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Mortgage Modification Legal Network Invited by Templo Calvario Church to Provide Education on Loan Modification to their Congregates

Congregants in Financial Crisis

Laguna Niguel, CA (January 14, 2008 ) – Templo Calvario, the largest Hispanic bilingual church in the nation, has discovered that an alarming amount of their congregants are in financial crisis. In an effort to provide education and outreach to their over 6,000 congregants, Templo Calvario has invited Mortgage Modification Legal Network (MMLN) to discuss options and facts about loan modification.

“We have chosen to invite Mortgage Modification Legal Network because they focus on community outreach and education. Each homeowner has a unique set of needs and circumstances and it’s important to be knowledgeable about any financial decisions in this down economy,” says Pastor Daniel de Leon Sr., of Templo Calvario Church.

The presentations on Sunday January 18^th will be conducted in Spanish at the 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. services and in English at the 10:00 a.m. service. Each will conclude with Mortgage Modification Legal Network’s legal assistants available to answer questions.

“Homeowners are hungry for information and they don’t know where to turn. They don’t know who to trust and more often than not, they fear communication with their lender about the significance of the problem,” says Gerardo Fernandez of the Mortgage Modification Legal Network. “That is why we serve as the best and most efficient means to get homeowners in a payment they can afford.”

For more information visit WeSaveHomes or ModifiqueHoy

Posted in: Mortgage, Mortgage Modification | Comments(11)

Bank of America Announces Nationwide Homeownership Retention
Program for Countrywide Customers

Nearly 400,000 Countrywide Borrowers Could Benefit After Program Launches December 1

CALABASAS, CA – Bank of America today announced the creation of a proactive home retention program that will systematically modify troubled mortgages with up to $8.4 billion in interest rate and principal reductions for nearly 400,000 Countrywide Financial Corporation customers nationwide.

The program was developed together with state Attorneys General and is designed to achieve affordable and sustainable mortgage payments for borrowers who financed their homes with subprime loans or pay option adjustable rate mortgages serviced by Countrywide and originated prior to December 31, 2007. Bank of America acquired Countrywide July 1, 2008.

“We are confident that together with the Attorneys General we have developed a comprehensive program that provides more solutions than ever before to assist troubled borrowers and put them back on the path to sustained home ownership,” said Barbara Desoer, president, Bank of America Mortgage, Home Equity and Insurance Services. “Since acquiring Countrywide in July, we have committed significant resources and developed innovative programs to help as many Countrywide customers as possible stay in their homes.”

Countrywide mortgage servicing personnel will be equipped to serve eligible borrowers with new program elements by December 1, 2008 and will then begin proactive outreach to eligible customers. Foreclosure sales will not be initiated or advanced for borrowers likely to qualify until Countrywide has made an affirmative decision on the borrower’s eligibility.

The centerpiece of the program is a proactive loan modification process to provide relief to eligible borrowers who are seriously delinquent or are likely to become seriously delinquent as a result of loan features, such as rate resets or payment recasts.

Various options will be considered for eligible customers to ensure modifications are affordable and sustainable. First-year payments of principal, interest, taxes and insurance will be targeted to equate to 34 percent of the borrower’s income. Modified loans feature limited step-rate interest rate adjustments to ensure annual principal and interest payments increase at levels with minimal risk of payment shock. Modification options include, among others:

• FHA refinancing under the HOPE for Homeowners Program;
• Interest rate reductions, which may be granted automatically through streamlined processing; and
• Principal reductions on Pay Option adjustable rate mortgages that restore lost equity for certain borrowers.

The program applies to eligible mortgage loan customers serviced by Countrywide and who occupy the home as their primary residence. Under the national program, Countrywide will not charge eligible borrowers loan modification fees, and Countrywide will waive prepayment penalties for subprime and pay option ARM loans that it or its affiliates own. Some loan modifications will be subject to compliance with servicing contracts and some will require investor approval.

“Now more than ever homeowners and home buyers are looking to Bank of America as the lender they trust and as a leader that can renew America’s confidence in home ownership,” said Desoer. “Combined with our strong track record in responsible lending and previously announced lending practices commitments, this bold new program makes it clear that Bank of America is committed to be the leader in responsible mortgage lending practices.”

As part of agreements to resolve outstanding claims against Countrywide by certain states, borrowers in participating states will additionally be eligible to access their share of:

• A Foreclosure Relief Program of $150 million on a nationwide basis for payment to eligible Countrywide servicing customers who suffered foreclosure or are currently at serious risk of foreclosure having made only minimal payments since the time their mortgages were originated by Countrywide; and
• An additional program, projected to make payments up to $70 million to support customers with loans serviced by Countrywide who face imminent foreclosure, providing financial assistance with their transition from home ownership.

As part of the state agreements, Countrywide is further committing to eligible borrowers in participating states that it will waive late fees associated with a borrower’s default in finalizing modifications under the program.

In addition, states that have not yet become participants in Bank of America’s program will be provided an opportunity to do so, which would enable their residents to become eligible for these benefits.

“Our program represents principal and interest reductions over time to borrowers on loans Countrywide owns and on loans Countrywide services on behalf of investors,” said Joe Price, Bank of America Chief Financial Officer. “By taking projected foreclosure losses and instead directing those funds into these proactive foreclosure prevention efforts, we create a solution in the best interests of both our customers and the investors whose loans and securities we service. Of the eligible loans, about 12 percent are now held by Bank of America. The cost of restructuring these loans is within the range of losses we estimated when we acquired Countrywide.”

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Countrywide Customer Contact: Homeownership Retention Program not available until Dec. 1. Countrywide will begin its proactive outreach to eligible borrowers on December 1, 2008.
Homeownership Retention Division: 800.669.6650
General Customer Service: 800.669.6607

Media Contact: Dan Frahm, 800.796.8448

Investor Contact: Kevin Stitt, 704.386.5567, or Lee McEntire, 704.388.6780

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What is a Loan Modification?

I am sure that many of you have been hearing more and more about Loan Modifications, also known as Mortgage Modifications. I have been receiving many inquires about them. So let me share with you what a Loan Modification is and how it may apply to you or someone you know.

A loan modification means simply that your current lender modifies or “changes” the terms of your existing loan in order to lower your monthly payments. This can be accomplished through a variety of ways such as reducing your current interest rate, extending the term of your loan, reducing your principal balance, or a combination of these factors. In the past, lenders would only modify your current mortgage if you were delinquent. Well, times have changed. Delinquency is no longer a factor. However, in the event of late payments lenders may forgive or postpone repayment of delinquent payments – sometimes without adding interest or penalties!

With the recent and ongoing credit crisis that has led to a weakening economy and a declining housing market, banks are very anxious to prevent more homeowners from going into foreclosure. Their rationale is fairly simple: if lenders reduce the homeowner’s payments today, the homeowner can remain in their home. This frees up additional lending capital rather than tying it up in a lengthy and expensive foreclosure process.

Who is a good candidate for a Loan Modification?

• Someone who has a mortgage with unfavorable terms that has become too much to afford
• Someone who owes more on their home than its current value
• Someone who is having financial difficulty due to a change in their job or financial situation
• Someone who is delinquent or is going to become delinquent on their current mortgage
• And many more

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