Nine steps to buying a Florida home Figure out how much you can afford Know your Florida rights Shop for a Florida mortgage Learn about Florida home buying programs Shop for a home at Florida MLS Hub. com Make an offer Get a home inspection Shop for homeowners insurance Sign papers Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford for a Florida home? What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. Visit FHAmortgageprograms. Com to learn about FHA mortgage program to purchase your next Florida home. FHA loans were created to help increase home ownership. For the Florida home buyer the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional mortgage loan product. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include: Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs. Down payment less than 3. 5% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs. Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:   No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 2 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure. To take advantage of the FHA program in Florida, give us a call 1-800-570-0448 STEP 1: How much home can you afford?  Buying vs. Renting  Home Economics Step 2: Know your rights  Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All – brochure  Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)  Borrower’s rights  Predatory lending  Step 3: Get pre quaffed for your Florida home first Save money and time by doing your homework. Contact a FHA mortgage Programas. com to determine how much you can afford on your next Florida home. Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate – brochure  Let FHA help you  Why Ask for an FHA Loan?  Learn about interest only loans  Step 4: Learn about Florida home buying programs FHA mortgage loan programs offer Florida homebuyers lower down payments and are a good option for Florida first-time homebuyers.  Let FHA help you  HUD’s special Florida homebuying programs  Good Neighbor Next Door (formerly known as Teacher/Officer/Firefighter Next Door)  Hurricane Evacuees discounted sales  Homeownership for public housing residents  Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184)  Step 5: Shop for a Florida home  Choose a Florida real estate agent  Wish list – what features do you want?  Home-shopping checklist – take this list with you when comparing homes  Homes for sale (including HUD homes)  ”Fixer-uppers” – home purchase and repair programs  Manufactured (mobile) homes  Build a home Step 6: Make an offer Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Step 7: Get a home inspection Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. Ten Important Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector What does your inspection cover? The inspector should ensure that their inspection and inspection report will meet all Florida requirements and will comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics. You should be able to request and see a copy of these items ahead of time and ask any questions you may have. If there are any areas you want to make sure are inspected, be sure to identify them upfront. How long have you been practicing in the home inspection profession and how many inspections have you completed? The inspector should be able to provide his or her history in the profession and perhaps even a few names as referrals. Newer inspectors can be very qualified, and many work with a partner or have access to more experienced inspectors to assist them in the inspection. Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection? Related experience in construction or engineering is helpful, but is no substitute for training and experience in the unique discipline of Florida home inspection. If the inspection is for a commercial property, then this should be asked about as well. Do you offer to do repairs or improvements based on the inspection? Some inspector associations and state regulations allow the inspector to perform repair work on problems uncovered in the inspection. Other associations and regulations strictly forbid this as a conflict of interest. How long will the inspection take? The average on-site inspection time for a single inspector is two to three hours for a typical single-family house; anything significantly less may not be enough time to perform a thorough inspection. Additional inspectors may be brought in for very large properties and buildings. How much will it cost? Costs vary dramatically, depending on the region, size and age of the house, scope of services and other factors. A typical range might be $300-$500, but consider the value of the home inspection in terms of the investment being made. Cost does not necessarily reflect quality. HUD Does not regulate home inspection fees. What type of inspection report do you provide and how long will it take to receive the report? Ask to see samples and determine whether or not you can understand the inspector’s reporting style and if the time parameters fulfill your needs. Most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection. Will I be able to attend the inspection? This is a valuable educational opportunity, and an inspector’s refusal to allow this should raise a red flag. Never pass up this opportunity to see your prospective home through the eyes of an expert. Do you maintain membership in a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors. Request to see their membership ID, and perform whatever due diligence you deem appropriate. Do you participate in continuing education programs to keep your expertise up to date? One can never know it all, and the inspector’s commitment to continuing education is a good measure of his or her professionalism and service to the consumer. This is especially important in cases where the home is much older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.   Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around. Shop around Raise your deductible Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding. The land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don’t include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should. Buy your homeowners from the same company that insures your  car. Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverage’s from different companies. Make your home disaster resistant. Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Improve your home security.  You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations Seek out other discounts, Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you’re at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere Maintain good credit If you’ve kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a special discount for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. Stay with the same insurer, If you’ve kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a special discount for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. Review the limits in your policy and value, You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don’t want to spend money for coverage you don’t need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you’ll want to reduce or cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full value is not covered by standard homeowners policies such as expensive jewelry, high-end computers and valuable art work) and pocket the difference. Look for private insurance if you’re on a Govt plan. If you live in a high-risk area — say, one that is especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or crime — and have been buying your homeowners insurance through a government plan, you should check with an insurance agent or company representative or contact your state department of insurance for the names of companies that might be interested in your business When buying a home Consider the cost of homeowners insurance, It may also be cheaper if your home’s electrical, heating and plumbing systems are less than 10 years old. If you live in the East, consider a brick home because it’s more wind resistant. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, look for a wooden frame house because it is more likely to withstand this type of disaster. Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by 5 to 15 percent. Step 9: Sign papers You’re finally ready to go to “settlement” or “closing. ”

FHA Mortgage loans- WHEN YOU ALREADY OWN A HOME.  IMPORTANT – EFFECTIVE WITH CASE NUMBERS PULLED ON OR AFTER 9-19-08  DID YOU KNOW?  Recently, FHA and others in the mortgage industry have observed an increasing number of homeowners who have chosen to vacate their existing principal residence and purchase a new residence. This has been occurring as some homeowners, given the rising price of fuel, are relocating to homes nearer their employment, or are taking advantage of other home buying opportunities arising in the marketplace. Due to FHA’s concern that some homebuyers in these transactions may attempt to provide misleading information regarding the rental income of the property being vacated to qualify for the new mortgage, FHA is instituting underwriting guidance designed to assure that the homebuyer can make payments on the full debt service of both mortgages. Consequently, beginning with case number assignments on or after 9-19-08 and until further notice, the underwriting analysis may not consider any rental income from the property being vacated except under circumstances described in this Mortgagee Letter. The exclusion of rental income from property being vacated is being instituted on a temporary basis while FHA further analyzes this situation to determine whether permanent measures may need to be taken. This will assure that a homeowner either has sufficient income to make both mortgage payments without any rental income or has an equity position not likely to result in defaulting on the mortgage on the property being vacated. In either case, this guidance is directed to preventing the practice known as “buy and bail” where the homebuyer purchases, for example, a more affordable dwelling with the intention to cease making payments on the previous mortgage. Although the property being vacated will not have a mortgage insured by FHA, surrounding properties may and, thus, FHA may be indirectly negatively affected should that property result in a foreclosure.  Exceptions: Rental income on the property being vacated, reduced by the appropriate vacancy factor may be considered in the underwriting analysis under the following circumstances:  •Relocations: The homebuyer is relocating with a new employer, or being transferred by the current employer to an area not within reasonable and locally recognized commuting distance. A properly executed lease agreement (i. e. , a lease signed by the homebuyer and the lessee) of at least one year’s duration after the loan is closed is required. FHA recommends that underwriters also obtain evidence of the security deposit and/or evidence the first month’s rent was paid to the homeowner.  •Sufficient Equity in Vacated Property: The homebuyer has a loan-to-value ratio of 75 percent or less, as determined by either a current (no more than six months old) residential appraisal or by comparing the unpaid principal balance to the original sales price of the property. The appraisal, in addition to using forms Fannie Mae1004/Freddie Mac 70, may be an exterior-only appraisal using form Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac 2055, and for condominium units, form Fannie Mae1075/Freddie Mac 466. Advantages to Using an FHA loan to purchase your next home include: Florida home buyers should know the many advantages of the FHA mortgage loan programs. FHA home loans  were created to help increase home ownership. For the Florida home buyer the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional mortgage loan product. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include: Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs. Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.   Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as: No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 1 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase2 years after a Foreclosure. Apply Today at http://www. fhamortgagefhaloan. com/

How Georgia Homeowners Can benefit from the New Home Loan Programs The Federal Making Home Affordable Program has created a number of home loan programs that will help keep Georgia families in their homes, stabilize Georgia’s communities and assist Georgia homebuyers during these troubled times. Under these new home loan plans, Georgia homeowners can:Refinance their mortgage to a new, lower, fixed interest rate. Refinance even with declining property values. Refinance with lower income and asset verification requirements. Refinance Multiple Investment Properties. Each of the above possibilities require that Georgia Homeowners be current on their existing home loans. However, for those Georgia families that have already fallen into hard times and are behind on, going to be behind on, or have an impending ARM adjustment/balloon payment with, their existing home loans can;Obtain a modification on your mortgage that can potentially reduce your monthly payment, or offer other alternatives that can help you keep your home. Finally, for those Georgia families that are looking to purchase their first new home, or even upgrade their current home, programs are available for them to; Purchase beautiful Georgia homes with credit scores as low as 580 Purchase their new dream home with no out-of-pocket money down The U. S. Treasury, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have developed these programs in an effort to help both troubled and current Georgia borrowers, to get back on track and improve their current financial situations. So How Do They Work? Refinance For Georgia Homeowners that are current on their mortgage payments but unable to refinance because their home value has decreased, you may be able to refinance to a lower rate, or a lower-risk, loan through the refinance solution that is part of this program. Examples of how the refinance program can help Georgia Homeowners:Fixed-rate mortgage to fixed-rate mortgage Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to fixed-rate mortgage Super conforming fixed-rate mortgage to super conforming fixed-rate mortgage Loan Modification For Georgia homeowners who are behind in their mortgage payments, in the foreclosure process, or are current on their payments but have recently experienced a significant hardship, you may be able to modify your loan to a lower rate through the Loan Modification Program. Significant hardships are set as circumstances that may make it difficult for you to pay your mortgage going forward. Purchase For Georgia area families and individuals that are in search of a loan for their new dream home, financing and programs are available to help them purchase;Bank owned foreclosures at below market value With 580 credit scores With no, or little, money down With down payment assistance How Do I Know If I Qualify? Georgia Loan Pro can help you move through the qualification process, and help you find the homeowner lending program that fits you best. Georgia Loan Pro will work with Georgia Homeowners to assist them in putting together the best purchasing package, and discover whether loan modification or a refinance, is the best option for them. For more information, please contact Georgia Loan Pros via email.

Florida FHA Mortgage Loans FHA Mortgage Loans for Buying a Florida Home or FHA Mortgage Refinances are Fast and Easy with FHAmortgageFHAloan. com.   FHA home loans allow first time Florida home buyers and current Florida home owners buy a home with less than 3. 5% down or FHA home mortgage refinance up to 96. 5% of the homes value. Research FHA home loan programs to help you qualify to buy a Florida home with little money down, learn about FHA home loan qualifications, or get a free FHA home loan prequalification. FHA home loans have so many advantages and qualifying is easier and less expensive with regulated closing costs of FHA loans protect you.   Other FHA loan Advantages Include: Minimal Down Payment and Closing Costs. Down payment less than 3. 5% of Sales Price Gift for down payment and closing costs allowed. No reserves or required. FHA regulated closing costs. Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards buyers costs. Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as: Minimum FICO credit score of 540. FHA will allow a home purchase 2 years after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase  3 years after a Foreclosure.   