Arizona Foreclosure Information Workbook

Transcription

1 Arizona Foreclosure Information Workbook The Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline A tool to educate homeowners about the foreclosure process Presented by the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force To the citizens of Arizona Adapted from the Foreclosure Prevention Workbook Created by the Pima County Foreclosure Prevention Coalition Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 1 of 50

2 Acknowledgement The Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force expresses deep gratitude to the Pima County Foreclosure Prevention Coalition for allowing us to adapt the Pima County Foreclosure Prevention Workbook for use statewide in Arizona. This information will allow Arizona residents experiencing mortgage difficulties to become better prepared when working with their lenders, servicers and HUD approved non-profit housing counseling agencies. Disclaimer Unless otherwise specifically stated, the information contained herein is made available to the public by the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force for use as an example of the kinds of documents and advice one may receive in the process of negotiating with a mortgage company, HUD approved non-profit housing counseling agency or any other party involved in the delinquency or foreclosure of one s home. The intent of the workbook is to assist individuals in resolving or preventing their foreclosure crisis. Neither the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force nor any other agency or entities involved in the development of this workbook, assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed in these examples. Due diligence has been made to site all sources used in the making of this workbook. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force or any entities thereof. The views and opinions of the originators expressed therein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force or any agency or entities thereof. This workbook is not intended to provide you with legal advice. Please contact the State Bar of Arizona at AZBAR or your local Bar Association s Lawyer Referral Service to find an attorney who can provide you with legal counsel. Copyright 2009 Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE OF ARIZONA Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 2 of 50

3 TOM HORNE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF THE ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE Dear Arizona Homeowner, The Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force is pleased to provide you with this workbook as a valuable tool for homeowners facing financial distress. You have taken an important step in recognizing the difficult choices affecting your future. This workbook was written to give you and your family valuable information and a resource for dealing with a potential foreclosure. It is our hope that this workbook will help you understand your options, give you the confidence to seek assistance at the first sign of financial trouble, provide guidance in finding a reputable housing counseling agency and help you to be better prepared when working with your lender. I hope it will also raise your awareness about foreclosure rescue scams and how not to become a victim. The workbook is designed for you to complete on your own, or with the assistance of a counselor. It offers clear direction on the information you will need to gather to help you receive efficient service from your mortgage lender. Other tools include a communications log; sample letters to aid you in stating your case; a glossary of mortgage loan terms; and how to access online and community resources. It will help you decide if you can afford to keep your home or if you should take other steps to protect your financial interests. The Attorney General s Office will continue to reach out to lenders and those who offer services to the homeowner. We know the effect this can have on families, neighborhoods and communities within Arizona. It is our intention to streamline current processes to benefit those facing hardship. It is my hope that this workbook helps you understand the process and your options. I believe you will find it invaluable in making informed decisions about your home and your future. Sincerely, Attorney General Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 3 of 50

4 Table of Contents Warning signs of foreclosure... 5 Important Terminology... 6 Topic 1 -- Understanding Mortgage Delinquency Are You Behind the Eight Ball?... 7 Delinquency Cycle of a Mortgage Loan... 8 Role of the HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Finding a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor Early Steps to Prevent Foreclosure Topic 2 -- Understanding Your Financial Situation Think about Your Situation How to Write A Hardship Letter What is Your Income? Show me the Money Where is Your Money Going...? Budget Worksheet Experiencing Financial Crisis - Tips to Create a Crisis Budget What are Your Assets Worksheet Can You Afford to Keep Your Home Topic 3 -- Know Your Mortgage Gather Your Loan Documents What Kind(s) of Loan(s) Do You Have Topic 4 -- Know Your Options Keeping or Not Keeping Your Home IRS Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation Options to Keep Your Home Options to Not Keep Your Home How to Exit Gracefully Topic 5 -- Beware of Scams - Don t be a Victim Red Flags How Scams Work Common Foreclosure Scams How to Protect Yourself From Scams Topic 6 -- Rebuilding After Foreclosure Steps to Rebuilding Community Resources Topic 7 -- Tools for the Homeowner How to Find and Contact Your Lender or Loan Servicer Servicer Telephone Numbers Filing a Complaint Stress Relief Suicide Prevention Hotline Glossary of Mortgage Terms Topic 8 -- Managing the Paperwork Paperwork Check List Stay On Top of It- Communication Log Reprint document permission information Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 4 of 50

