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Data and National Resources |
Resources are available for housing counselors and other trusted advisors to help you learn more about the MHA Program, get help in working through issues with servicers, and get answers to all of your Program questions
New Scam alert website
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has joined Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and NeighborWorks America to lead the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network, a broad coalition of government and non-government agencies and organizations to support the fight against loan modification scams that target homeowners facing foreclosure. The new website, www.PreventLoanScams.org, and online complaint form are now live. Also, be sure to check out NeighborWorks' site, www.loanscamalert.org which provides educational and outreach information.
Preliminary Results on Housing Counseling Agencies
The Urban Institute conducted an analysis of housing counseling organizations in the Washington region. Preliminary results are highlighted below and a full report will be released in September. Read the preliminary results.
o In December 2009, more than 148,000 mortgages (12 percent of all loans) in the Washington metropolitan area were in foreclosure or delinquent. About 25 percent of mortgages in Prince George’s County were past due or facing a foreclosure sale.
o The average foreclosure prevention counseling caseload per organization increased from 287 to 423 clients between 2007 and 2009.
o The number of housing counselors is dwarfed by the number of homeowners needing assistance. The lack of counselors is particularly severe in Northern Virginia and Prince George’s County.
o The majority of those seeking assistance from counselors are from non-elderly minority households.
o Government is currently the major funder of foreclosure prevention counseling. Only one third of the survey respondents named a private foundation as one of their top three funders.
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty has just released a new report on renters' rights in foreclosure - Staying Home: The Rights of Renters Living in Foreclosed Properties. It can be found here.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury introduced a monthly scorecard on the nation’s housing market. Each month, the scorecard will incorporate key housing market indicators and highlight the impact of the Administration’s unprecedented housing recovery efforts, including assistance to homeowners through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Read May 2010's report.
Foreclosures continue to increase across the region, but at different rates. Read Neighborhood Info DC's most recent Foreclosure Monitor Report to find out what's happening in your jurisdiction.
In response to the recent foreclosure crisis, many national nonprofits and government agencies have developed user-friendly comprehensive web sites to provide up-to-date information on programs and tools. Links to several useful sites are provided. Check back often, as they are updated frequently.
Government
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This link takes you to the foreclosure page of the HUD web site. Resources for homeowners facing foreclosure as well as practitioners are available at this site.
Obama Administration Foreclosure Prevention Initiative
In March 2009, the Obama Administration began announcing national programs relating to loan modifications and mortgage refinancing. You can find information about the Obama Administration's loan modification program by clicking on this link.
FDIC
This page provides quick access to serveral resources to help homeowners, community stakeholders, and the banking industry to help prevent unnecessary foreclosures and stop foreclosure 'scams' that promise false hope to consumers at risk of losing their homes.
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond foreclosure resource center provides information for consumers and practitioners.
National Nonprofits
Center for Foreclosure Solutions
This NeighborWorks America site is geared toward foreclosure prevention professionals and includes information on training and certification, research and reports, and marketing and outreach.
Center for Housing Policy
By joining the Center for Housing Policy's foreclosure forum you can participate in ongoing dialogues with foreclosure prevention professionals.
National Council of La Raza
On this site are new research briefs and best practices on state and local foreclosure prevent tools. This website provides information on homeownership initiatives supported by the National Council of La Raza.
Foreclosure-Response.org
This is a website offering resources intended to help states and localities respond to the foreclosure crisis. This site is maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, KnowledgePlex, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Urban Institute.
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
This site proves information on predatory lending as well as the National Community Reinvestment Coalition's refinance programs.
Information about Lenders
HOPE Now
The HOPE Now alliance was started as a partnership between housing counselors and servicers. Information can be obtained on how to contact individual servicers as well as how to connect with housing counselors across the country. A self-assessment tool is available to help determine if a borrower is eligible for a loan modification. A calendar of HOPE Now events is also included. HOPE for Homeownership Hotline (in English and Spanish) can be reached at 1-888-995-HOPE
Fannie Mae
This website provides information on Fannie Mae's refinance programs as well as a tool for determining if a loan is owned by Fannie Mae. Loans owned by Fannie Mae may be serviced by other organizations who are still supposed to follow the foreclosure prevention rules established by Fannie Mae.
Freddie Mac
This website provides information on Freddie Mac's national anti-predatory lending campaign as well as resources for consumers. Loans owned by Freddie Mac may be serviced by other organizations who are still supposed to follow the foreclosure prevention rules established by Freddie Mac.
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