Easier Debt Ratio & Job Requirement Guidelines such as: Higher Debt Ratio’s than other home loan programs. Less than two years on the job is allowed. Self-Employed individuals o. k. APPLY NOW FOR AN FHA HOME LOAN AThttp://www. fhamortgagefhaloan. com/ At one point and time many years ago, the FHA loan was the only alternative to local bank financing for home buyers. In the fashion world, there is a saying: Wait long enough, and everything comes back into style. That rule applies just as well to Florida FHA mortgage program. Long-overlooked, the FHA mortgage is becoming popular again with Florida Home Buyers for its low rates and the real security it provides borrowers. For Florida banks and other mortgage lenders, FHA mortgage loan financing offers the security of a government insured Mortgage. Win/Win! To learn more, call today at 1-800-570-0448 or just use our fast and easy quick application! For first time home buyers and other borrowers, the FHA home loans can have key advantages: Easy Qualification – The FHA loan insures lenders against loss for loans made to properly qualified FHA home loan borrowers. So you’re likely to find FHA mortgage loans with terms that make it easier for you to qualify. Minimal Downpayment Requirements – FHA mortgages can work with as little as 3% down and those funds can come from a family member, charity, or your employer. Although the FHA loan does not have a zero down mortgage option yet, you will find that your 1st Continental Mortgage loan officer can point you to many Downpayment assistance programs that work well with Florida FHA home loans. Less than A-1 Credit is Okay – The Florida FHA home loan program exists to expand the pool of home buyers. Even borrowers with prior bankruptcies or mortgage lates get approved every day for FHA mortgages to buy or Refinance homes in Hillsborough County or any of the other Florida counties we serve. The FHA loan program uses credit quality, not credit score! Lower Cost Over the Life of the Loan – The Florida FHA home loan rates are extraordinarily competitive. FHA’s lower risk to the lender means a better rate for the borrower. Safeguards for Borrowers Who Get Behind – The Florida FHA loan mortgages also allow the lender more options in helping borrowers who fall behind keep their homes are get current again: special forbearance, workouts, even free mortgage counseling. Further, HUD can allow the lender to take past due payments and move them to the end of the loan and in some instance will actually pay your past due payments for you. Options to save your home you’ll never get from a conventional loan! In an uncertain world, this is another excellent reason for you to get an FHA mortgage. Options for Manufactured Housing – Under certain conditions, you can even finance a Mobile Home or manufactured home using a Florida FHA mortgage loan. Call 1-800-570-0448 to get pre-approved for a Florida FHA loan for manufactured housing or just use our quick application to learn more! FHA Loans Are Fully Assumable – When you are ready to sell your home, you can offer buyers FHA financing! All FHA loans can be assumed by qualified buyers. These are just seven of the many good reasons to apply for an FHA mortgage. Call 1-800-570-0448 to speak with a friendly Florida FHA loan specialist now! The FHA program has evolved since it started in 1934 and now has options for HUD insured loans that fit a variety of different borrowers and situations. FHA Home Loans for Purchasing a Florida Home Although Florida FHA home loans require additional paperwork, the reality is that applying for an FHA mortgage loan in Florida is not much different from applying for conventional financing. In fact, for many borrowers the small amount of extra time turns out to be an exceptional mortgage bargain because they save thousands of dollars over the life of their Florida Mortgage. At 1st Continental Mortgage, we have been working with the FHA program for many years. We’re experts at assembling the proper paperwork and presenting your loan application to FHA approved lenders diligently and professionally. It’s one of the ways that we have earned our reputation for closing FHA home loans in Florida on-time. You may be surprised at how flexible sellers are in the current market and how many programs there are that provide Downpayment assistance to applicants for FHA financing to purchase Florida homes, condos, and townhouses. The fact is, seller can pay up to 6% towards your closing costs. This means, no closing costs for you when negotiated during the purchase contract! The FHA program offers excellent fixed rate options and never a prepayment penalty. If other mortgage lenders are quoting you subprime rates, you owe it to yourself to make the call to 1st Continental Mortgage to compare the costs of getting an FHA home loan for your home purchase. Call 1-800-570-0448 to speak with an FHA mortgage expert before accepting any conventional mortgage quote as the best you can do! FHA Mortgage Loan Streamline Refinance Requirements When your 1st Continental Mortgage lender helps you get a streamlined FHA refinance on your existing mortgage loan, he or she will make certain that you meet these conditions: Your current mortgage must be an FHA mortgage. You must have had your FHA Mortgage for at least 6 months. You must have paid your mortgage on time for the most current 12 months. Your FHA Streamline Refinance must lower the principal and interest portion of your mortgage payment by at least $50 or convert the mortgage from an ARM to a fixed rate FHA home loan. You can’t get cash out on the FHA streamline refi. You must have an FHA appraisal if you are rolling the closing costs into the FHA streamline refinance. Any existing liens on your Florida home must be subordinate to the new FHA mortgage. FHA Mortgage Loan Refinance Programs for Cashing Out Equity Although a streamline refinance does not allow you to cash out equity, we