5 What are the warning signs of foreclosure? (Adapted from Freddie Mac) Warning signs due to life change: Unexpected life changes are often a contributing factor to foreclosure especially those that affect your finances, such as: Loss of employment or reduction of hours Major illness or injury Divorce or separation Death of a spouse What makes it so difficult to think about foreclosure during times of crisis is that you are so focused on the problem at hand and not likely to have the time or energy to think about how it could impact other aspects of your life. That is why a plan that was developed before any problem starts is the best protection. If you have a "Plan B" in place, you won't have to organize your finances while you are stressed about finding a job or dealing with a major illness. The plan will already be done you will need to just follow it. Financial Warning Signs: There may not be a major life change to signal potential trouble you simply may be having a difficult time properly managing your finances. Don't be fooled into thinking your credit card problems won't affect your mortgage. It is important to realize that financial difficulties in one area can, and often do, spill over to other areas. These difficulties are all warning signs of financial problems that can lead to foreclosure on your home if you do not act quickly. They include: Mortgage payment changes (changes in interest rate, property taxes, homeowner insurance, and/or other mortgage loan changes, etc.) Maxing out credit cards Using credit to pay for day-to-day expenses, such as groceries, utilities, etc. Being unable to pay your bills on time Paying only the minimum amount on credit cards Applying for new credit cards after maxing out on existing ones Having to choose which bills and/or living expenses to pay first Talk to a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor immediately if you see these signs. You may be able to get your finances back on track before foreclosure becomes a reality. Call the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention helpline at to be connected with a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor near where you live. THIS SERVICE IS FREE! For more resources, see the Section: Finding a Participating Counseling Agency Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 5 of 50

6 Important Terminology Throughout this workbook, you will see words that you may have heard many times before but may not be certain about their definitions. Below are a few definitions that are important to know as you go through this workbook. A more detailed glossary is in the Tools for Homeowner section. HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency HUD provides housing counseling services directly or through private or public organizations with special competence and knowledge in counseling low and moderate-income families. These Agencies must have been in the community for at least one year, and employ staff trained in housing counseling. Approval by HUD of these agencies only means that the agency has met the qualification and conditions prescribed by HUD. HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor HUD approves Housing Counseling Agencies and not individual Counselors. HUD requires Housing Counseling Agencies to employ Counselors with at least 6 months experience. HUD makes available scholarships to nonprofits and local government housing counseling agencies and encourages the agencies to have their counselors obtain education and additional skills for their housing counseling programs. Lender The entity that gave you the mortgage loan. It may not be the same entity to whom you send your payments. Servicer The entity to whom you send your monthly payments. The lender has contracted with the servicer to handle your loan after closing. The servicer is your contact for any issues you have with your mortgage loan. Also called loan servicer or mortgage servicer. Servicing - The administration of the loan by the servicer from the time you obtain your mortgage loan until it is paid off. Administration of a loan includes the collection and application of payments, payment of insurance and real estate taxes, maintaining records of payments and balances and working with the borrower to resolve delinquencies. Investor The entity that owns the loan. Oftentimes, the lender will sell your loan to another entity after closing. Most likely, the investor is generally not the same as the servicer or the lender. The servicer must follow the investor s guidelines for servicing the loan. Delinquency A loan payment that is overdue but within the period allowed before actual default is declared. Default The failure of the borrower to make the loan payments as agreed in the promissory note or workout plan. Foreclosure - The legal process by which an owner s right to a property is terminated, usually due to default. The mortgage lender sells at auction the property that secures a loan on which a borrower has defaulted. Typically, ownership of the property will be transferred to the financial institution. The institution will market and list for sale the property to recover the monies owed to them. Customer Workout Process where a servicer and a borrower develop a mutual agreement to resolve a loan default and avoid foreclosure. Auction An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the winning bidder. There are several variations on the basic auction form, including time limits, minimum or maximum limits on bid prices, and special rules for determining the winning bidder(s) and sale price(s). Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 6 of 50

7 TOPIC 1 Understanding Mortgage Delinquency Are You Behind the Eight Ball? Delinquency Cycle of a Mortgage Loan Role of the HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Finding a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor Early Steps to Prevent Foreclosure ARE YOU BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL? Today s economic environment is very stressful. Many Arizonans are dealing with multiple personal challenges, including: Loss of employment Changes in mortgage payment Unpaid bills Caring for an elderly parent Reduction in income Divorce Sudden disability Other life-changing events These events can affect a borrower s ability to make their mortgage payment on time and as agreed. When this happens, foreclosure may result. If you are facing mortgage challenges and are at risk of default, it is important to: Understand the Delinquency Cycle of a mortgage and when foreclosure can occur; Contact your servicer as soon as possible to discuss your situation and Contact Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline Seek the advice of a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor (see appendix for contact information.) The sooner you begin working with your servicer and/or a housing counselor, the more likely the servicer will be able to find solutions to help you stay in your home. Do not wait until you have missed a payment! Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 7 of 50

