People find themselves in need of mortgage loan modification for a variety of reasons. For example, recent statistics show that the average family income has decreased over the last ten years, due in large part to the recent “Great Recession.” According to the Census Bureau’s annual report on income, poverty and health insurance, the average household income in 2008 was $50,303, down from $51,295 in 1998. This is the first full decade in the Census Bureau’s forty years of tracking U.S. household income in which the median failed to rise.
This decrease in median income is due in no small part to the national unemployment rate, which continues to rise. In August, the number of Americans without jobs hit 9.7 percent, according to Labor Department data. These factors have contributed to an environment of financial uncertainty which has left many homeowners unable to pay their mortgages. Say, for instance, that one member of a household is unexpectedly laid off. Without their contribution, the household will likely not be able to afford a mortgage at the rate to which they originally agreed.
Without the necessary loan modification, they are in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. Morris A. Davis, an assistant real-estate professor at the University of Wisconsin and former Federal Reserve Board economist, states that the end of the crisis is not yet in sight. Unemployment figures have been rising all year, a sign that income will most likely continue to fall. “As long as 15 million Americans are unemployed, record foreclosures will continue,” Davis says.
For those facing foreclosure, a home loan modification might be the best answer to the mounting pile of bills and debts they are faced with. The loan modification process, however, is not as simple as it may seem; the majority of borrowers in severe financial situations often do not have the luxury of time. With lenders and banks breathing down their necks, homeowners need a fast and efficient solution.
Fortunately, there is help for borrowers in danger of losing their homes. Taking the time to consult a skilled loan modification attorney can mean the difference between giving up your home and staying in your home. A loan modification attorney has the benefit of experience. For instance, you may not know how banks work from the inside, exactly what forms and information you need to submit to lenders or how to get them to listen to you. A loan modification attorney can answer your questions and ensure that your paperwork is complete and correct.
A loan modification attorney can also assist you in dealing with the bank. In spite of all the efforts of state and federal governments, banks and other organizations, foreclosures are still on the rise. Thankfully, loan modification attorneys can help answer the questions borrowers have, and help them complete the loan modification process successfully. An experienced California loan modification attorney can conduct business with the bank on your behalf, using the law as a tool to get the results you need to avoid foreclosure. |