Wells Fargo & Company is reporting that as of Feb. 28, the company had 505,832 active trial and completed modifications through its own modification programs and the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). More than 365,000 of those were non-HAMP active trials in place as of the end of February 2010 and modifications completed since the beginning of 2009. Wells Fargo had 139,065 HAMP active trial and completed modifications in place as of Feb. 28, including 24,975 permanent modifications and 7,533 permanent modifications pending completion.Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) have released February data for the Administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). As of the end of the month, more than one million borrowers were receiving a median savings of $500 each month, a 36 percent median monthly payment decrease. Permanent modifications have been granted to 170,000 homeowners and an additional 91,800 permanent modifications have been approved by servicers and are pending only borrower acceptance.

Highlights of the report include:Read more

Bank of America has announced that it has completed nearly 21,000 mortgage modifications under the federal government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), according to the bank's latest monthly progress report to the U.S. Department of Treasury.Read more

Ocwen Financial Corporation President Ronald M. Faris, has testified before Congress, voicing the mortgage servicer's support of the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and recommended enhancements that Ocwen believes would make the program more effective at preventing foreclosures and helping distressed homeowners.Read more

National Mortgage Professional Magazine recently had an opportunity to chat with David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and 27th Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).Read more

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has announced that it has developed a concept for a new forbearance program that would allow qualified borrowers who had lost their jobs to remain in their homes while they seek new employment. According to the proposed program, loan servicers would reduce the borrower's mortgage payment to an affordable amount for up to nine months while the homeowner looked for employment.Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing &Urban Development (HUD) have released January data for the Administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), demonstrating that the number of homeowners receiving immediate relief and converting to permanent modifications continues to rise. More than 116,000 homeowners now have permanent modifications, nearly doubling the number from December, which also marked record progress. An additional 76,000 permanent modifications have been offered, and are waiting only for the borrower's signature.Read more

Bank of America has realized significant gains modifying mortgages through the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). At the reporting deadline for the Department of Treasury's monthly servicer progress report expected to be issued this week, Bank of America had quadrupled the number of completed modifications for its customers since the previous month's report.Read more

MRG Document Technologies (MRG), a provider of mortgage compliance technology and services to banks, credit unions and other lenders nationwide, announced that it focused on developing strategic integrations and partnerships in 2009, increasing the number of lenders that access its compliant mortgage document preparation services.

Some of the key alliances include:

► Partnered with Kroll Factual Data to provide clients with access to three of Kroll’s risk assessment services through MRG’s MIRACLE Online compliance software, including a “Reg Flag Rules” plan.Read more

As part of the Administration's ongoing housing market stabilization plan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) have released updated guidance for servicers participating in the Administration's mortgage modification program. This guidance refines the documentation requirements in order to expedite conversions of current trial modifications to permanent ones.Read more