8 Delinquency Cycle of a Mortgage Loan This time line is for a typical scenario for a bank loan. Arizona law does not mandate the lender wait 90 days to file a Notice of Trustee s Sale. If a private investor wishes to foreclose, he can do so on the 1 st day of the delinquency. What happens if I do not make my payment on the due date? The loan servicer expects to receive your payment by the due date. If the servicer has not received your payment by that date, it is delinquent. Most loans have a Grace Period, which is the length of time between the due date and the date when late fees begin. The promissory note contains the due date. What happens after that? The Collections Department may start contacting you between the 16 th and the 30th of the month if the payment is still due. What is the Collections Department? The Collections department is a division of loan servicer that is responsible for obtaining and applying payments due on mortgage loan. The Collections Department will contact you to collect past due payments. CALL YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY/SERVICER IF YOU KNOW YOU LL BE LATE AND ALWAYS RETURN THEIR CALLS!! If the Collections Department has not been able to collect or make acceptable payment arrangements with you, your account may be referred to the LOSS MITIGATION DEPARTMENT/ Home Preservation/ Or Work Out Department. What is Loss Mitigation? This is a division of the loan servicer that will work with you to establish an acceptable plan to get you back on track with your mortgage payments. You will begin to receive letters from your lender/servicer requesting that you call them. ALWAYS OPEN ANY LETTERS FROM YOUR LENDER/SERVICER. ALWAYS ANSWER and RETURN THEIR CALLS! This is the period where you may have other options available to you. The Servicer / Lender will make many attempts to contact you. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 8 of 50

9 What if I am More than 30 Days Late? Although you are late from 1 st day after the due date, the COLLECTIONS, sometimes referred to as the LOAN SERVICING Department, of your mortgage company will start calling you between the 16 th and the 30th of the month. What is the Collections or Loan Servicing Department? Collections is a loan servicing division of the mortgage company that accepts and applies your payment each month, tracks any late fees, monitors and when included in your payment, will pay the taxes and insurance when due. They will contact you when payments are missed. The collections or loan servicing department will start calling you to collect the past due payment. What happens after I am 60 days late? On the 61 st day, the loan payment is 2 months past due, and if the Collections department has not been able to collect or make acceptable payment arrangements with you, your account will be turned over to the LOSS MITIGATION DEPARTMENT also know as HOME PRESERVATION or WORKOUT DEPARTMENT. Note: Servicers / Lenders may send someone out to physically inspect the property, to verify that the borrower has not abandoned the property (sometimes between days). This is a normal process do not be alarmed. What is Loss Mitigation? This is a division of the mortgage company that will work with you on an acceptable plan to get you back on track with your mortgage payments. You will begin to receive letters requesting that you call them. This is the period where you will have more options available to you. They will make many attempts to contact you during this period. What happens after I am 90 days late? On the 91 st day (in AZ), a third party TRUSTEE takes over your delinquent account. The Trustee will send a Notice of Trustee Sale stating that the property will be sold 90 days from the date the Notice was filed and recorded. There will be a notice published in the newspaper once a week for four weeks. What is the process? The Servicer/Lender will not send any more letters. It is now totally up to you to contact them directly as soon as possible, or through a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency. Unless you act quickly, your house will be sold at auction on the date specified. NOTE: The total number of days of delinquency (90, 120, 180) depends on your mortgage servicer. The trustee sends a Notice of Trustee s Sale, setting a sale date no sooner than 91 days after the notice of trustee s sale is recorded. The trustee must send by certified mail a copy of this notice within five days after recording. No further notice is required. However, in addition to mailing the Notice of Trustee s Sale, the trustee must post the home with the Notice of Trustee s Sale and post it at the superior court at least 20 days prior to sale (this could be right after the Notice of Trustee s Sale is filed). The trustee must also publish the Notice of Trustee s Sale in a newspaper for 4 consecutive weeks with the last date of publication not less than ten days prior to sale. Should you receive the Notice of Default/Auction Letter, contact your servicer immediately to determine if you qualify for solutions to prevent foreclosure. Additionally, HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselors can assist you with free foreclosure prevention counseling. BEWARE OF COMPANIES THAT CHARGE FEES TO HELP YOU PREVENT FORECLOSURE SEVERAL OF THESE COMPANIES ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION AS SCAMS Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 9 of 50

10 ROLE OF THE HOUSING COUNSELOR If you are facing mortgage delinquency, a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor can work with you to find a solution that best fits your situation. They will require very specific information from you as the homeowner. The more information provided to the housing counselor, the easier it will be to assess your expectations and situation. The HUD approved non-profit housing counseling agency counselor will help you assess your financial situation, determine the options available to you and help you negotiate with your servicer. The HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor is familiar with the various workout arrangements that lenders/servicers will consider and will know what course of action makes the most sense for you and your family, based on your circumstances. In addition, the counselor can call the servicer with you or on your behalf to discuss a workout plan. You can protect yourself from future credit problems when you meet with a HUD Approved housing counseling agency before your mortgage payment fall too far behind! The HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor will help you establish a monthly budget plan to ensure you can meet all of your monthly expenses, including your mortgage payment. Your personal financial plan will clearly show how much money you have available to make the mortgage payment. This analysis will help you and the servicer determine whether a reduced or delayed payment schedule will benefit you. In addition, a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor will have information on services, resources and programs available in your local area that may provide you with additional financial, legal, medical or other assistance that you may need. The services of a HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor are provided at no cost to the homeowner. Do not pay any upfront fees, and if the counselor asks for payment, contact HUD at to see if you will be working with a reputable counselor. (See the Beware of Scams section in this workbook for additional information). The housing counselor will need to speak with your servicer to obtain information about your loan; i.e., loan balances arrearages (if any) and current payment amounts. Before the servicer may speak with the housing counselor about your loan, they must receive written permission from you. You will be asked to sign an Authorization to Release Information form. Without this authorization, the Mortgage Company or Servicer will not share any information with the housing counseling organization. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 10 of 50

