WILL HAFA BE AS GOOD FOR LAS VEGAS AS HOFFA?
The HAFA program is a volunteer program basically although those servicers that have participated in the HAMP program must offer the HAFA program to homeowners under certain circumstances. The servicers have to opt into this program and they have to do this by December 31, 2009.
The program begins on April 5, 2010.
The HAFA program is only for:
– Principal Residences
– First mortgages
– The mortgage is delinquent or will be delinquent in the foreseeable future.
– The unpaid balance is less than $729,750.
– The monthly mortgage payment is more than 31 percent of the borrower’s gross income.
On November 30, 2009, the Treasury Department released guidelines and forms for its new Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA). HAFA is part of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). HAFA provides incentives in connection with a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (DIL) used to avoid foreclosure on a loan eligible for modification under the HAMP program. Servicers participating in HAMP are also required to comply with HAFA. A list of servicers participating in HAMP is available at MakingHomeAffordable.gov.
HAFA applies to loans not owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which will issue their own versions of HAFA in coming weeks.
HAFA is a complex program, with 43 pages of guidelines and forms, designed to simplify and streamline use of short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure. HAFA:
– Complements HAMP by providing a viable alternative for borrowers (the current homeowners) who are HAMP eligible but nevertheless unable to keep their home.
– Uses borrower financial and hardship information already collected in connection with consideration of a loan modification.
Allows borrowers to receive pre-approved short sales terms before listing the property (including the minimum acceptable net proceeds).
– Prohibits the servicers from requiring a reduction in the real estate commission agreed upon in the listing agreement (up to 6 percent).
– Requires borrowers to be fully released from future liability for the first mortgage debt (no cash contribution, promissory note, or deficiency judgment is allowed).
– Uses standard processes, documents, and timeframes/deadlines.
– Provides financial incentives: $1,500 for borrower relocation assistance; $1,000 for servicers to cover administrative and processing costs; and up to $1,000 for investors for allowing a total of up to $3,000 in short sale proceeds to be distributed to subordinate lien holders (on a one-for-three matching basis).
