The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) announced that it will spend $420 million to trim individual mortgages by up to $50,000. Lenders will be asked to match the amount, a deal that could make thousands of mortgages newly affordable across California.
Amt available to troubled households: $700 million
Number of households expected to get help: 44,000
Max help per household: $50,000
Max mortgage amount: $729,750
Launch date: Nov. 1, 2010
Who's running it: California Housing Finance Agency, the state's affordable housing bank. CalHFA will add 10 staffers; it has budgeted $52.4 million, or 7.5 percent of the federal funds, for administration
Requirements: Must be a low- or moderate-income household and a primary residence. Limited to purchase loans, or possibly refi loans obtained to get a lower interest rate. No cash-out loans allowed. Not for investors.
THE PROGRAMS
Principal reduction: Borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth could receive up to $50,000 to reduce the amount they owe. Lenders would be urged to provide a match and perform a loan modification based on the new amount owed.
Amount budgeted: $420.6 million.Mortgage reinstatement assistance: Borrowers would receive up to $15,000 to catch up on late payments. Lender would provide up to $15,000 and a loan modification to go forward.
Amount budgeted: $129.4 million.Unemployment mortgage assistance: Borrowers could get $1,500 a month for six months to help make house payments (including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and homeowners association dues) while looking for work. Lenders would supplement.
Amount budgeted: $64.7 million.Transition assistance: Borrowers will receive up to $5,000 to move if they can't afford their mortgage under any loan modification scenario.
Amount budgeted: $32.3 million.