11 Release of Authorization Letter - Sample - Advising Mortgage Lender or Servicer that a HUD Certified Nonprofit Housing Counseling Agency will be representing you. The HUD Certified Nonprofit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor will provide their format of this form. This sample is provided to you for information purposes only. Date Sign only after you have verified the counselor is legitimate. Servicer Name Servicer Street Address Servicer City, State, Zip Re: Loan Number Dear Loss Mitigation Manager: We the undersigned, hereby authorize (HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency) to act on our behalf in all manners relating to our mortgage loan in the original amount of $ for the property located at (include the complete street address, city, state and zip code), including signing of all documents relating to this matter. Any and all acts carried out by (HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency) on our behalf shall have the same affect as acts of our own. This authorization is valid until further written notice. Sincerely, (Borrower s name) Borrowers Contact Phone numbers Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 11 of 50

12 FINDING A PARTICIPATING COUNSELING AGENCY The organizations listed below can provide you with individual counseling on foreclosure prevention. For the most current list of housing counselors, go to or the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline or visit State Wide Consumer Credit Management: Money Management International Avondale Neighborhood Housing Services of Maricopa County Bisbee South Eastern Arizona Government Organizations (SEAGO) Eloy Community Action Human Resources Agency or Flagstaff Bothands, Inc Gilbert Genesis Housing SVC Glendale Arizona Latino Commission Glendale Community Services of Arizona Inc Kingman Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Mesa Housing our Communities Mesa Springboard Nogales Chicanos Por La Causa Nogales Nogales Community Development Corporation Phoenix Affordable Housing Centers of America (Formerly ACORN) Phoenix Chicanos Por La Causa Phoenix Community Housing Resources of Arizona (CHRA) Phoenix Greater Phoenix Urban League Phoenix Help4 Kidz Phoenix Labor's Community Service Agency Phoenix Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) Phoenix Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix (NHS) Phoenix Take Charge America Somerton Campesinos Sin Fronteras or Somerton Housing America Corporation Tempe Greenpath, Inc or Tempe Newtown CDC Tucson Administration of Resources and Choices Tucson Catholic Community Services of So. Arizona, Inc Tucson Chicanos Por La Causa Tucson Family Housing Resources or Tucson New Life Community Resource Center Tucson Old Pueblo Community Foundation Tucson The Primavera Foundation, Inc Tucson Tucson Urban League Yuma Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Winslow Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 12 of 50

13 Topic 2 Understanding Your Financial Situation Preparing for your Conversation with the Servicer and HUD Approved Non-profit Agency Housing Counselor Think about Your Situation How to Write A Hardship Letter What is Your Income? Show me the Money Where is Your Money Going? What are Your Assets? Can You Afford to Keep Your Home? THINK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION When you talk to your loan servicer or a housing counselor be prepared to tell them about your situation. Use this worksheet to summarize your circumstances. Please be as accurate and detailed as possible. When did you miss your first payment (date)? Why did you miss this and any other payments? How have you tried to fix your financial situation? Do you expect your situation to change soon? Do you have any other resources to help you? Once you complete this exercise, you will be ready to write a Hardship Letter. Servicers will typically require that you submit a Hardship Letter when requesting assistance. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 13 of 50

14 How to write a Hardship Letter: (Adapted from NeighorWorks) A financial hardship results from an involuntary reduction in income or an unavoidable increase in expenses. Common Involuntary Reductions of Income: Unemployment Mandatory reduced hours or hourly wage Under employment after loss of previous job Death of a borrower Decline in business earnings if self employed Permanent or short term disability Serious illness of a household member Divorce Unavoidable Increases in Expenses Major medical expenses Disaster Urgent property repairs Increase in child care expenses Mortgage loan and payment changes A hardship letter is a brief and to the point overview of the homeowner s situation. It is ideally only four paragraphs and no more than two pages. The letter must include: Homeowner s name(s), address and phone number(s) Loan number(s) The first paragraph should include: Other relevant details about the loan or the property, such as the number of months delinquent, property value, etc. The second paragraph should include: A matter of fact description of what caused the default - Avoid blaming others for what occurred The third paragraph should provide an overview of the homeowner s financial situation: Actions the homeowner has taken to reduce expenses and increase income Financial counseling or other steps the homeowners have taken to resolve the situation The amount of money the homeowner has saved to pay towards the delinquency The fourth paragraph should briefly outline the desire to prevent foreclosure. Reasons why the homeowners believe they will be successful Demonstration of their commitment to see it through to its end The last paragraph should indicate the preferred times and methods for contacting the homeowner (and their HUD approved housing counseling agency, if applicable). Documents to attach: Financial statement Income and expense verifications Documents that support or verify the hardship Verification for anticipated changes to income and expenses Other documents requested by servicer or counselor To help you get started on your own hardship letter, please see the Hardship Letter Sample. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 14 of 50

