Trouble paying your mortgage? You have options
You might be wondering about mortgage loan modification if you’re:
- Experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus
- Having trouble making your monthly mortgage payments
- Currently in mortgage forbearance but worried about what will happen when forbearance ends
The good news is, help is available. But mortgage relief options are not one-size-fits-all.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for a loan modification. Or, you might be able to pursue another avenue like a refinance. Here’s what you should know about your options.
Check your refinance eligibility (Feb 17th, 2021)In this article (Skip to…)
- What is loan modification?
- How mortgage modification works
- Loan modification vs. refinance
- Loan modification vs. forbearance
- Who is eligible for a modification?
- How to request a loan modification
- Mortgage modification programs
- Is modification a good idea?
- Alternatives
- Loan modification FAQ
What is loan modification?
Loan modification is when a lender agrees to alter the terms of a homeowner’s mortgage to help them avoid default and keep their house during times of financial hardship.
The goal of a mortgage loan modification is to reduce the borrower’s payments so they can afford their loan month-to-month. This is typically done by lowering the mortgage rate or extending the loan’s repayment term.
“A mortgage loan modification does not replace your existing home loan or your lender,” explains Karen Condor, a finance and insurance expert with Loans.org.
“However, it restructures your loan in the interest of making it more manageable when you experience difficulties in making your mortgage payments.”
How mortgage loan modification works
With a loan modification, the total principal amount you owe won’t change.
“But the lender may agree to a lower interest rate, reduced loan length, or a longer payoff period,” says Elizabeth Whitman, attorney and managing member of Whitman Legal Solutions, LLC.
Any of these strategies could help reduce your monthly mortgage payments and/or the total amount of interest you pay in the long run.
Modification can also include switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage and rolling late fees into your principal, adds Condor.
Note, loan modification is intended to make a mortgage more affordable month-to-month. But it often involves extending the loan term or adding missed payments back into the loan — which may increase the amount of interest paid.
Refinancing into a new loan, on the other hand, often reduces the monthly payment the total interest cost.
Loan modification vs. refinance
A refinance is typically the first plan of action for homeowners who need a lower mortgage payment.
Refinancing can replace your original loan with a new one that has a lower interest rate and/or a longer term. This may offer a permanent reduction in mortgage loan payments without negatively affecting your credit.
However, borrowers going through financial hardship might not be able to refinance.
They may have trouble qualifying for the new loan due to a reduced income, lower credit score, or unexpected debts (such as medical expenses).
In these cases, the homeowner might be eligible for a mortgage loan modification.
Loan modification is usually reserved for homeowners who are not eligible to refinance due to a financial hardship.
Mortgage modification is usually reserved for borrowers who do not qualify for a refinance and have exhausted other possible mortgage relief options.
“With a loan modification, you work with your existing bank or lender on modifying the terms of your existing mortgage,” explains David Merritt, a consumer finance litigation attorney with Bernkopf Goodman, LLP.
“If you’ve defaulted on your existing mortgage, chances are your credit has been negatively impacted to the point where a new lender would be wary to give you a new loan.”
“Typically a refinance is not possible in this situation,” says Merritt.
That means there’s no real contest between loan modification vs. refinancing. The right option for you will depend on the status of your current loan, your personal finances, and what your mortgage lender agrees to.
Check your refinance eligibility (Feb 17th, 2021)Loan modification vs. forbearance
Forbearance is another way servicers can help borrowers during times of financial stress.
Loan forbearance is a temporary plan that pauses mortgage payments while a homeowner gets back on their feet.
For example, many homeowners who lost their jobs or had reduced income were able to request forbearance for up to a year or more during the COVID pandemic.
Unlike forbearance, mortgage loan modification is a plan that changes the rate or terms of a home loan.
Forbearance and loan modification can sometimes be combined to make a more effective mortgage relief plan.
For instance, a homeowner whose income is still reduced at the end of their forbearance period may be approved for a permanent loan modification.
Or, a homeowner approved for mortgage modification may also have part of their unpaid principal forborne (put off) until the end of the repayment period.
Who is eligible for a loan modification?
To qualify for a loan modification, a borrower usually must have missed at least 3 mortgage payments and be in default.
“Sometimes, a borrower who has experienced financial setbacks, which makes a default imminent, can qualify for a loan modification. But not everyone in default under their mortgage is eligible for a loan modification,” explains Whitman.
“Borrowers whose financial setback is so severe that they will never be able to repay their mortgage won’t receive a modification, nor will borrowers who have the ability to make mortgage payments either from their income or savings.”
“Borrowers whose financial setback is so severe that they will never be able to repay their mortgage won’t receive a modification” –Elizabeth Whitman, attorney & managing member, Whitman Legal Solutions, LLC
In addition to providing a hardship letter or statement, prepare to provide proof of income, two years’ worth of tax returns, and bank/financial statements, says Condor.
Be aware, however, that your lender is not obligated to provide a loan modification.
“Once a lender has an executed contract — meaning the loan — they don’t have to change it. Many [homeowners] are denied a mortgage loan modification,” Gallagher explains.
