Efforts Made To Help Borrowers Avoid Foreclosure
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A few things have happened in the last few days that may ultimately ease what
many are calling an onrushing foreclosure train wreck.
While some attempts are more meaningful and far-reaching than others, at least
a couple of institutions which can do something to avert any coming catastrophe
appear to be moving in that direction and it is heartening to see that the system
may be capable of responding to trouble.
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the American Association
of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) just issued a joint consumer alert
on mortgage payment increases. The alert urged homeowners with
adjustable rate mortgages and especially those with the non-traditional types
such as interest only or payment option
mortgages to plan immediately for any resets of their rates in the coming
year.
The advisory states that borrowers should seek information on the characteristics
of their mortgages and begin to budget to meet any future rate shocks. Consumers
are also urged to contact their mortgage
servicers immediately if they anticipate problems or are already having
difficulty with their payments.
The two organizations also issued a letter to mortgage servicers and providers
urging them to reach out to their borrowers to provide appropriate loan information
and to work with them to prevent the loss of their homes.
CSBS Senior Vice President for Regulatory Affairs Michael Stevens said, "Servicers
should provide information on when the recast
will occur and how much the monthly payment will adjust. Should the loan go
into default, servicers should consider workout arrangements to prevent foreclosures."
Freddie Mac is also touting its foreclosure avoidance activities. The corporation,
along with Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and 20 other mortgage
industry leaders has established NeighborWorks America which
is sponsoring a public service advertising campaign on television urging troubled
homeowners to face their problems and seek help. Two of the ads can be viewed
on the Freddie Mac website (www.freddiemac.com).
A Freddie-sponsored survey conducted by Roper Public Affairs and Media found
that 74 percent of home mortgage borrowers were very interested in seeking the
assistance of housing counselors in avoiding foreclosure yet
only 64 percent had been aware of the existence of such counselors. Only 61
percent of borrowers who were already late on mortgage payments were even aware
that there was help available to them.
Freddie Mac is working with its servicers to establish and enforce guidelines
for avoiding foreclosure and offering incentives to servicers
who are proactive in this regard. Freddie, however, also wants its servicers
to conclude the legal proceedings in a timely manner if the loan can not be
salvaged. The corporation has a complicated schedule of rewards (some quite
substantial) and penalties for servicers who follow or fail to follow the various
standards.
Perhaps the most far-reaching housing effort was announced on Thursday by Rep.
Barney Frank (D-MA) although it is designed to make housing more affordable
going forward rather than reducing the problems with existing mortgages.
Frank, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has
introduced a bill which would put $1 billion into a fund to build affordable
housing. The money, which would be partially funded by profits from Freddie
Mac and Fannie Mae, would go directly to local communities, states, and other
recipients to build or rehabilitate 1.5 million housing units in the next 10
years.
In announcing the new legislation Frank laid part of the blame
for the current subprime mortgage problems on the lack of affordable housing,
saying that lack pushed many people into purchasing homes they could not afford.
Hearings on the proposed legislation will begin on July 12.
In related news, Caliber Global Investment Ltd., a fund listed on the London
Stock Exchange announced on Thursday that it is closing down due to the turmoil
in the subprime market. The fund which is managed by Cambridge Place Investment
Management hopes to sell all of its assets over the next year and return as
much money as possible to its investors.
Caliber controlled almost $1 billion in assets. More than half of the assets
were residential mortgage-backed securities, the majority of which were from
the U.S.
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