Do It Yourself Loan Modification

By Janette Coolen

Many people try to handle the mortgage loan modification process themselves. If you decide to go the DIY route with a mortgage loan modification, you have to know what things you should do, but even more importantly, what things you should NOT do! In this article, we'll go over a few mistakes that are often made in a loan modification application. Avoid these mistakes to increase your chances of getting accepted.

Mistake: Speaking with the wrong department about a mortgage loan modification. When you miss a mortgage payment, you'll eventually get a call from your lender's collections department. Don't try and negotiate a mortgage loan modification proposal with these people on the phone, because they can't help you. They have only one goal, and that is to get a mortgage payment from you. Not help you with your financial trouble. Speak with the correct department of your lender if you want to negotiate a mortgage loan modification.

Mistake: Not taking the time to study the mortgage loan modification process. If you don't take the time to do a little preparation before turning in your application, you may as well save yourself the hassle. Without preparation, there is an enormous chance your proposal will be denied.

Mistake: Not being completely truthful on your application form. This will get you in trouble. Many people fail to realize that a lender WILL check up on the facts provided on a mortgage loan modification application. If you get caught, you will immediately lose all chances of getting your mortgage loan modification accepted.

Mistake: Paying a mortgage loan modification a big upfront fee. There are a lot of mortgage loan modification companies springing up left and right because of the high number of foreclosures. They all want to get a piece of the pie. Be sure you check their credentials and know that you're dealing with an ethical, reputable company before giving them your money. The objective is to get out of the hole, not deeper in it.

Mistake: Trying to piece together a loan workout that doesn't meet the approval criteria of your lender. This shows the lender that you did not take the time to go through the paperwork and you did not read up on the approval criteria. This is one of the quickest ways to get your application denied, so take the time to read up on the approval criteria.

If you make sure you don't make these mistakes when applying for a mortgage loan modification, you give yourself the greatest chance of succeeding. The final decision is up to your lender, but if you take the time to do this right, you make it easy for the lender.

About the Author:

Janette writes about financial matters and mortgages in plain English. She also writes Dutch articles about hypotheek oversluiten and aflossingsvrije hypotheek.