What Do Loan Modification Corporations Do and How Do They Help You?

Utilizing loan modification corporations may be the only way you can get a modification on your mortgage from your lender. Lenders are far more open to discussing terms with the trained professions that work in loan modification corporations than with homeowners, mostly due to the fact that they know how to handle lenders and their possible reservations towards approving applications.

A legitimate corporation that specializes in modifications will not charge a fee for initial consultation of your situation. The consultations they provide are to determine whether you can get a modification in your current financial situation, and if so, what are the best steps to take to get it.

It's worth noting that legitimate corporations do not charge you, because false ones (scams) will charge you a fee for the initial consultation and even charge subsequent fees afterward. Keep that in mind when shopping for someone to help with your paperwork and negotiations.

After the consultation, if you choose to use their services, they will offer to help you fill out an application in a way that reflects well on you. Once that is done, they will also help write the hardship letter, which is much more difficult to write up than the application. The hardship letter needs to solidly portray that you are unable to afford your current rate under any circumstances, but a lower rate will be completely manageable.

That is the last portion of interactivity you have in the application process. After your paperwork, financial documents, and hardship letter are submitted loan modification corporations then go into negotiations with the lender if needed. Many times they will try to talk lenders down to rates lower than they would like to give, and if that is not possible then they will try to both get the best terms they can within means and speed up the process.

Sometimes lenders aren't willing to give the rates that homeowners are looking for, and that is where the need for specialists to come in and negotiate.

If the negotiations end up successful, they will charge a fee equal to the percentage of your total mortgage. This percentage can vary anywhere from 1 to 4 percent, depending on the company.

It's worth nothing that there is no requirement to use loan modification corporations to get a modification, though it can make your lender much more likely to approve your application. If you can't afford to hire a corporation, there are also free FHA officials who can assist you in your efforts.

Emma Lanier, "Loan Modification Companies", Mortgage Lending Modifications