SOMEONE ON CAPITOL HILL IS LISTENING AND THINKING.
REPORTED ON INMAN THIS A.M.
"Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., said he plans to introduce a bill today allowing bankruptcy "cramdowns" of mortgage loan principal, the Wall Street Journal reported. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., plans to sponsor similar legislation in the Senate, the paper said." Inman report.
Read the full report HERE. . . .
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CALL TO ACTION!
Send e-mailto Representative Brad Miller in support of the bill he plans to introduce to help the American home owner. Since many of us are not constituents of Rep. Miller, it would help to send a message to YOUR Congressional Representatives.
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ActiveRain posts have referenced this alternative for home owners. See EUREKA! I'VE GOT IT! WHY THE MORTGAGE COMPANIES WANT THE HOME OWNER TO BE IN ARREARS.
We've known of this type of relief for some time. Legislation has been introduced in Congress to permit bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages, but failed. Don't forget the banking lobby money.
Perhaps Congress will recognize the dire condition of the economy and realize that the American home owners need this additional tool in dealing with their personal economic disasters when faced with short sale or foreclosure.
The banks are already forcing short sale candidates to ruin their credit before even making hardship applications by not considering their application until they are 3 months or so in arrears.
FORECLOSURE OR BANKRUPTCY? Bankruptcy is no worse on a credit report than a foreclosure. If the banks are going to force home owners with no recourse into foreclosure, it seems only fair that a bankruptcy judge could force a bank, in some cases where feasibility is likely, to accept a reduction in the mortgage principle, thereby making the home truly "affordable" for the consumer.
BENEFITS OF MORTGAGE PRINCIPLE REDUCTION. By reducing the mortgage balance owed, the home owner will have a property that could be sold rather than foreclosed.
MORTGAGE MODIFICATION BY BANKS IS A MYTH if the consumer is relying on their mortgage company to "modify" their loan. About the best that most mortgage companies will offer is a refinance to lower interest rate. That does nothing to alter the fact that the mortgage balance is still more than the market, appraised or assessed value of the property. As long as the mortgage balance remains higher than the market value of the property, the "relief" offered by the mortgage company will be insignificant.
MORTGAGE MODIFICATION BY A BANKRUPTCY JUDGE isn't about the banks. It's about relief for the American home owner who is a hostage to negative equity. How this is handled by the banking committee will show the power of the banking lobby.
Barney Frank (MA), Chairman of the Financial Services Committee is one person to watch on this matter.
President-elect Barack Obama expressed support for cramdowns during his campaign. Let's see if he continues to support this relief for American home owners.
Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988
WILL CONGRESS SUPPORT THE AMERICAN HOME OWNER? OR WILL THEY FOLLOW THE BANKING LOBBY?
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Pamela, It makes perfect sense for a bankruptcy judge to reduce the principal on a mortgage as part of restructuring someone's debt rather than for the home to go into foreclosure and possibly remain vacant for some time eventually selling at a lower price and dragging home prices down further. Well written post. Thank you.