Loan Modification, Homeowner | featured news

Bank of America NA prevented homeowners from receiving mortgage-loan modifications under a federal program in order to avoid millions of dollars in losses while benefitting from financial incentives for participating in the program, according to a complaint unsealed in federal court Wednesday.

Only 340,000 homeowners have had their mortgages permanently adjusted under the program, a small fraction of those needing assistance.

Bank of America will on Wednesday announce plans to start forgiving mortgage loan principal for troubled homeowners who owe more than 120 percent of their home's value or are battling ever-expanding "negative amortization" loans.

The average homeowner in the Obama administration's signature foreclosure-prevention program owes more on their mortgage than the home is worth, yet the program does virtually nothing to address this problem, according to a scathing new report by a government watchdog.

About 4 million U.S. homeowners are 90 days or more delinquent on their loans or in foreclosure proceedings, Moody's Economy.com says. A federal loan modification program is helping a relative few.

Mortgage servicing companies have the complex task of figuring out if millions of borrowers qualify for mortgage modifications. And there has been some progress lately getting homeowners sign up.

After a slow start, the Obama administration's mortgage relief program has reached one in five eligible homeowners, a government report says.

Rates can fall to 2%--if you know how to play the game.

The case of Carrington Mortgage shows how some loan modifications benefit only the lender.

The Treasury said less than 10% of eligible borrowers have received trial modifications under the White House's effort to help struggling homeowners.