Foreclosures

Treasury Makes Refinancing More Attractive

The Treasury Department on Wednesday expanded its foreclosure prevention plan, lifting the current 105 percent loan-to-value cap to refinance up to 125 percent of a home’s value.

Applications to refinance mortgages have fallen as rates have increased in the last couple of weeks, but this move may bring more borrowers to the table.

At the same time, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have agreed to reduce the processing fee for borrowers who select a 25-year mortgage.

Fannie said in a statement, “The reduction is intended to lure borrowers to select shorter terms and build positive equity in their homes sooner than with a typical 30-year mortgage.”

Source: Reuters News, Patrick Rucker (07/01/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

Distressed Commercial Real Estate Tops $97B

The total value of distressed commercial real estate reached $97.8 billion in June, doubling every three months since December 2008, according to a new report from Delta Associates.

Foreclosures of commercial mortgages reached a 3.2 percent delinquency rate in the first quarter of 2009, up from 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

Retail properties represented the largest segment of distressed mortgages at $29.7 million.

Source: Washington Business Journal (06/26/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

U.S. Increases Assistance to Foreclosure Program

The U.S. government is offering another $3.1 billion to mortgage servicing companies to encourage them to modify loans for borrowers facing foreclosure.

More than 9 percent of 45 million U.S. mortgages, or about 4 million loans, were delinquent in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Obama administration put up $50 billion in March as an incentive to encourage the mortgage industry to modify loans to make monthly payments more affordable. So far, however, the plan hasn’t been very effective with relatively few borrowers able to qualify.

To increase the numbers, the administration last month expanded the program to provide incentives for lenders to streamline their short-sale processes.

As of this week about 50,000 borrowers are enrolled in three-month trial modifications under the plan, the Treasury Department says.

Part of the problem, lenders say, is the volume of applicants, which has overwhelmed workers charged with modifying the loans.

Source: The Associated Press

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

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