Freddie Mac, (Bulletin 2010-17), is introducing new forbearance requirements to provide a “short-term unemployment forbearance” relief option to assist Borrowers who are unable to make their Mortgage payment due to unemployment.
In addition, Freddie Mac is introducing an “extended unemployment forbearance” relief option to provide an extension of the forbearance period if such Borrowers have not regained employment after the short-term forbearance period has ended. Including these additional relief options in our loss mitigation tool kit gives unemployed Borrowers an opportunity to retain homeownership by providing Mortgage payment relief while they seek re-employment.
Servicers will have delegated authority to approve eligible Borrowers for a short-term unemployment forbearance period of six months during which time the monthly Mortgage payment is either suspended or reduced.
If the Borrower remains unemployed at the end of the short-term unemployment forbearance period, the Servicer must consider the Borrower for extended unemployment forbearance in accordance with the Guide.
If the Borrower meets the eligibility criteria for extended unemployment forbearance, the Servicer must obtain Freddie Mac’s written approval before entering into an extended unemployment forbearance plan with the Borrower.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Changes announced in this Bulletin are effective February 1, 2012 for all new Borrower evaluations for an alternative to foreclosure. However, Servicers may begin implementing the unemployment forbearance relief options earlier for all new requests for assistance in which an eligible Borrower’s hardship is unemployment.
If you have any question about Freddie Macs new plan, above, or any other questions regarding foreclosure alternatives, please pick up the phone and call me directly at 561-602-1258...or send me an email
Thanks for reading my blog…Steve Jackson
