Archive for December, 2009

Insidious: adjective, (of something unpleasant or dangerous) gradually and secretly causing harm. CALLED HAMP?

auschwitzx-topper-mediumThe recently stolen and recovered sign overlooking the Infamous Nazi Death Camp at Auschwitz  pronounced one of the most INSIDIOUS false promises in history. “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates “Work Makes Free” or can be translated “Work Will Set You Free”. The sign was placed there by commandant Rudolf Höss. Höss believed that doing menial work during his own imprisonment under the Weimar Republic helped him through the experience. At Auschwitz, the sign was made in 1940 by Polish political prisoners headed by Jan Liwacz (camp number 1010). The upper bowl in the “B” in “ARBEIT” is wider than the lower bowl, appearing to some as upside-down. Allegedly it was made on purpose by political prisoners to make a signal what is really going on in Auschwitz.

Too bad their isn’t a CrOoked letter in the title of  the Making Home Affordable loan modification letter! The letter that homeowners receive when accepted into the HAMP Trial Modification Program. Maybe they would would be fairly forewarned for WHAT they were about to experience!HAMP2

header1The Making Homes Affordable Approval letter and plan looks as if it is coming DIRECTLY from the U.S. Treasury. It’s adorned with the OFFICIAL SEAL of the “Special Inspector General” of the “Troubled Asset Relief Program“? The Special Inspector General, Neil Barofsky has the job of auditing all of the banks that receive TARP Money. His Agency doesn’t have anything to do with APPROVING or DENYING your Loan Modification.

So WHY is the Special Inspector General of the U.S. Treasury Seal on the HAMP Loan Modification letters?hopehotline  

This Letter and SEAL makes it LOOK like the U.S. Treasury is running the HAMP Program…But it’s an INSIDIOUS LIE”.The Homeowner is FALSLY led to believe that the U.S. Government is behind the Loan Modification Process. The U.S. Treasury is NOT running the loan modification process. The BANKS Are SOLELY IN CONTROL of the Loan  Modification Process!

If you scroll to the bottom of the HAMP Cover page that adorns the Special Inspector Generals Seal you’ll see the label SIG/TARP Fraud Notice. Well the only Fraid here is the FALSE PROMISE of a three month loan trial modification. I can’t help but think how psychologically the homeowner looks at these official looking documents, that appear to be loan documents coming from the U.S. Treasury, and get a false sense of relief that they will be on their way to saving their home. 

Like those passing under the gates at Auschwitz thinking that “IF I work hard I will be SET FREE”…. “If I Complete this Trial Loan Modification I will SAVE MY HOME!” 
 
When you read the HAMP Modification documents carefully you see that this Trial Modification Plan IS NOT a FINAL agreement for a loan modification. But merely a Trial Modification which allows the Banks to collect mortgage payments for a 3 month period. Which gives the Homeowner the FALSE SENSE of assurance that after making the 3 Trial Payments they’ll be receiving a Permanent Loan Modification. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH…The Banks have all of the cards. They collect payments for as long as they want even though they give the impression that if the client makes (3) three trial payments they will be rewarded with a permanent modification. Most modifications are on the 6 or 7 month of Trial Payments with NO Permanent modification in sight! Even if the homeowner makes ALL of the Trial  payments during the trial plan on time the Bank could still determine that you don’t qualify, and foreclose. 

The Facts: As of  October 31 per the U.S. Treasury Department, in the Servicer Performance Report for the HAMP program there are 3,299,780 American Homeowners that are 60+ days delinquent in their mortgages and are eligible for the Making Home Affordable loan modification program, . Of those 3,299,780 eligible Homeowners only 697,026 are currently participating in the HAMP Loan Modification Program.

ONLY 31,382Homeowners since March 4th 2009 have received a Permanent Loan Modification! THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!

