HARP, though, provides a source of relief
for underwater homeowners who want to refinance: The government program is designed to allow such owners to refinance to mortgage loans with lower interest rates.
Other loan programs which are bundled into the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS include the HARP refinance
loan for underwater homeowners; the HomeReady ™ mortgage for buyers who want to put 3 % down; and, the equity - replacing Delayed Financing loan for buyers who pay cash for a home, as examples.
«While the revised program seeks to lower mortgage
payments for underwater homeowners, the program does nothing to address the core problem — owing more than the home is worth.»
Through the $ 25 billion multistate settlement, $ 10 billion was allotted to reduce
principal for underwater homeowners, an amount analysts have said is not enough to make a dramatic impact on recovery.
In May 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced changes to the FHA's loan - backing program that would make refinancing
possible for underwater homeowners.
The administration argued that such reductions, as part of loan
modifications for underwater homeowners, would keep more people in their homes and actually save money for Fannie and Freddie by reducing foreclosures.
The hour long webinar includes information on obtaining deficiency
waivers for underwater homeowners and BoA's «cooperative» short sale program, modeled after the Treasury Department's HAFA program, that provides for a pre-approved sales price for homes.
The proposal calls for legislation to modify the HARP program to increase access and lower costs to allow refinancing of mortgages that are not backed by the GSEs in order to reduce monthly
costs for underwater homeowners.
HARP is a mortgage
for underwater homeowners and may offer better loan terms, overall.