“If the lender desires to modify the terms, per your request, then you have a starting point.”
How to request a loan modification
The process for requesting a loan modification will vary depending on who manages your loan.
The first thing you need to do is contact your loan servicer. This is the company to which you send payments, and the one you need to work with to determine your options for loan modification.
Some mortgages are managed, or “serviced” by the original lender. But most home loans are serviced by a separate company.
For instance, you may have received the loan from Wells Fargo, but now make payments to U.S. Bank.
The loan servicer is the company that takes your monthly mortgage payments; you can find yours by checking the name and contact information on your latest mortgage statement.
Many borrowers begin the process by sending a ‘hardship letter’ to their servicer or lender. A hardship letter is simply a note that describes the borrower’s financial difficulties and explains why they can’t make payments.
The lender will likely request financial information and documentation, including bank statements, pay stubs, and proof of your assets.
These documents will help your lender understand the full scope of your personal finances and determine the correct path for mortgage relief.
Mortgage loan modification programs
Your loan modification options will depend on the type of loan you have and what your lender or loan servicer agrees to.
Conventional loan modification
“Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and private lenders of conventional loans have their own modification programs and guidelines,” says Charles Gallagher, a real estate attorney.
In particular, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae offer Flex Modification programs designed to decrease a qualified borrower’s mortgage payment by about 20%.
Flex Modification typically involves adjusting the interest rate, forbearing a portion of the principal balance, or extending the loan’s term to make monthly payments more affordable for the homeowner.
To be eligible for a Flex Modification program, the homeowner must have:
- At least 3 monthly payments past due on a primary residence, second home, or investment property
- ; less than 3 monthly payments past due but the loan is in “imminent default,” meaning the lender has determined the loan will definitely default without modification. This is only an option for primary residences
Certain hardships can trigger “imminent default” status; for instance, the death of a primary wage earner in the household, or serious illness or disability of the borrower.
Unemployment is typicallyan eligible reason for Flex Modification.
Borrowers who are unemployed are more likely to be placed in a temporary forbearance plan — which pauses payments for a set period of time, but does not permanently change the loan’s term or interest rate.
In addition, government-backed FHA, VA, and USDA loans are not eligible for Flex Modification programs.
FHA loan modification
The Federal Housing Administration offers its own loan modification options to make payments more manageable for delinquent borrowers.
Depending on your situation, FHA loan modification options may include:
- Lowering the interest rate
- Extending the loan term
- Rolling unpaid principal, interest, or loan costs back into the loan’s balance
- Re-amortizing the mortgage to help the borrower make up missed payments
In some cases where extra assistance is needed, FHA borrowers may be eligible for the FHA-Home Affordable Modification Program (FHA-HAMP).
FHA-HAMP allows the lender to defer missed mortgage payments to bring the homeowner’s loan current. It can then request that HUD (FHA’s overseer) further reduce the monthly payment by opening an interest-free subordinate loan of up to 30% of the remaining loan balance. The borrower only pays principal and interest based on 70% of the balance, and can pay back the remainder upon a sale or refinance of the home.
Deferring this extra principal amount can help make it easier for FHA borrowers to get back on track with their loans.
FHA-HAMP is typically combined with one of the loan modification methods above to lower the borrower’s monthly payment.
Eligible FHA borrowers must complete a trial repayment plan to qualify for either loan modification or the FHA-HAMP program. This involves making on-time payments in the modified amount for 3 months straight.
VA loan modification
Veterans and service members with loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs can ask their servicer about VA loan modification.
VA loan modification can roll missed payments back into the loan balance, as well as other delinquent homeownership costs like unpaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
After these costs are added to the loan, the borrower and servicer work together to establish a new repayment schedule that will be manageable for the veteran.
Note, VA modification is unique in that the interest rate might actually So while this plan can help veterans bring their loans current, it won’t always reduce the homeowner’s monthly payments.
“For VA loan modification, several requirements apply,” notes Condor. She explains:
- “Your VA loan must in default
- You must have since recovered from the temporary hardship that caused the default
- You must be able to support the financial obligations of the modified VA loan
- And you must not have modified your VA loan in the past three years”
Some homeowners with VA loans may qualify for a ‘Streamline Modification.’
Streamline Modification does not require as much documentation as the traditional VA modification plan, but includes two extra requirements:
- The combined principal and interest payment must drop by at least 10%
- The borrower must complete a 3-month trial repayment plan to prove they can make the modified payments
Talk to your loan servicer about options for your VA loan.
USDA loan modification
USDA loan modification is for homeowners whose current loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A USDA loan modification allows missing mortgage payments (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) to be rolled back into the loan balance.
USDA modification plans also allow a term extension up to 480 months, or 40 years total, to help reduce the borrower’s payments. And the servicer can lower the borrower’s interest rate, “even below the market rate if necessary,” according to USDA.
Servicers may cover up to 30 percent of the homeowner’s unpaid principal balance using a mortgage recovery advance.
Contact your loan servicer to find out whether you’re eligible for a USDA loan modification.
