Banks are slowing foreclosure rates yet again, and it isn’t because they are out of borrowers to foreclose on. With the settlement earlier this year, banks began to clear out their existing REO inventory, and they slowed foreclosures in the Southwest in order to modify mortgages to meet their requirements under the settlement (note the uptick in cancellations last month). Ideally, the banks would like to modify loans to keep borrowers in place and complete short sales for those who want to leave. They don’t want to resolve there legacy toxic loans by foreclosure. Unfortunately, borrowers are not cooperating. Borrowers benefit more by squatting until a foreclosure.
BofA Give-Away Has Few Takers Among Homeowners: Mortgages
When Bank of America Corp. sent letters to 60,000 struggling homeowners offering to slice an average $150,000 off their loans, the lender got an unusual response from most of them: silence.
I think most people recognize these are bait-and-switch tactics of the banks. Lenders generate big headlines about giving away free money, but when the borrowers apply, they are offered something far less palatable. However, the lack of response goes beyond a basic distrust of the bank’s motives.
Homeowners who fell behind on their payments began receiving the mailings in May, part of the bank’s effort to meet terms of the $25 billion industry settlement over foreclosure abuses. More than half haven’t responded as “borrower fatigue” causes them to tune out the offers, said Dan Frahm, a spokesman for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank.
This is more than borrower fatigue. Most people aren’t going to respond because they benefit more by simply squatting until the foreclosure. Underwater borrowers are not completely stupid. Many recognize a loan modification is paying more for their house than it’s worth.
(Excerpt) Read more at ochousingnews.com …
