Episode 119: Mortgage Forbearance | Finding Wellness in Nature

Understanding and Sharing info on Mortgage Forbearance

Client Connection – Be the Source of Information

1. Call your clients and check-in – discuss mortgage forbearance as applicable
2. Share information about Mortgage Forbearance in an email or newsletter
3. Write a blog post and share the link in a text or on social media
4. Record a short video discussing key points and send in newsletter or post on social media and your blog

‘Forbearance is not forgiveness. You still owe the money that you were paying, it’s just that there’s a temporary pause on making your monthly payments.’

CARES ACT – Mortgage Forbearance Resources

If you are experiencing difficulty making on-time mortgage payments due to the national coronavirus emergency, forbearance may be an option for you.

CFPB – What You Need to Know

• https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-mortgage-forbearance-what-you-need-know/

Good article from Market Watch

• https://www.marketwatch.com/story/are-you-a-homeowner-seeking-forbearance-on-your-mortgage-watch-out-for-these-red-flags-2020-04-10

CARES ACT provisions:

• Under a forbearance agreement, a borrower can pause payments entirely or make reduced payments on their mortgage.
• Homeowners with federally-backed mortgages are eligible for up to 180 days of forbearance initially under the CARES Act.
• At that point, if they’re still facing financial difficulty, they can request an extension of up to another 180 days of forbearance.
• During the forbearance period, mortgage servicers cannot make negative reports about the borrower in question to credit bureaus, including the three main ones, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
• Borrowers also will not owe any late fees or penalties if they are granted forbearance.

To qualify for forbearance, a borrower must have a mortgage-backed by one of the following federal agencies:

• Fannie Mae Loan Lookup https://www.knowyouroptions.com/loanlookup
• Freddie Mac  Loan lookup https://ww3.freddiemac.com/loanlookup/
• The Federal Housing Administration (FHA)  https://www.hud.gov/federal_housing_administration
• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-guaranteed-loan-program

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests being ready to answer these questions:

• Why you can’t make your payments?
• Is the problem you are facing temporary or permanent?
• What is the current state of your income, expenses, and other assets, including money in the bank?
• Are you a service member with a permanent change of station orders?

Best advice to follow:

• Call your loan servicing company. Check your mortgage statement for contact information or go online (may not be the lender who closed the initial mortgage
• Write a hardship letter explaining your situation and requesting forbearance. Check out this article for a template:
  https://themortgagereports.com/64611/cares-act-mortgage-forbearance-hardship-letter-template
• Get your forbearance agreement in writing
• Watch out for balloon payments – discuss repayment options with the servicer
• Loan Servicers may offer to extend the term of the mortgage and tack on the missed payments at the end
• Alternatively, a borrower may also be offered the option to amortize the balance they owe over the life of the loan.
• If you’re still in financial trouble after forbearance, consider a loan modification

The world of Covid-19 has many of us sheltering-in-place and pondering the future.  This can weigh heavily on your mind and it is critical that you dedicate some time to yourself and ensure that you are keeping your head clear and on a positive track.  Easier said than done on some days, however, if you make a place for it in your daily schedule you will find yourself in a much better mental state.  Today, we chat about finding wellness in nature…

Epiphyllum in bloom