Is mortgage loan modification a good idea?
A mortgage loan modification is worth pursuing for the right candidates.
“A modification can give you a second bite at the apple and get you out of the default or foreclosure process, allowing you a chance to remain in your home,” says Merritt.
But caveats apply.
“Typically, a modification will take all of your missed payments and add those to the outstanding principal balance,” Merritt says.
Say your current mortgage has an outstanding balance of $300,000. Assume you missed $50,000 in payments. In this example, your modified balance would be $350,000, which is called ‘capitalization.’
“But imagine your home’s value is only $310,000,” adds Merritt. “Here, a modification would allow you to stay in your home and avoid foreclosure, but you would owe more than your house is worth. That would be a problem if, say, two years after modification you wanted to sell your home.”
Refinancing and other alternatives to modification
Loan modification isn’t your only option, thankfully.
Possible alternatives include refinancing, forbearance, a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Refinancing
As mentioned above, you should first check if you’re eligible to lower your interest rate and payment with a mortgage refinance.
You’ll have to qualify for the new mortgage based on your:
- Credit score and credit report
- Debt-to-income ratio
- Loan-to-value ratio (your loan balance versus the home’s value)
- Income and employment
It may be difficult to qualify for a refinance during times of financial hardship. But before writing this strategy off, check all the loan options available.
For instance, FHA loans have lower credit score requirements and allow higher debt-to-income (DTI) ratios than conventional loans. So it may be easier to refinance into an FHA loan than a conventional one.
Streamline refinancing
Homeowners with FHA, VA, and USDA loans have an additional option in the form of Streamline Refinancing.
A Streamline Refinance typically does not require income or employment verification, or a new home appraisal. Even the credit check might be waived (though the lender will always verify you have been making mortgage payments on time).
These loans are a lot more forgiving for homeowners whose finances have taken a downturn.
Note, Streamline Refinancing is only allowed within the same loan program: FHA-to-FHA, VA-to-VA, or USDA-to-USDA.
Check your Streamline Refi eligibility (Feb 17th, 2021)Other mortgage relief options
Refinancing typically requires a loan-to-value ratio of 97% or lower, meaning the homeowner has at least 3% equity.
However, “borrowers who have less than 3 percent equity in their homes may qualify for Fannie Mae’s HIRO program,” suggests Whitman.
This ‘High-LTV Refinance Option‘ is intended for homeowners with Fannie Mae-backed loans who owe more on their mortgage than the property is worth.
“Other choices for borrowers with little or no equity in their homes include a consensual foreclosure or a short sale, which involves selling the property for less than the outstanding mortgage amount.”
What should you do?
Whitman continues, “Any borrower who will struggle to repay their mortgage and other debts after a loan modification should consider whether it is better to dispose of their home and find a more affordable housing option.”
To better determine if a refinance or mortgage loan modification is the right strategy for you, consult with your loan servicer, an attorney, or a housing counselor.
Mortgage loan modification FAQ
The goal of a loan modification is to help a homeowner catch up on missed mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure. If your servicer or lender agrees to a mortgage loan modification, it may result in lowering your monthly payment, extending or shortening your loan’s term, or decreasing the interest rate you pay.
Contact your mortgage servicer or lender immediately to alert them of your financial hardship and ask about loan modification options available. Be ready to provide all documentation requested, which can include financial statements, pay stubs, tax returns, and more.
Expect your loan modification process to take anywhere from one to three months, according to finance and insurance expert Karen Condor. Once your loan modification has been approved, the changes to your interest rate and/or loan terms are permanent.
A mortgage loan modification under certain government programs will not affect your credit. “But other loan modifications may negatively impact your credit and show up on your credit report. However, since your mortgage usually must be in default to request a modification, your financial difficulties are probably already on your credit report,” explains attorney Elizabeth Whitman.
Yes. A mortgage loan is a contract, and the mortgage lender isn’t obligated to agree to a loan modification. “Borrowers whose financial situation is such that they will never be able to repay their mortgage loan, as well as borrowers who do not cooperate with lender requests, are likely to be denied a modification,” says Whitman.
While there are no closing costs for a mortgage modification, your lender may charge a processing fee. “If your modification involves extending your loan’s term, that means you’ll pay more interest over the life of your loan,” explains attorney Charles Gallagher.
Paying back a loan modification will depend on the type of modification you are given. “Your lender can apply a reduced interest amount to your loan’s principal on the backend that you must later pay back,” says Condor. “With a principal deferral loan modification, your lender reduces the amount of principal paid off with each payment. But the amount of principal your lender deferred will be due when your loan matures or the home is sold.”
Understand your options
Mortgage loan modification is typically reserved for homeowners who are already delinquent on their loans.
If you’re worried about mortgage payments, get ahead of the issue by checking your eligibility for a refinance or contacting your loan servicer about options before your loan becomes delinquent.
Many homeowners are facing financial hardship right now, and many lenders and loan servicers are willing to help. But help is only available to those who ask for it.
Verify your new rate (Feb 17th, 2021)
