Home Refinance - Avoid Foreclosure Using the New Stimulus Package

The clear intention of Obama's new stimulus package for homeowners is to prevent foreclosure on their homes. People facing problems when it comes to meeting their mortgage repayments can apply for either a loan modification or mortgage refinancing option in order to avoid foreclosure on their primary home and place of residence.

How the plan works

After refinancing or loan modification the percentage of gross monthly income that the total monthly mortgage repayments can represent is 31% although under certain exceptional circumstances this might be increased to 38%.

The qualifying criteria for mortgage refinancing is different to the qualifying criteria for loan modification but the objective of having affordable mortgage repayments that can be sustained is the same.

For loan modifications this is achieved through various means that may include reducing the interest made on payments, extending the period of the loan or potentially deferring a part of the loan until a later time (balloon payment). In exceptional circumstances there may even be a portion of the loan forgiven, i.e. written off but this is entirely at the discretion of the lender as is the balloon payment. One is called principal forbearance and the other principal forgiveness.

The balloon payment (principal forbearance) can only be applied to loan modifications and not to mortgage refinancing. This part of the loan basically just sits there with no interest or capital repayment being paid. The amount is still owed, but you would not be required to pay it until the rest of the loan is cleared.

Interest rates for the mortgage refinancing are governed by market rates and there are concessions available to help with payments for closing costs or perhaps a title report that can be rolled into the loan for people who do not have the ready cash to hand. These concessions are different depending on whether the loan is under Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.

You need to assess whether the refinancing option works for you, it is possible that your repayments may not decrease but you may save money over the full period of the loan and you need to assess if taking this option is the correct decision. You can get free advice from a HUD approved housing counselor to help you asses the full financial impact.

The counselor will also be able to advise what other options you have if mortgage refinancing does not work for you e.g. the loan modification route or perhaps looking at the 'HOPE for homeowners' program administered by the FHA.

Visit Need Mortgage Refinance to get detailed information of the stimulus package, what it offers and other alternatives.