Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic Mortgage Crisis

How Does Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic Work:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has halted the US economy
• The pandemic also has turned the mortgage industry upside down where it is affecting mortgage borrowers
• Included in the phase three $2 trillion dollars coronavirus pandemic economic package is the ability of homeowners to be eligible for forbearance for six months and renewable up to 12 months
• Auto and federally-backed student loans are also available for forbearance
• The government is expected to pump more than $6 trillion in stimulus money to keep the economy from tanking further than it already has
• The economic crisis was caused by the coronavirus and not the economy
• The coronavirus pandemic is a global pandemic that started in Wuhan, China in December 2019

The US economy went from being the strongest ever to the worst in a matter of a few weeks.

Homeowners Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic To Avoid Massive Foreclosure

• Any homeowners who have been laid-off from work and/or economically affected by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for mortgage forbearance
• Forbearance is not forgiveness
• The homeowner needs to pay the amount in arrears after the forbearance period is over
• The loan is not modified and the rates and term of the mortgage remains the same

In this breaking news article, we will discuss and cover Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic Mortgage Crisis. Another important thing homeowners need to understand is the difference between forbearance and mortgage loan modification.

Understanding Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic Mortgage Crisis

The mortgage forbearance during pandemic mortgage crisis is available to all homeowners affected by the economic crisis.

• The CARES Act, which is the coronavirus relief law, allows homeowners who have mortgages that are backed by the federal government to be eligible for forbearance up to 12 months
• Federally-backed mortgages are home loans owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Homeowners considering taking the forbearance offer need to consider the disadvantages
• Forbearance is not forgiveness
• Homeowners need to pay the mortgage payments missed when the forbearance period is over

It can also affect borrowers in qualifying for a refinance and/or another mortgage at a later date.

Historic Unemployment Numbers Due To Coronavirus Economic Shutdown

The US economy was stronger than ever prior to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

• The unemployment rate was at 3.5% low, which is a 50-year low
• Most worker’s 401k’s was up over 50% since President Trump took office in 2017
• Housing demand was stronger than ever
• Mortgage rates were at an all-time low
• Then disaster struck
• Unemployment claims hit historic highs
• In the past 3-weeks, over 16 million Americans filed for unemployment claims
• Americans who felt they were secure in their jobs either got laid off or got fired
• Many businesses have shut down
• As time passes, it seems it is unlikely for small businesses to reopen and return to business as usual
• The mortgage and housing markets are upside down and in a state of chaos
• Unemployment numbers are expected to skyrocket in the weeks to come
• The federal government is launching more coronavirus economic stimulus plans in the weeks to come to do damage control to a brittle economy
• The forbearance program for homeowners was launched to prevent a financial crisis worse than the 2008 economic meltdown

The forbearance program can help countless homeowners from foreclosure. However, homeowners who can make the regular mortgage payment, it is advised not to take the forbearance program.
Mortgage Forbearance During Pandemic On Federal-Backs Home Loans

Under the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, homeowners who have federally backed mortgages, including mortgages that are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are eligible for a six-month forbearance on their mortgages.

• If things do not improve financially, homeowners can extend the forbearance for another six-months after the initial term expires
• For homeowners who do not have federally-backed mortgages, countless states have their own forbearance
• For example, New York, New Jersey, and California are among the jurisdictions that are allowing homeowners to request a 90-day reprieve on their payments
• Homeowners need to realize that forbearance is not forgiveness
• Forbearance means it is the postponement of the mortgage payment due until a later date
• Nothing change in mortgage payment terms. Interest rates and terms remain the same

Once the forbearance period is over, the full amount that has been postponed is due. Those who cannot come up with the amount due all at once, lenders may spread the amount due in 12 monthly payments.

Forbearance During Mortgage And Housing Crisis

By law, mortgage servicers need to grant forbearance to homeowners in financial hardship with limited paperwork. Many lenders are not happy with the forbearance law.

• Mortgage servicers are still on the hook in making principal and interest payments to investors
• There is nothing in the $2 trillion stimulus package that helps mortgage servicers when borrowers are not paying their mortgage payments
• Servicers also need to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance for borrowers who have escrow accounts
• Over 25% of homeowners are expected to take advantage of the forbearance program
• This can bankrupt many mortgage servicers

Steps To Qualifying For Mortgage Forbearance

The coronavirus pandemic economic meltdown has affected the housing markets nationwide.

• In many areas like New York, home prices have dropped dramatically
• Homeowners affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus need to contact their mortgage servicer
• The mortgage servicer is the company you pay your mortgage payments every month
• The process is supposed to be simple with no red tape according to the Trump Administration
• Lenders are supposed to cooperate with borrowers and not give them a hard time

Mortgage Payments After Forbearance Period Expires

Borrowers are eligible up to 12-months forbearance due to the coronavirus pandemic economic crisis.

• Many wonder how the repayment works
• Will the missed payments be all due at once?
• Will the missed payments be rolled in the back of the loan balance?
• Will the missed mortgage payments be spread out?
• Normally, the mortgage servicer prefers borrowers to pay the missed mortgage payments all at once
• However, most lenders will work a payment plan where the missed payments are spread out over six to twelve months
• If the borrower cannot pay the missed payments due to wage decrease and/or change of employment to a less paying job, then a loan modification may be necessary
• A loan modification changes the interest rate and/or terms of the loan

There are many ways of restructuring the payments after the forbearance period is over. Lenders cannot report the mortgage payments late on your credit report during the forbearance period.