Home > Blogs > Jon Becker > Traverse City Real Estate Blog

Making Home Affordable Program

By Jon Becker

Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Northland

May 05, 2009 01:30 PM

On February 18, 2009, President Obama announced his Making Home Affordable Program, designed to help up to 7-9 million families avoid foreclosure by restructuring or refinancing their mortgages. In doing so, the plan not only helps responsible homeowners behind on their payments or at risk of defaulting, but prevents neighborhoods and communities from being pulled over the edge too, as defaults and foreclosures contribute to falling home values, failing local businesses, and lost jobs.

For more detailed information, visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

Making Home Affordable Program: Guidelines

On March 4, 2009, the Obama Administration announced new U.S. Department of the Treasury guidelines to enable servicers to begin modifications of eligible mortgages under the Administration's Making Home Affordable Program - announced by President Barack Obama on February 28, 2009.

On April 28, 2009, the Treasury Department announced an expansion of the Making Home Affordable Program to help reduce payments on second mortgages.

NAR's Detailed Summary of the Obama Housing Plan> (PDF: 112K)
Key Components of the Plan>

Visit the Treasury Department links below for the latest guidelines and information:

Summary of Guidelines> (PDF: 53K)

Borrower Information: Making Home Affordable Refinance and Modification Options

Borrower Q&As> (PDF: 82K)

Housing Counselor Q&As> (PDF: 72K)

Modification Program Guidelines> (PDF: 90K)

Fact Sheet - Updated Detailed Program Description> (PDF: 73K)

Modification of Second Mortgages under the Making Home Affordable Program>

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Guidelines
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac released guidelines on refinancing and loan modification options that implement President Obama's Making Home Affordable Program.
GSEs Home Affordable Refinancing Programs>
GSEs Home Affordable Modification Programs>

Determining if a borrower's loan is owned or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac:

For Fannie Mae, 1-800-7FANNIE (8am to 8pm EST).
www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup

Freddie Mac, 1-800-FREDDIE (8am to 8pm EST)
www.freddiemac.com/avoidforeclosure

Part of NAR's Right Tools, Right Now Initiative
In these uncertain times, NAR is here to help you succeed with the Right Tools, Right Now initiative, offering more than 300 educational products, publications, and services free or at cost. For more information, visit www.REALTOR.org/RightTools.