! It’s Less Of A Financial Risk! Another crucial reason you should invest in this type of franchise is that you’ll be assured that this business will survive and flourish. It’s well-known that most businesses fail within the first few years of opening their doors. Most owners don’t know how to run a business and are unsure about the skills needed to flourish. Regarding trademarked companies, the franchisor has taken the time and energy to set up the business in the market. There are specific processes and strategies in place that will help you thrive and grow your business from strength to strength. This means you can rest assured knowing that your business is in good hands and can sustain the different stages of running a business. The Ability To Enter An Evolving Industry Buying into the franchise education space comes with many advantages and benefits that will propel your finances into the future. The fantastic thing about these establishments is that they’ve been booming in recent years, and more entrepreneurs are deciding to invest in these businesses. What makes this landscape so lucrative is the fact that there's a massive demand for these services. Parents don’t have time to home-school their little ones, which means it’s an essential service being rendered. This is amazing because it means that there will always be a need for preschool services. Let’s Wrap Up! Investing in a franchise business could be your best decision! It allows you to gain an established brand name and following. As a franchisee, you’re also gaining specialized training and education to ensure your leadership skills are current while figuring out what business moves need to be made. You’ll also learn the best marketing and advertising strategies to grow your company and stand out from competitors. If you want to ensure your mark is in the childcare preschool industry, franchising is the way to go! Read Also: Franchise Digital Marketing: 4 Effective Techniques 4 Considerations Before Investing in an Oil Change Franchise Under 100k Are Franchise Crossovers An Effective Way For Mobile Games To Grow Their User Base?

READ MOREDetails