Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) official Loan Modification Guidelines.

FDIC “Loan Mod in a Box” additional Loan Modification Tools

Background

Although foreclosures are costly to lenders, borrowers and communities, the pace of loan modifications continues to be extremely slow (around 4 percent of seriously delinquent loans each month). It is imperative to provide incentives to achieve a sufficient scale in loan modifications to stem the reductions in housing prices and rising foreclosures.

Modifications should be provided using a systematic and sustainable process. The FDIC has initiated a systematic loan modification program at IndyMac Federal Bank to reduce first lien mortgage payments to as low as 31% of monthly income. Modifications are based on interest rate reductions, extension of term, and principal forbearance. A loss share guarantee on redefaults of modified mortgages can provide the necessary incentive to modify mortgages on a sufficient scale, while leveraging available government funds to affect more mortgages than outright purchases or specific incentives for every modification. The FDIC would be prepared to serve as contractor for Treasury and already has extensive experience in the IndyMac modification process.

Basic Structure and Scope of Proposal
This proposal is designed to promote wider adoption of such a systematic loan modification program:

1. by paying servicers $1,000 to cover expenses for each loan modified according to the required standards; and
2. sharing up to 50% of losses incurred if a modified loan should subsequently re-default

We envision that the program can be applied to the estimated 1.4 million non-GSE mortgage loans that were 60 days or more past due as of June 2008, plus an additional 3 million non-GSE loans that are projected to become delinquent by year-end 2009. Of this total of approximately 4.4 million problem loans, we expect that about half can be modified, resulting in some 2.2 million loan modifications under the plan.

Details on Program Design

• Eligible Borrowers: The program will be limited to loans secured by owner-occupied properties.

• Exclusion for Early Payment Default: To promote sustainable mortgages, government loss sharing would be available only after the borrower has made six payments on the modified mortgage.

• Standard NPV Test: In order to promote consistency and simplicity in implementation and audit, a standard test comparing the expected net present value (NPV) of modifying past due loans compared to the strategy of foreclosing on them will be applied. Under this NPV test, standard assumptions will be used to ensure that a consistent standard for affordability is provided based on a 31% borrower mortgage debt-to-income ratio.

• Systematic Loan Review by Participating Servicers: Participating servicers would be required to undertake a systematic review of all of the loans under their management, to subject each loan to a standard NPV test to determine whether it is a suitable candidate for modification, and to modify all loans that pass this test. The penalty for failing to undertake such a systematic review and to carry out modifications where they are justified would be disqualification from further participation in the program until such a systematic program was introduced.

• Reduced Loss Share Percentage for “Underwater Loans”: For LTVs above 100%, the government loss share will be progressively reduced from 50% to 20% as the current LTV rises.¹ If the LTV for the first lien exceeds 150%, no loss sharing would be provided.

• Simplified Loss Share Calculation: In order to ensure the administrative efficiency of this program, the calculation of loss share basis would be as simple as possible. In general terms, the calculation would be based on the difference between the net present value of the modified loan and the amount of recoveries obtained in a disposition by refinancing, short sale or REO sale, net of disposal costs as estimated according to industry standards. Interim modifications would be allowed.

• De minimis Test: To lower administrative costs, a de minimis test excludes from loss sharing any modification that did not lower the monthly payment at least 10 percent.

• Eight-year Limit on Loss Sharing Payments: The loss sharing guarantee ends eight years of the modification.

Many of homeowners have questions regarding the President Barack Obama’s Housing Plan. A lot of Americans are in various stages of foreclosure and the help can not come soon enough. So who is eligible?

The program is expected to help those who are in danger of not making their monthly payments. The applicants do not have to be behind, but may be asked to demonstrate that they may be short on making their monthly payments. The program’s eligibility is determined by whether the monthly mortgage payment is above 31% of applicant’s gross income. Jumbo loans (the loans over $417,000) are not eligible and neither are second mortgages.

The lenders and loan servicers are encouraged to participate in the program by receiving subsidies and various incentives from the government but are not otherwise required to participate. Servicers receive $1000 per loan modification and will continue receiving $1000 each year for three years if the borrower continues being current on the loan.

Watch an interview with Early Show’s financial adviser Ray Martin, who answers some of the questions.

Housing Plan HASP