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170
Points

Mortgage Help For Those Not Yet in Trouble

There are a lot of homeowners who have adjustable rate mortgages that have not yet adjusted but will adjust in the near future.  To help avoid more people going into distress and/or foreclosure it would be helpful if the following ideas were given consideration:
1) Low interest refinance made available to all homeowners
2) Incentives to mortgage companies to lock in adjustable rate mortgages at low interest rates and without penalty and/or some closing costs to all mortgage holders
3) Waiver of some or most closing costs so that mortgage holders will be able to refinance at low interest rates without having to roll closing costs into the new note - especially for those mortage holders refinancing with the same company
4) For variable rate mortgages, no increase of the current interest rate for X amount of time (basically, an interest rate freeze) where interest lost can be taken off corporate taxes

This will help those who are soon to face a large increase of their monthly mortgage payment and possibly end up in a distress situation.
2 Comments  »  Posted by debar57 to Economy, Additional Issues on 1/12/2009 5:04 PM

Comments

 
Kevin
1/12/2009 5:46 PM
 
toni
1/13/2009 11:41 AM
How about this -- if a borrower is "under water" on his mortgage, but paying and in good standing, bank could 1) renegotiate mortgage at present value of home and 2) creat a "signature loan" for the remaining mortgage balance due to bank. This loan would be guaranteed by US Government in some manner.  3) Both payments should not exceed the borrower's payments in place prior to renegotiation.  This would not ask banks or mortgage holders to recognize a loss, but remove the amount of "loss" from the house and its mortgage.  The government would not have to buy any of the mortgage, but would guarantee payment of the "signature loan" portion which represents the difference between the present value of the home and the full value of the mortgage.  This method would probably be well received by banks, homeowners and taxpayers.  Let me know what you think.
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