Mortgage Modification Rejections Can Be A Good Thing

It’s just part and parcel of the mortgage modification process in 2010 – REJECTION! Lenders can’t deliver performance levels that satisfies anyone in spite of over two years of work and over eighteen months of financial incentives from the President’s Making Homes Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Even well qualified applicants are getting rejected. Sometimes, more than once.

These days, rejection of your mortgage modification is a very good sign! Of the modifications that we have successfully mnaged for clients in 2010, not one single application was granted without a prior rejection. You read that correctly – every one of the modifications I have completed for clients in 2010 has been rejected before being accepted. Even applications that initially were grantedTrial Modifications resulted in a rejection of the permanent mod before final acceptance. Some of them were rejected as many as three times before being granted! Wow!

It’s hard enough to meet the challenging application procedures and follow-up effectively to keep your application on-track. To have to also escalate your rejections to supervisors, managers, Directors , Vice Presidents and CEOs and to contact your local congressperson, the regulatory agencies, the trade associations and even the press in order to get it done? This is tough stuff!

But, stop whining. If that’s the way it is we just have to deal with it. The list of reasons for rejection include: “Your loan investor’s not participating in modification programs”, “You failed the NPV calculation”, “You make too much”, “Your income is too low”, “You have too many assets”, “Your 4506-T has expired”, “Your Ratios are wrong”, “You did not provide updated docs”, “We need a note from your mom (O.K., I made this one up!)”, ad infinitum.

These reasons may be valid but all too often, they are simply erroneous, resulting from lender mismanagement of the file. Othertimes, they are patently untrue statements that slow or end the application process if you do not object. So, rather than be discouraged and give-up when you get rejected, press on. At least you’re not being completely ignored! Promptly get clarity on the reasons for rejection. Go through several agents (by simply calling back at different times) and then escalate to a supervisor if you must to get a straight answer. Then supply the missing documents, sign the updated form, or correct the typo on your income. Do whatever it takes to get them back on track. Request reconsideration when you submit the correction. If you have submitted a good and accurate application upfront, you will – eventually – get the relief that the mortgage modification programs are intended to give.

So, don’t be dicouraged when you get rejected for a mortgage modification. It’s significantly better than getting the dreaded “Your application is under active review and no further action is required of you at this time. Please call back in 10 days”. Oh, it’s even hard for me to write those words! Rather, take the rejection as encouragement that you are actually getting some traction and will likely get approved very soon. Takes a lot of perseverence, eh?

Need help with your ownMortgage Modification? Visit Rockwood’s site about DIY Loan Modification at Home Loan Modification