15 Date Lender s Name Lender s Address Lender City, State Zip Hardship Letter - Sample - Re: Your Loan Number Dear Loss Mitigation Manager: Our names are/my name is and I ve/we ve been paying the mortgage on our home at [Address] for years now. I m/we re writing to you to explain why I/we have unfortunately fallen behind on our monthly payments and are in need of your help. Explain your Hardship (include dates and specific incidents that caused you to get behind, also, if applicable; explain how it has been resolved). Example: My income has been reduced (or loss) due to unemployment, underemployment, reduced job hours, reduced pay or a decline in self-employed business earning. Or My household financial circumstances have changed. There has been a death in the family, serious or chronic illness, permanent or short-term disability, increases in family responsibility, and provide the details. My expenses have increased and We/I have sat down with my/our family and taken a very hard look at our financial situation. Examples to explain may include- Monthly mortgage payment has increased or will increase, high medical and health-care costs, unexpectedly high utility bills, and increase in property taxes. Or my cash reserves are insufficient to maintain the payment on my mortgage loan and cover basic living expenses at the same time provide details. We all have agreed to make the following sacrifices in order to make certain that we can pay our mortgage on time. I have met with HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor and have saved $3,000 to pay towards my late payments. Explain what steps you have taken to correct your Financial Position (cut back on spending, canceled some things cable, eliminated activities, met with Credit Counseling services). My family and I are truly grateful for the opportunity that you ve given us to own our home and have every intention of keeping it for a long while, as well as making timely mortgage payments to you for it. Thank you again for your time. We truly hope that you will consider working with us. We are anxious to get this settled so we can move on. Sincerely, (Ask everyone in your family to sign the letter.) Address, City, State, Zip Code Include your phone number; alternate phone numbers Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 15 of 50

16 Now try writing your hardship letter. Jot down the main points you want to cover Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 16 of 50

17 WHAT IS YOUR INCOME? Your lender/servicer and HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor will need to know all your current household income. Before you speak with them, complete the following worksheet. MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME: Sources of Income 1 st Job Income Take Home Amount 2 nd Job Income Take Home Amount Social Security /SSI/SSDI Child or Spousal Support Unemployment Compensation Workers Disability Compensation Veterans Benefits Retirement Benefits Monies from Boarders or Roommates Child care assistance Housing assistance Rental income from other homes owned Other Other Exp Date if applicable Homeowner A Homeowner B TOTAL A & B $ $ $ Total for Homeowner $ $ Total Household Income (A + B) It is important that these amounts be accurate and exact. Include income for all those living in the home. If the amount changes from month to month, look at your year-to-date amount and determine an average. NOTE: Be sure to let your servicer know if you expect a change in income in the near future. $ Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 17 of 50

18 WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING? BUDGET WORKSHEET Your loan servicer and/ or HUD Approved Non-profit Housing Counseling Agency Counselor will need to know all of your expenses. Before you speak with them, complete the following worksheet. Be sure to include every expense in your household. Monthly Expenses COLUMN 1 EXPENSE MONTHLY COLUMN 2 EXPENSE Shelter * Contributions & Gifts Mortgage Payment $ Church donations $ Homeowner Association Dues Miscellaneous donations Home Maintenance Gifts/cards/Wrapping Accessories Taxes & Insurance (if not included in mortgage payment) Recreation Food Club dues $ Groceries, beverages $ Newspapers, magazines, books Cleaning supplies, paper products CDs, other music Food away from home Movies Tobacco/Alcohol Hobbies Sports Utilities Vacations Gas, light, water $ Entertainment Phone Lottery Tickets Cell/Mobile Phone Gambling Garbage, sewer Other Expenses Insurance Kids allowances $ Life $ Day Care (Children/Seniors) Auto Babysitting Health Postage Cable/Satellite TV Transportation Internet Service Gas & Oil $ Pets Repairs/Upkeep Other Service Registration Bus, carpool Monthly Obligations Parking Alimony/Child Support $ Total Monthly Auto Loan Payments Education Total Monthly Credit Card Payments Tuition $ Other Monthly Obligation Books Other Monthly Obligation Special Lessons Sports Clothing New purchases $ Health Care Dry cleaning, Laundry Medical $ Dental Prescriptions MONTHLY Personal Care Beauty/Barber Shop $ Nails Other Personal expenses COLUMN 1 TOTAL: $ COLUMN 2 EXPENSE: $ COLUMN 1 + COLUMN 2 = TOTAL EXPENSES: $ * If you own more than one home, be sure to include expenses for each home. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 18 of 50

