Cheaper to foreclose than offer loan modifications?

by Jeremy Smiley on October 21, 2009

loan-modification-scale-268x300Cheaper to foreclose than offer loan modifications?

A new report from the National Consumer Law Center says Mortgage servicers have found it cheaper to foreclose on homeowners than offer loan modifications.  The report points out that servicers in charge of modifying distressed loans are separate from the lenders, who have packaged the loans and sold them in pieces or pools to other banks and investors.   “In the majority of cases, servicers have nothing to do with what’s in the best interest of those investors,” said Diane Thompson, the author of the report and attorney at the NCLC. “We figured this out by following the money, by following who plays what role in all of these business transactions and who gets paid what for doing what.”  Financial incentives encourage servicers to pursue a foreclosure in lieu of a modification, which costs the servicer upfront money in fixed overhead costs, and out-of-pocket expenses such as property valuations and credit reports, according to the report.  “A servicer deciding between a foreclosure and a loan modification faces the prospect of near certain loss if the loan is modified, and no penalty, but potential profit, if the home is foreclosed,” according to the report.

Related posts:

  1. Should You Choose a Short Sale Over a Foreclosure?
  2. LOAN MODIFICATION ATTORNEYS UNDER INVESTIGATION
  3. Foreclosures: Even Those with Good Credit, Jobs are Walking Away
  4. Fannie Mae Wants Short Sale Borrowers to Own Again
  5. Important Info For Fresno Homeowners Considering a Short Sale – New Housing Crash Will Send Shadow Inventory Above 7 Million

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

JAMES FAVINI February 3, 2010 at 9:40 am

ANY INDICATION HOW AURORA HANDLES THERE LOAN MODIFICATIONS

Jeremy Smiley February 3, 2010 at 12:57 pm

I dont have any experience with loan modifications and Aurora. I’ve done several short sales with them, they have been very easy to deal with. But as far as loan modifications, no clue.

Leave a Comment

Spam Protection by WP-SpamFree Plugin