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Sample Hardship Letter for Loan Modification

Sample Hardship Letter for Loan Modification

Here is a specific example of a hardship letter you could use for a loan modification if you faloan-modificationll behind in your payments. For a little more detail on putting a hardship letter together see: Tips on How to Write a Hardship Letter for a Loan Modification or Short Sale.

A hardship letter is a letter written to your bank or mortgage company telling them why you can no longer afford to make the payments on your home. This letter describes your hardships and specifically what has happened that caused you to fall behind.

Based on the current credit environment, hardship letters are being used as a tool to help homeowners avoid foreclosure on their homes. The result can be a modification of the loan or the acceptance of a real-estate short sale by the bank.

Sample Hardship Letter for Loan Modification:

(Date)

To Whom It May Concern:

Our family purchased our home in (Date).

Since that time, a number of unfortunate circumstances have impacted us. These circumstances combined with the rising costs of food and the economic slow down have caused us to be delinquent on our mortgage payments. We love our home and want to stay in it and would like you to consider working with us to modify our loan.

In the last few months our financial situation has gotten difficult. Specifically, (This is where you need to explain the specifics of your situation. Example: Our adjustable interest rate went up and our payments increased from $x to $y, lost one of our jobs, medical emergency….). As a result of these unfortunate circumstances we can no longer afford our mortgage payments.

We feel that if we could get our loan modified, we would be in a better situation and could make our payments. We would appreciate if you can work with us to lower our payment so we can keep our home.

We have enclosed copies of our financial statements.

(You would attach copies of proof of income {paycheck stubs…}, Proof of hardship {late notices you received recently}, Bank Statements for last 2 months, past 2 years income tax return)

We appreciate all of your help as our family goes through these hardships.

Sincerely,

Home Owner Name(s) ___________________

Signature_____________________

Loan # ______________________

Address______________________

Phone________________________

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What Should A Homeowner Do Upon Receipt of a Foreclosure Notice, NOD, or Notice of Default?

What Should A Homeowner Do Upon Receipt of a Foreclosure Notice, NOD, or Notice of Default?

202px-foreclosedhome3If you are behind in your mortgage payments, it is likely you have received a Notice of Default (NOD) also known as a Foreclosure notice from your lender. A Notice of Default (NOD) is a public notice to you, as well as the world, that you have defaulted on your mortgage and the lender intends to take foreclosure action if you do not pay by the regulated redemption period. What should you do if you receive a NOD?

Immediately Contact the Lender

You must NOT ignore the NOD, other foreclosure proceedings, or your lender. Call them at once and tell them about your situation. Most lenders are willing to work with their borrowers on keeping their loan in good standing and helping through financial difficulty to ultimately avoid foreclosure. The problem arises when borrowers have financial difficulty and simply stop paying on their mortgage without any explanation to the lender.

Discuss the Mortgage Payment Options

When you contact your mortgage lender, discuss with them your financial situation and what you can do to keep your loan current. If you have a significant change in your income, or your mortgage payment was increased considerably, you may be eligible for a loan modification based on your current income.

A loan modification changes the terms of the loan, such as the interest rate or lifespan of the loan, to create a lower monthly payment. While this means less income for the lender, if you are unable to meet your current mortgage obligation, yet still have a regular income, it is a better alternative than foreclosure. You will have to provide financial information and a hardship letter to your lender. If you are not comfortable with mortgage terms and issues, hire a professional service to negotiate on your behalf.

In addition, you may discuss payment forbearance or forgiveness of past-due debt. In many cases, lenders are willing to forbear loan payments up to three to six months to help a borrower get back on his feet financially. In cases of extreme financial difficulty, some lenders may even forgive payments and fees in arrears and allow the borrower to start fresh if they promise to keep current.

Consider a Short Sale Before a Foreclosure

There is almost no reason to walk away from a home and allow a lender to foreclose. If, ultimately, you cannot afford the mortgage, you can sell the home and pay the lender what is owed on the mortgage. However, this may be more difficult if you owe more than what your home is worth on the market. Many homeowners in mortgage trouble are finding this to be the case with falling real estate market values.

However, a lender can be persuaded to accept a “short sale” on a home. In this situation, they agree to let you sell the home for the lower market value, pay them the full proceeds from the sale, and then write off the outstanding balance. Why do lenders agree to a short sale? Ultimately, it is cheaper than proceeding through a full foreclosure process, which involves attorney’s fees, holding losses, and an inevitable short sale from the lender’s end as well.

A NOD is not the end of the road for a homeowner. It is just the first legal process in foreclosure. Remember that you have the right to discuss and re-negotiate your mortgage. Although you may lose your home, there are options to sell so that the lender does not foreclose and you prevent further credit issues.

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