The Obama Mortgage
What You Should Know About This Program?
The U.S. government has created several programs aimed at helping borrowers in financial trouble avoid foreclosure, stay in their homes, and make their mortgage payments more affordable. Some use a catch-all term, “Obama mortgage” to describe one or more of these programs. What is an Obama mortgage? How does the government offer help to borrowers who are worried about their mortgage payments?
The term “Obama mortgage” has, for better or worse, been applied by some to one or more of the following. You’ll find that there’s one program that’s directly referred to as an Obama mortgage-the Making Home Affordable program.
The official government website for Making Home Affordable has a list of options for borrowers who need mortgage help. Choosing the right program depends on your needs. Here’s a list of the programs found at the Making Home Affordable Website:
The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)
This program is described on the official site for borrowers who want to lower monthly mortgage payments, "making them more affordable and sustainable for the long-term".
The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)
The HARP program is for homeowners who are current on mortgage payments but, “have had difficulty refinancing”. The official site says that even for borrowers who are “underwater” on their mortgages (owing more than the home is currently worth on the housing market), if mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, HARP could be of assistance.
Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA)
According to the official website, HAFA “provides homeowners the opportunity to exit their homes and be relieved of their remaining mortgage debt through a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (DIL). It also provides homeowners with $10,000 in relocation assistance”.
Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP)
This program is designed to temporarily lower or suspend a qualifying borrower’s monthly mortgage payment, “giving you some much needed breathing room while you search for your next job” according to the official site.
Each of these programs has specific criteria borrowers will need to meet in order to qualify. Some programs require you to be current on your mortgage and apply before missing payments, etc. Othes may be available for those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments. Some of these programs will help borrowers keep their homes and stay in them, while at least one is designed as a short sale/foreclosure avoidance plan.
You can view specific details of these programs and more at the Making Home Affordable official site.
SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
June 22, 2021 - If you don’t know the contents of your credit report, you aren’t ready to apply for a mortgage loan, an auto loan, or even a personal line of credit. Your lender will review not only your FICO score, but your credit activity for at least the last 12 months leading up to your loan application.
June 19, 2021 - If you are considering an FHA mortgage but need down payment help, there are programs offered by state and local agencies that may be able to help. Not all of them meet FHA loan guidelines--you’ll need to make sure that the program you choose meets the sourcing requirements for the money.
June 14, 2021 - Did you know that as a first-time home buyer you have the option to purchase a condo unit with an FHA mortgage? There are also options for first-time borrowers to apply for FHA rehab loans for renovations and even an FHA home loan that allows you to build instead of buying.
June 1, 2021 - FHA loans generally require an Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium or UFMIP, and then monthly mortgage insurance premiums are paid for either 11 years or the lifetime of the loan depending on several factors. This applies to loans where down payments are less thatn 20%.
May 30, 2021 - There are common questions about fixing your credit, and there are just as many questions in this area as there are in the area of home loan down payments. And sometimes those issues are actually interconnected. Do you know how?