19 MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES: There are three types of expenses fixed, variable and discretionary. This classification helps you determine what expenses you may need to reduce or eliminate. What are your fixed expenses? These expenses have set or fixed payments on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. You know what the amount will be. Examples include your car payment, insurance payment. What are your variable expenses? These expenses can change, fluctuate or vary from monthto-month depending on usage or where obtained. Examples include utility bills, childcare costs, gas for automobile and groceries. Review these expenses over several months to determine an accurate amount. What are your discretionary expenses? These items are not essential to your well-being and, if needed, will be the first expenses to be reduced or eliminated. Examples include holiday shopping, eating out, hairdresser and entertainment. Estimate what you spend on these expenses each month. Experiencing Financial Crisis - Tips to Create a Crisis Budget The Crisis Budget is a temporary budget meant to help you weather the current financial crisis you are experiencing. You must make DRASTIC changes for at least 90-days to take control of your finances. The crisis budget is for a limited time, and it is designed to help you determine and reach your financial goals. From that perspective, it will be easier to give up items like entertainment and personal spending when you know it is not a permanent change. Prioritize your monthly expenses and payments, and find ways to increase income and drastically decrease expenses. Ask yourself What expenses can I eliminate (or reduce) for the next 90 days? What ways can I get more income and cash flow coming into my household? Cutting expenses and managing a financial crisis is hard work, and takes a lot of commitment. Have a family meeting: work together to figure out ways to make it better. Good communication and a positive attitude are the keys to success during crisis! TAKE ACTION! 1. Complete the budget worksheet 2. Look at the expenses you have recorded on the worksheet and make a note next to each one indicating whether you can reduce or eliminate the expense. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 19 of 50

20 What are Your Assets? List your household assets. Think about what you are willing to do. Can you or will you sell some of your assets? What assets should you liquidate? Are you willing to make some changes to your lifestyle? A certified housing counselor can help you with this. Record your assets on the chart below. Column Column Column Household Assets Description Value Amount Owed Sell? a) Automobile #1 $ $ $ b) Automobile #2 $ $ $ c) Automobile #3 $ $ $ d) Cash on Hand Over $100 $ $ $ e) Checking Account $ $ $ f) Savings Account $ $ $ g) Anticipated Tax Refunds $ $ $ h) Money Market Funds $ $ $ i) Stocks/Bonds/CDs/Annuities, etc $ $ $ j) IRA / Keogh Accounts $ $ $ k) 401k/Retirment Accounts $ $ $ l) Computer/TV/Electronics $ $ $ m) Furniture $ $ $ n) Boats / Jet Skis $ $ $ o) RV/ Recreational Homes $ $ $ p) Motorcycles / Snowmobile $ $ $ q) Farm Equipment $ $ $ r) Trailers $ $ $ s) Other Property $ $ $ t) Other: $ $ $ Total $ $ What is your current lifestyle and what changes are you willing to make? Eating out: Gambling: Toys/Luxuries: Cable TV: Cell phone: Other: Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 20 of 50

21 Can You Afford to Keep Your Home? Income and Expenses: line # 1 Total Monthly Income $ (insert from pg 17) What is Your Income - Total Household Income (A + B)) 2 Total Monthly Expenses $ (insert from pg 18) Where is Your Money Going - Col 1 & 2 = Total Expenses)) 3 Total Monthly Income minus Expenses $ (Line 1 minus line 2 above) This is what is left to cover increased mortgage payments or other emergencies. Cash Available / Needed: 4 Homeowner Cash on Hand $ (insert from pg 20) What are Your Assets - Column 1 - line d)) 5 Homeowner Assets - SELL? $ (insert from pg 20) What are Your Assets - Column 3 - line t)) 6 Total Cash Available $ (Add line above) Consider the HAMP target payment of 31% of gross monthly income for those who are eligible for that program. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised February 1, 2011 Page 21 of 50

22 1. Gather Your Loan Documents 2. What Kind(s) of Loan(s) Do You Have TOPIC 3 Know Your Mortgage GATHER YOUR LOAN DOCUMENTS Gather your mortgage loan documents. It is important that you fully understand the terms of your mortgage. A certified housing counselor can help you with navigating through them. These documents may include: The Promissory Note - This is the legal evidence of indebtedness and formal promise to repay the debt. It sets out your loan amount, your payment date, the payment amount or how your payment amount will be determined and the maturity date. It also includes the penalties and steps the lender and servicer can take if you fail to make your payments on time. Deed of Trust - The deed of trust helps to verify and protect the legal interest in a property. The property is deeded by the title holder (trustor) to a trustee (often a title or escrow company) which holds the title in trust for the beneficiary (the lender of the money) Adjustable Rate Mortgage Rider (ARM Rider) - Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are loans with interest rate and payment changes. ARMs may start with lower monthly payments than fixed-rate mortgages. There are two important considerations: adjustment period how often does the interest rate change and when does the payment change borrower notification when are you notified of the change The interest rate on an ARM consists of two parts: the index and the margin. The index determines how the interest rate will change and the margin is an amount that is added to the index to determine the new interest rate. There are different types of ARMs - hybrid ARMs, interest-only ARMs and payment-option ARMs Prepayment Penalty Rider - A prepayment penalty allows the lender or servicer to charge the borrower additional interest, (typically six months), when a mortgage is repaid during the penalty period, which is usually somewhere in the first three to five years of the mortgage. If a mortgage contains a prepayment penalty, this should be clearly stated in the mortgage disclosures, mortgage note and/or prepayment penalty rider to the note. TIL (Truth in Lending) Disclosure Statement - This document must be provided at application and at closing on certain loans. It shows the estimated total costs of borrowing, expected payment amounts over life of loan and other significant features of your loan such as a prepayment penalty. HUD 1 Settlement/Closing Statement This document contains all the costs to you that are associated with the purchase of your home and the loan. It is provided to you at the loan closing. Last Two Mortgage Statements Record information about your loan on the following worksheet. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 22 of 50