It’s TIME for the BANKS and the U.S. Treasury to Stop Making FALSE and INSIDIOUS Promises with respect to their efforts to Modify Homeowners in Foreclosure. We DON’T need any more Congressional Inquiries. We DON’T need anymore fancy Government Websites! We DON’T need anymore Phoney Official Seals on NON-BINDING Agreements! Just Modify the LOANS NOW…Before Millions lose HOPE and Lose their homes!

Uppitybanker

 

Anybody Home? Going to the TOP to SAVE DOC’S Home!

The Following is a Letter I sent to Mr. Herbert Allison Jr., Asst Treasury Secretary, herbert.allison@do.treas.gov
 
 
Herbert AllisonDear Mr. Herbert Allison Jr., Asst Treasury Secretary,
 
I watched your testimony on CSPAN yesterday in front of the House Financial Services Committee. I was very intrigued to learn that you are pushing for transparency of the Super Secret NPV Formula by the first Quarter of 2010. Unfortunately that will be a bit too late to help save Doc “M’s” home! His home is scheduled for Foreclosure on January 4th, 2010.
 
I have over 20 years in Mortgage Banking and have spent a considerable about of time this last year helping my old clients with the loan modification application process to save their homes. I believe I understand the HAMP process and qualification criteria well. I have been sucessful with 4 Hamp trials started and 1 permanent loan modification done. The following story is about my only failure.
 
I’m writing you in hopes that you can help a man who truly deserves a loan modification. Doc “M” is a 73 year old retired, disabled Naval Doctor who worked at the VA Hospital in San Diego up until he became ill in November 2008. Because of his illness he was unable to work any longer at the VA. He therefore was let go by the VA and now receives Disability from Social Security and has an income from an investment in a small restaurant started in April 2009. I believe he makes enough income to qualify for the HAMP program. He has a true hardship after losing his job due to illness. And he is disabled.
 
We applied to Littion Loan Servicing who is servicing the loan for Deutsche Bank in May 2009 and we were turned down October 28th, due to failure of their Proprietary NPV Formula. I believe these Secret Formulas are a backdoor for the Banks to deny a loan modification. Depending upon whats in the formula they can be designed to FAIL!
 
I have gone through several channels to reverse what I perceive to be a travesty upon a deserving disabled veteran. I have been in touch with Ms Jennifer Stockett of the Treasury Dept, jennifer.stockett@do.treas.gov  who oversees the Hamp Program. She was helpful but only confirmed what I already knew, that Doc was turned down because he failed the NPV Formula. After that we traveled to a HUD Non-Profit event in Pine Valley to seek assistance. But they also know the NPV Formula is formidable.
 
I believe the Formula was mis-applied. Of Course I really don’t know WHAT they used for Income or WHAT Time frame they used for the cash flows! And I don’t believe they ever did an appraisal of the property until after the denial. So how can they evaluate their options without an accurate appraisal? It’s their Formula and their word alone that HAS NO TRANSPARENCY to CHALLENGE! Never the less, a man who has served his country should NOT be put on the street because of a Secret Formula. 
 
Doc “M” deserves a Loan Modification. I hope you can help. 
  
Uppitybanker
 

Mr.Potter Would Be Proud!

mrpotter-300x225Update to Saving Doc’s Home: Litton Loan Servicing has POSTPONED the FORECLOSURE of Doc’s Home for 30 DAYS! Mr Potter in the famous Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” wanted to own ALL of the property in Bedford Falls. But George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, doesn’t allow Potter to Win. He saves Bedford Falls from Potter’s Bank with the help of his small Building and Loan. Nice tearful story, but in real life the Banks rarely lose and in the case of saving Doc’s Home they have WON!

They were kind enough to postpone the Foreclosure through Christmas. Just to allow him to SELL his home. HOW NICE OF THEM! 

Litton Loan Servicing and Deutsche Bank have refused to allow Doc to modify his home loan because he FAILED their SUPER SECRET NPV FORMULA! So they will Foreclose in January if Doc can’t sell his home . Apparently owning a $250,000 home is extremely important to them.

Litton Loan Servicing and Deutsche Bank would make Mr. Potter Proud!

 Uppitybanker