In March of this year, the United States government announced a program that was set into motion in order to help homeowners keep their homes and avoid the threat of foreclosure. This plangives every homeowner in financial duress a glimmer of light in an area that seemed so dark and it is called the Home Affordable Modification.

This modification initiative was implemented in March by President Obama and is meant to help Americans hang on to their primary home. The main concept of this plan is to both reduce the homeowners monthly mortgage payment to a level that the lender can agree to but more importantly, a payment that the homeowner can fit into their budget.

It is amazing how much progress the mortgage bailout initiative has made and homeowners and lenders alike are jumping for joy over the benefits. It depleted the amount of their debt and took away a lot of the worries that have been weighting them down.

Are you eligible for this plan?

Due to the massive number of homeowner’s and the fact that most lenders are not adequately staffed, now is the time to jump in and get help in paying down your mortgage. It will help you avoid foreclosure and the credit issues that will haunt you for the next several years. There are guidelines put into place that will let you know if you qualify for the home affordable modification plan.

One of the biggest factors will be when your mortgage started. Any home mortgage that originated before January 1, 2009 may be accepted.

You will have to be a single family that is currently living in the dwelling in order to qualify. In other words you cannot be renting the home out and it can’t be just sitting vacant. The fact is that the home you are looking to modify must be your owner occupied and your primary residence . You can easily use your any utility bill to prove your residency during the application process.

Your monthly income must meet specific guidelines as does your current unpaid mortgage balance. It is important to speak with a professional before applying for help.

During the application process, there will be several factors being evaluated with your income, expenses and assets being one of the biggest aspects. Be patient and take care to include everything you own that has any real value. Failure to disclose anything could lead to future difficulties and keep you from qualifying for this program or government assistance in later years.

If you are involved in a bankruptcy, you may still qualify. These kinds of suits are common during times of financial turmoil and may not exclude you from the initiative.

The initiative will be ending the end of December 2012, but all payments will continue for several months after the finish.

One of the most interesting facets of this plan is that the government has decided to include a cash incentive for homeowners who apply early and able to make timely monthly mortgage payments.

The Home Affordable Modification Initiative is designed to make great strides in helping people reduce their mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure. In the state of our current economy it has taken the weight off many homeowners’ shoulders. Now many people may have a long future with the house they worked so hard for.

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