23 WHAT KIND(S) OF LOAN(S) DO I HAVE? First Mortgage Second Mortgage (Home Equity Loan) What about my Loan on (include property address) Original Mortgage Lender $ $ DOT* Original Loan Amount $ $ TIL*; P. Note* Monthly Payment $ $ TIL; P. Note Monthly Due Date TIL; P. Note Closing Date of the Loan DOT; P. Note Number of Payments TIL; P. Note My Loan Type is? FHA or VA HUD 1* or Conventional or Rural Dev. Mortgage Insurance $ HUD 1* Other What are my Loan Terms? Fixed Rate Adjustable Rate (ARM) Type Initial Rate Index Margin Adjustment Date Where do I find this*? TIL; P. Note ARM Rider*; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note How often does the loan adjust Interest Rate Adjustment terms Payment Adjustment terms ARM Rider; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note ARM Rider; P. Note Interest only payments Other Information included on the monthly mortgage statement Outstanding Balance $ $ Mortgage Insurance $ $ Homeowners Insurance $ $ Taxes Escrowed $ $ Insurance Escrowed $ $ *ABBREVIATIONS: DOT: Deed of Trust HUD 1: Settlement Closing Statement P. NOTE: Promissory Note ARM Adjustable Rate Mortgage TIL: Truth In Lending Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 23 of 50

24 Keeping or Not Keeping Your Home TOPIC 4 Know Your Options IRS Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation KEEPING OR NOT KEEPING YOUR HOME There are a number of solutions for a distressed homeowner. Solutions are individualized for each customer and based on all of the following: Reason for delinquency Ability and willingness to pay. The servicer will consider your payment history (have you been making your payments on time until now) and your current financial condition (do your current income and expenses allow you to continue making payments as required). How delinquent you are. The investor or owner of your loan. The servicer will know the investor policies for working with delinquent borrowers. A servicer must always follow the investor requirements. The number of mortgages on your home. Occupancy status of the home Take Action! List those things you can do that do not involve the servicer. Examples include reducing your expenses, increasing your income and/or selling assets: Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 24 of 50

25 IRS DEBT CANCELLATION AND THE MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS DEBT RELIEF ACT WHAT IS CANCELLATION OF DEBT? According to the IRS, if you borrow money from a lender and that lender later cancels or forgives the debt, you may have to include the cancelled amount for tax purposes on your tax return, depending on the circumstances. This means the amount forgiven or cancelled may be taxable TO YOU on your tax return. When you borrowed, the money you were not required to include the loan proceeds in the income because you had an obligation to repay the lender. When that obligation is forgiven, the amount you received as loan proceeds is normally reportable as income because you no longer have an obligation to repay the lender. The lender is usually required to report the amount of the canceled debt to you and the IRS on a Form For example: Your lender/servicer accepts a short sale offer on your home. The total debt owed equals $200,000 and the short sale amount received totals $150,000. The lender/servicer forgives or cancels the deficiency amount of $50,000. This deficiency amount of $50,000 may be taxable income to you on your tax return. IS CANCELLATION OF DEBT INCOME ALWAYS TAXABLE? Not always. There are some exceptions. For the purpose of this workbook, this section will only briefly cover The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of For a list of more exceptions visit Publication Also, see IR ; Form 982 This special relief applies to calendar years 2007 through The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows you to exclude certain cancelled debt on your principal residence from income on your tax return. Cancelled/Forgiven debt may result from options such as: Loan Modification Deed in Lieu Short Sale Foreclosure When the mortgage debt is cancelled/ forgiven the homeowner will receive a 1099 Form from the lender/servicer (see sample below). Please be sure to consult with a tax professional when considering options that may result in taxable income to you. Be sure to check all the information on this form carefully. Notify the lender immediately if any of the information shown is incorrect. Pay particular attention to the amount of debt cancelled (Box 2) and fair market value listed in (Box7). Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 25 of 50

