Business and Finance Media

Foreclosure is always a race against time. Although a home loan modification can slow the process, you have fewer options the longer you wait. Not all lenders have the staff or experience to handle mortgage loan modifications. Even with a capable attorney, the process can drag on for months.

But you don’t have to sit and wait. There are some things you can do to speed up the process. Once your home loan modification is under way, these steps can help you get more positive results.

1. Put everything on paper. It’s not uncommon for lenders, especially smaller ones, to lose track of your application. To prevent delays, make sure all your efforts are documented and kept on file. This includes all the calls you make and receive, both from your lender and loan modification attorney. Keep receipts of all your transactions, and make copies so you don’t have to let go of the originals.

2. Do your own financial statements. Part of every home loan modification is a financial worksheet, which will be your main basis for qualification. Most lenders have their own forms, but it won’t hurt to make your own as well. If your lender insists on using their worksheet, at least you’ll have all the information ready.

3. Be as detailed as possible. Too much information is better than too little, and it limits the chances that they’ll call you for more information. A typical worksheet for a mortgage loan modification will include the following:

-Your contact information (address, home phone and work phone, fax and email)

-Information about your property, including the estimated value

-Your current income

-Any additional income, such as welfare, child support, etc.

-Your estimated total value, including other assets such as real estate, investments, savings and checking accounts, IRAs, 401(k), stocks and bonds

-Liabilities, such as existing loans, monthly bills, medical expenses, and tax liens

4. Keep all your bills. The financial worksheet will require you to dig up old bills and hold on to the ones that keep coming. This will help you keep the information as accurate as possible. You may also need to present these bills (or copies of them) along with your hardship letter, which explains why you need a mortgage loan modification. Even if they don’t ask for it, it’s best to include them anyway. That way, there’s no reason for your lender to doubt your statement. The more proof you have, the better your chances of getting that home loan modification.

Be sure to submit as much truthful and verifiable information to your loan modification attorney so they are able to compile the best case to submit you your lender.

Help answer the question

Is student loan still tax deductable when refinancing a student loan with a personal loan?
My daughter has two very high interest student loans. Her credit won't let her do anything, but I can "refinance" it with me getting the loan using my credit. But is it still a "student" loan that she can deduct. She is making the payments and her name will be also on the loan (ironically, she will co-sign for me). This seems to be some gray area once the loan gets moved around. Just want to make sure the "chain of custody" still makes the new loan interest tax deductable. Hope this made sense and thanks for your help.

Loan modification Department helps you legally change the terms of your mortgage so that you can pay it off better. But you can’t expect lenders to make it easy. In fact, many homeowners fail to reach a reasonable settlement with their lenders, and even those who do have to settle for less-than-satisfactory setups. That’s where your loan modification attorney comes in.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Loan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.