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Banks Reacting to Federal Call for Foreclosure Moratorium

By
Real Estate Agent with Trademark Loss Mitigation

 NEW YORK, Feb 13, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Citi Group today issued the following statement in support of its commitment to a temporary owner-occupied mortgage foreclosure moratorium:

"To reiterate the commitment made by Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit to the House Financial Services Committee on February 11, 2009, Citi is taking the necessary steps to help American homeowners keep their homes.

As part of this commitment, Citi has initiated a foreclosure moratorium on all Citi owned first mortgage loans that are the principal residence of the customer as well as all loans Citi services where we have reached an understanding with the investor. The moratorium is effective February 12, 2009, and will extend until President Barack Obama has finalized the details of the loan modification program or March 12, 2009, whichever is earlier. The company will not initiate or complete any new foreclosures on eligible customers during this time.

"Today's announcement expands on Citi's current foreclosure moratorium in which Citi does not initiate or complete a foreclosure sale on any eligible borrower where Citi owns the mortgage, the borrower is seeking to stay in the home, which is his or her primary residence, is working in good faith with Citi and has sufficient income for affordable mortgage payments. "Since the start of the housing crisis in 2007, Citi has worked successfully with approximately 440,000 homeowners to avoid potential foreclosure on combined mortgages totaling approximately $43 billion. Last year, Citi kept approximately four out of five distressed borrowers with mortgages serviced by Citi in their homes."

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Houston TX, Spring TX short sale specialistThe Trademark Loss Mitigation team is a family owned business and  includes a multi-state network of real estate agents, attorneys, title companies, short sale negotiators, credit repair providers, mortgage providers, inspectors and investors. Together, those professionals act as a NO COST short sale outsourcing solution for Realtors and Homeowners.

Jim McNinch, Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE);

Short sale agent, Short sale specialist

Jim@trademarklossmitigation.com
http://hosted.cdpe.com/trademark
http://www.trademarklossmitigation.com
832-330-4588

 

Vanessa V. Simmons
Real Living HER - Columbus, OH
Realtor

Does this have any impact on short sale in process or short sale listings with CITI?

Feb 14, 2009 12:31 AM
Jim McNinch
Trademark Loss Mitigation - Spring, TX
Short Sale Specialist, Texas

Vanessa:

At this stage I really do not have an answer for that, although I certainly intend to find out.  I hope this post may generate enough discussion that we can come up with a good understanding to the outcome.

I do know that Citi and a few others have already postponed foreclosures and I am sure others will follow.  So far, they have qualified any actions to home owners that qualify - can afford payments, it is the owner's primary home, they are seeking a resolution with the bank, etc.

Certainly, keeping the homeowner in the home is a good thing.. if they can afford it.  We don't know what the Federal government will come up with, or what we the tax payers will be required to pay for.  I do know that $50 Billion of the so called "Stimulus Package" is earmarked to distressed mortgages.

Feb 14, 2009 01:09 AM
Lisa Marie Flenoury
"Lisa The Broker" - Playa Vista, CA
"Lisa The Broker" - Making Dreams Come True

WOW, that is huge.  I wonder how many other banks will follow suit? Or are they just trying to gain brownie points with the feds.

Feb 15, 2009 04:38 PM
Jim McNinch
Trademark Loss Mitigation - Spring, TX
Short Sale Specialist, Texas

I wonder if they may be forced to follow suit.  Not just because of federal pressure but by social pressure.  If they don't, will they be earmarked as the "big bad guys on wall street"?

Feb 16, 2009 12:32 AM
Jim McNinch
Trademark Loss Mitigation - Spring, TX
Short Sale Specialist, Texas

It appears they may according to B Frank:

Frank, in a meeting with reporters on Wednesday, said he expects that more than 90% of banks will halt foreclosures until the program is up and running. He declined to provide details of what kind of plan he would like to see take place, but he said some principal write-down for troubled borrowers would be a key part of it.

A Treasury staffer said Tuesday that the program could resemble a proposal introduced by Federal Deposit Insurance Chairwoman Sheila Bair that would use funds from the bailout package in a program to help avoid foreclosures. It is a loss-sharing program between mortgage servicers or investors and the FDIC and deals with loans that fail six months or longer after being modified.

I see these banks under both Federal and social pressure.  If they don't, will they be tagged as the "big wall street bad guys?"

Feb 16, 2009 12:49 AM