Mortgage Modification: 6 Steps To Nailing a Loan Mod

By Jack Guttentag for Inman News

Millions of mortgage borrowers who can no longer afford their mortgage payments but can afford a lower payment can avoid foreclosure by getting a modification of their loan contract. While the path to a modification remains torturous, it is not quite as bad as when I addressed the issue in a 2009 column. Here are six steps on the path to getting one.

1. Are you unqualified?

It is not possible for borrowers acting on their own to determine whether they qualify for a modification because they don't have access to all the criteria. Some is kept under wraps by loan servicers. However, borrowers can determine that they are not qualified for a government-supported modification by accessing a questionnaire provided by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Bear in mind, however, that servicers also offer modifications outside of the government's program. You might qualify for one even if you don't meet the government's requirements.