NeighborWorks America COO Eileen Fitzgerald Urges Homeowners to Watch Out for Loan Modification Scams

In an interview with nationally syndicated Home and Family Finance Radio, NeighborWorks America COO Eileen Fitzgerald talked about a growing problem across the country: homeowners facing foreclosure losing their money and their homes to loan modification scams.

She urged homeowners to be cautious about whom they go to for help when facing foreclosure and described some of the warning signs that a scam may be taking place. Fitzgerald directed homeowners to http://www.loanscamalert.org/, the Web site of a national campaign that Congress asked NeighborWorks America to launch to raise awareness of this national problem. She also said homeowners in trouble can find free, trusted help by going to http://www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/ to locate a HUD-approved housing counselor.

Listen to the interview here. It is the first Home and Family Finance podcast listed and the segment starts about 10 minutes into the broadcast.

FHA Announces Policy Changes

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David Stevens today announced a set of policy changes to strengthen the FHA’s capital reserves, while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission to provide access to homeownership for underserved communities. The changes announced today are the latest in a series of changes Stevens has enacted in order to better position the FHA to manage its risk while continuing to support the nation’s housing market recovery.

The FHA will propose to take the following steps: increase the mortgage insurance premium (MIP); update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers; reduce seller concessions to three percent, from six percent; and implement a series of significant measures aimed at increasing lender enforcement. Source: HUD

NeighborWorks Congratulates Its Local Organizations on Stabilization Funding

Today NeighborWorks America announced that 19 local NeighborWorks organizations, along with their local, regional, and state partners, were awarded $548,381,663, or 27 percent of the total $1.93 billion awarded in the second round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The NeighborWorks organizations received the funding as part of consortium partnerships with state and local government offices, the private sector, and other nonprofits in their communities, and will build on the stabilization efforts already underway in many communities. Stabilization efforts include acquisition, rehabilitation or demolition of vacant or abandoned foreclosed properties, and/or financial assistance to low- to middle-income homebuyers to purchase foreclosed properties.

For more information about the grants and the organizations that received them, please visit the NeighborWorks newsroom or StableCommunities.org.

Champlain Housing Trust to Bring Solar Water Heaters to Affordable Rental Properties

About 1,000 families in Vermont will benefit from an energy saving solar water project announced on Jan. 13 by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in cooperation with NeighborWorks chartered member Champlain Housing Trust. Senator Sanders launched the project at the Champlain Housing Trust's Salmon Run Apartments, one of the four affordable rental developments that will be part of this project.

According to Senator Sanders, the $500,000 project is the largest of its kind in the state. The grant, secured from the U.S. Department of Energy, will put solar equipment in 80 apartments in Salmon Run. It will also help finance installation of water heaters in 322 more apartments at three other affordable housing developments in Vermont. The grant will be matched by $700,000 in additional public and private funds, according to Senator Sanders.

Learn more.

Top 10 Tips to Help Avoid Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams in 2010

At a time when many Americans are considering new resolutions and life changes, staying financially vigilant should remain a priority—especially for homeowners. During 2010, an estimated 4 million households are expected to face the risk of foreclosure. Millions of homeowners will try to reduce their mortgage payments with a loan modification.

The national Loan Modification Scam Alert campaign has put together 10 tips to help homeowners seeking foreclosure prevention assistance this year:

1. Contact your lender first as soon as you get concerned about paying your mortgage.

2. Determine your options by speaking to your lender's loss mitigation department.

3. Be patient but persistent with your lender, because getting a loan modification takes time.

4. Call the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day to provide assistance in multiple languages.

5. Connect with a local HUD-approved counseling agency for free by calling 1-888-995-HOPE or visiting http://www.loanscamalert.org/.

6. Beware of loan modification scams. Some companies and individuals are out to take advantage of homeowners seeking loan modifications.

7. Avoid anyone who asks for a fee prior to providing any loan modification service, including companies, individuals and even some lawyers.

8. Avoid anyone who guarantees to get your loan modified or stop a foreclosure, because nobody has the power to make this promise.

9. Avoid companies that tell you to stop paying your mortgage and to pay them instead. This is a sure sign of a loan modification scam.

10. Report loan modification or foreclosure scams at any time by visiting http://www.loanscamalert.org/ or calling 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).