26 OPTIONS TO KEEP YOUR HOME (Loss-mitigation options available in your situation depend on the investor, the type of loan you have, and what the loan servicer is able to negotiate.) Refinance - A new mortgage on the loan with no change in ownership. The ability to refinance a loan requires that the borrower not be delinquent and that there be equity in the home. Repayment Plan Plan where delinquent payments are distributed over a period of time, usually no more than12 months. The monthly amount is added to usual mortgage payment resulting in a higher payment until the delinquent amount has been repaid. This repayment plan brings the account up-to-date within a specified period. Loan Modification - Past-due interest and escrow to the unpaid principal balance, which is then reamortized over a new term. Rate adjustments, term extensions, and principal forgiveness may be considered. Loan modification results in permanent, contractual changes in one or more mortgage terms. Additional loan fees may be involved based on the type of the mortgage a customer holds and on the specific investor. A loan modification immediately brings the account up-to-date. Forbearance A temporary reduction or suspension of a borrower s payment. The repayment plan is based upon the customer s financial situation. Because of long-term implications, this option is used only in severe hardship cases. THE MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE PLAN The Making Home Affordable (MHA) plan is part of President Obama s broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy and the housing market back on track. The plan potentially could help up to 9 million families restructure or refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure. The Home Affordable Modification and Home Affordable Refinance are the parts of MHA that use refinancing and loan modifications to reduce monthly mortgage payments to a level that borrowers can afford today and into the future. The refinancing option is only available for conforming loans owned or securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Most conventional loans including prime, subprime, adjustable, loans owned by lenders and loans in securities are eligible for a Home Affordable Modification. The Administration is working with Congress to enact legislation that will allow FHA, VA and USDA to offer modifications consistent with Making Home Affordable. Currently loans insured or guaranteed by these agencies are being modified under other programs that enable borrowers to retain homeownership. TO DETERMINE IF YOUR LOAN IS OWNED OR SECURITIZED BY FANNIE MAE OR FREDDIE MAC Fannie Mae FANNIE (8am to 8pm EST). Freddie Mac FREDDIE (8am to 8pm EST) me Affordable Refinance Option Eligibility Criteria The property (1-4 units) must be owner occupied. The borrower is current on mortgage payments. Current means you have not been more than 30 days late on your payments in the last 12 months. The borrower must have sufficient income to support the new mortgage payment. The first mortgage may not exceed 125% of the current market value of the property. The mortgage is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 26 of 50 Ho

27 me Affordable Modification Option Eligibility Criteria (cont d) Must be an owner-occupant in a one to four unit property, and On first Mortgage: Have an unpaid principal balance that is equal to or less than $729,750 (for one unit properties and higher for two to four unit properties, consult the Guidance for limits), The loan must have been originated before January 1, 2009, The first mortgage payment (including taxes, insurance, and homeowners association dues) is more than 31% of the borrowers' gross monthly income, and Borrower has experienced a significant change in income or expenses, to the point that the current mortgage payment is no longer affordable. For more information or to find out if you are eligible: Bankruptcy may or may not allow you to keep your home. Be sure you seek the advice of an attorney (see Community Resources for more contact information). Answers to Common Bankruptcy Questions What will happen to your home if you file bankruptcy? Bankruptcy cannot discharge your mortgage because it is a secured debt. You cannot force the mortgage company to take late payments over time In Arizona, most homesteaded property may be returned to the mortgagee without liability for any deficiency You cannot keep your home if you do not continue to the pay the debt as worked out by the bankruptcy trustee OPTIONS TO NOT KEEP YOUR HOME HOW TO EXIT GRACEFULLY The following summarizes the ways to avoid foreclosure but not keep the home. Even though you may not be able to keep your home, it is important to work with your servicer during this process. Walking away from your home without consulting with your servicer may result in a foreclosure reported in your credit file, tax consequences, and/or a deficiency balance for loan proceeds not recovered in a foreclosure sale. If keeping your home is not a viable option, your loan servicer may have alternatives available to absolve the mortgage and home. Ho Sell the property This is the best option if you cannot afford the mortgage payment and if the house is worth more than the amount owed. Other considerations when deciding to sell your home include the condition of the home and how much time you have. Assumption - If allowed by loan documents and if you find another borrower willing and qualified to take over your mortgage and your home, they may assume your mortgage. The new borrower must meet the lender s criteria. Short Sale If the market value is less than total amount owed, a short sale allows the borrower to sell their home and use the proceeds to pay the mortgage even though the proceeds will not be sufficient to pay off the outstanding balance. The investor and mortgage insurer must agree to this option. Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure The borrower transfers the property to the servicer if the home cannot be sold at market value. This option requires that the property be listed for a specified period of time, generally 90 days. There may be tax consequences. Bankruptcy - Consumers do have the option of filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy if they need more time to pay a mortgage delinquency or need to restructure their debt so that they have funds available to pay secured debts. Either type of bankruptcy provides two important benefits: Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Revised March 2, 2011 Page 27 of 50