WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB) disclosed in a regulatory filing that it instructed servicers to re-modify certain mortgages previously modified under the Home Affordable Modification Program or 'HAMP' to reduce the risk of re-defaults as scheduled interest rate adjustments under the HAMP program begin.
Launched as part of President Obama's Making Home Affordable initiative in 2009, HAMP is designed to reduce monthly principal and interest payments to 31 percent of an eligible borrowers' gross monthly income through a combination of mortgage term or interest rate changes and forbearance. Under HAMP, interest rates on modified step rate mortgages are fixed for five years and then increase in steps by as much as one percent a year until they match the market rate that was in effect when the borrower's HAMP modification took effect.
This new initiative includes: Freddie Mac has directed servicers to start evaluating borrowers on July 1, 2015 for their eligibility for a streamlined modification if they become 60 days delinquent within 12 months after a step rate increase to their HAMP modified mortgage's interest rate.
Freddie Mac has also directed servicers to evaluate borrower response packages for a standard modification if they are current or less than 60 days delinquent to determine if they face imminent default as the result of a HAMP mortgage rate reset made within the past 12 months. To be considered in imminent default, borrowers must have less than $25,000 in cash reserves and indicate they are having difficulty making the increased mortgage payment.
Freddie Mac is encouraging servicers to implement the initiative as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of borrower re-defaults. However, servicers must implement the initiative to begin re-modification evaluations by July 1, 2015.
Freddie Mac said it will repurchase mortgages that are modified under this initiative from its related Mortgage Participation Certificates (PCs). This may cause certain HAMP Modified Step Rate PCs to experience corresponding prepayments in the amount of the then unpaid principal balance of such mortgages and may potentially have a material effect on certain outstanding Freddie Mac REMIC classes backed by such HAMP Modified Step Rate PCs by increasing their prepayment speeds.
A Fannie Mae spokesman reportedly said the company would announce similar changes in coming days.
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