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Getting Assistance with Your Mortgage Rates

Recent news is showing that the economy is taking a turn for the worse. And people who were worrying about their mortgages a few months ago are pulling their hair out from the stress of making payment. Many families are struggling to keep up with their mortgages, and are looking for assistance that doesn't require them to ruin their credit in the process. Sound familiar? Read on for some tips on renegotiating the terms of your mortgage before you ever miss a payment.

New Bank Policies

Recently, the government announced that, to provide relief to homeowners, mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would offer qualifying homeowners the opportunity to change (that is, improve) the terms of their mortgages if they're at least 90 days behind on their payments. This was welcome news for those homeowners facing possible foreclosure who had already seen their credit destroyed through late and missed mortgage payments.

But for those homeowners barely keeping their heads above water --that is, still paying their payments on time-- this new policy didn't offer any real assistance. Until recently. Now, banks like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase are offering mortgage terms adjustments to homeowners even if they've missed no payments at all. Before you fall behind on your payments, you can contact your mortgage company to discuss the terms of your loans. This policy has been administered through many banks throughout the country, especially in the areas hit hardest by the housing crisis, Arizona, Florida, and California among them.

Qualifying for Assistance

Sound like a good option for those of you struggling to get your mortgage payments made on time? It is. But only if you qualify. Unfortunately, though the policy of offering assistance to struggling homeowners is spreading, there are many requirements to be met in order to qualify for assistance. The most important of these is that you be hugely strained by your mortgage financially.

The kinds of people who qualify for mortgage term adjustments are people who have seen or are about to see a change in interest rates that will make it impossible for a homeowner to keep their head above water. Or those who have recently lost an income or seen it drastically reduced. The bank will look at whether or not you are truly overburdened by your mortgage payments. And they'll be strict about what they consider to be an overburden. In essence, if you're not seeing 40% or more of your monthly income go to your mortgage payment, you won't be approved for mortgage assistance. And even then, there's no guarantee that you'll get help.

How to Get Assistance

Many banks have established special phone lines to deal with clients looking to negotiate new terms for their mortgages. In order to get help with your mortgage, you'll need to locate the correct department at your bank (if your bank offers this option at all-- not all of them do). Ask for a loans modification specialist, or even better, take some time out from surfing internet dating sites and check out your bank's website. Many banking websites contain information to help distressed homeowners.

When you finally reach the correct department within your bank to adjust the terms of your loan, the hard part will begin. Banks are struggling, too, and they do not want to adjust your loan any more than they have to-- and if they don't feel they have to, they won't help you at all. So you need to provide a lot of evidence to show that you are in financial distress. In general, banks will request your recent pay stubs, tax returns, and even a letter detailing what has happened in your life or with your finances to necessitate a change in the terms of your mortgage. If they don't feel you're having a hard enough time with your mortgage payments, they'll turn you down flat. So be ready.

Most people requesting help with the terms of their mortgage will be turned down. But those that do qualify for assistance will see a small monthly change in their mortgage payments that may make the difference between being able to make their payments and losing their home. While you shouldn't expect banks to make any changes to the final principal owed on your home (they want their money, in the end), qualifying homeowners will see adjustments made to their interest rates or temporary adjustments to their principal. And for some homeowners, these small changes can make all the difference.

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