Ocwen Financial Corporation has announced that the company has initiated more than 14,000 trial plans to borrowers under the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s streamlined modification program that launched in January 2016. Over 4,100 of the trial plans afforded to homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments have already been converted to permanent modifications. The U.S. Department of the Treasury broadened the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to include a “streamlined” modification process designed to further assist borrowers who meet basic HAMP eligibility criteria but had not yet entered the initial program.
“Ocwen is excited about the additional families we have been able to reach through this new HAMP program. We will continue to assist struggling homeowners prior to the sunset of the HAMP program,” said Ron Faris, president and chief executive officer of Ocwen. “Ocwen is proud of its commitment and ability to help its customers remain in their homes, and this streamlined modification process allows more borrowers to obtain financial assistance through responsible loan modifications.”
Ocwen has been a HAMP participant since the program’s inception in 2009 and was an early adopter of the streamline modification program. As reported by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through March 31, 2016, Ocwen has helped homeowners stay in their home by modifying approximately 320,000 loans through the HAMP program—more than any other mortgage servicer. Modifications completed by Ocwen account for 20 percent of the total modifications completed by all mortgage servicers under the program.
“Ocwen is playing a critical role in helping borrowers better afford their homes and improve their financial health,” said David Berenbaum, chief executive officer of the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF). “HPF connects Ocwen mortgage holders with HUD certified housing counselors who help homeowners avoid foreclosure. HPF network counselors have helped more than 11,000 Ocwen customers increase their monthly cash-flow by an average $300 per month, and improve their credit score by reducing debt. Ocwen’s best practices in mortgage modification and related consumer outreach are helping more consumers sustain homeownership.”