have a FHA loan refinance program that is specifically designed for borrowers who want to cash out equity to consolidate debts, make home improvements or to access funds for other purposes. Unlike many conventional loan programs, the FHA mortgage does not adjust the rate based upon loan to value or credit score. You will find the FHA has very reasonable underwriting guidelines for cash out refinancing. We have helped many clients borrow up to 85% of the appraised value of their homes and use the funds to consolidate debts or to make home improvements and other purposes. Qualified borrowers will have to look hard to find lower rates and better terms than they can get on Florida FHA cash out refinance right now! Call 1st Continental Mortgage today at 1-800-570-0448 or use our quick application to apply for an FHA refinance on your home in Sumter County or any of the other Florida counties we offer FHA mortgages in. FHA 203k Mortgages For Florida Homeowners Making Home Improvements The FHA 203k loan program is nothing more than a specialized FHA home loan designed to help homeowners make home improvements. It is especially popular in neighborhoods with properties in need of rehabilitation. The FHA 203k loans work in Florida communities in much the same way as Construction loans for home improvement. Eligible borrowers can use the proceeds from these mortgage to renovate and improve their primary residences. Qualifying for a 203k FHA mortgage uses the same guidelines as a standard FHA mortgage for the purchase of a Florida home. FHA Home Loans For Mobile Homes with Land Although some conventional lenders in Florida shy away from making a loan on Mobile Homes or manufactured homes, many FHA mortgage loan lenders do not. In fact, mobile homeowners fortunate enough to connect with a Florida mortgage lender, who is well schooled in how FHA loans work for mobiles and manufactured homes, can get a better interest rate, better terms, and a lower monthly payment by going FHA in nearly every case. If you’re shopping for financing to buy a mobile or manufactured home on land in Sumter County or any of the other 66 counties in Florida that we serve, call 1-800-570-0448 and let us give you a quote for an FHA mortgage loan to purchase your mobile or manufactured home. It only takes a few minutes to get an FHA loan mortgage quote on your Florida mobile home. We’ll wager that the savings on your monthly mortgage payments will make it some of the highest paid work you’ve ever done. Few people realize that the FHA loan uses the same underwriting criteria for single and double wide mobile homes and manufactured housing as it does for traditional site built block or stick homes. In addition, FHA is one of the very few programs that can offer up to 97% financing on mobile homes on land. In addition, did you know that the seller can contribute up 6% toward your closing costs on an FHA mobile home loan and that down payment assistance can be used in Florida? It’s true! You could package your mobile home financing to create a real no money down loan with unbelievably low rates. Call 1-800-570-0448 or use our secure online quick application for a free no obligation quote on financing your manufactured or mobile home using an FHA mortgage loan. FHA Home Loans Offer the Convenience of Streamlined Refinance An FHA streamline refinance is one of the easiest home loans for Mortgage Lenders and borrowers. Since HUD approved you for the original FHA loan, the paperwork to refinance is minimal and the process is simple. So long as you have made your FL FHA loan mortgage payments on time for the previous 12 months, you can lower your monthly payment if interest rates go down with minimal out of pocket expense. Even if you have been late on your FHA mortgage, you might still qualify for an FHA streamline refinance in Florida under very specific conditions. Less documentation and no appraisal are just two of the reasons a FHA streamline refinance is cheaper and faster for the borrowers who qualify. FHA Mobile Home Lending Guidelines The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets forth these guidelines for determining if a mobile or manufactured home qualifies for an FHA mortgage loan in Florida: The mobile or manufactured home must be constructed in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. A red tag is attached to the rear of each section of homes that comply with the standards. The home must be taxed as real estate by the local tax assessor’s office. The mobile or manufactured home must have been built after June 15, 1976. The mortgage must have a term of at least 30 years from when amortization begins. The mobile home or manufactured home must be on a permanent foundation. The axles and tongue must be removed from the mobile or manufactured home. The mobile home or manufactured home must have adequate skirting and insulation, and the crawl space must have adequate ventilation. If you would like to determine if your mobile or manufactured home meets the guidelines for section 184 financing from FHA, call one of our Florida mortgage pros at 1-800-570-0448. We’ll be glad to help you determine if the property that you are interested in can be used as collateral for an FHA mobile home mortgage. FHA 203K Mortgages for Florida Fixer upper homes This specialized FHA mortgage is for Floridians who wish to buy a home that needs repairs or renovations. Just as is the case with a conventional construction loan, a single FHA 203k loan covers both purchase of the Florida real estate and renovation. FHA 203K financing can be used to purchase a property on a site and move it to a new foundation on the mortgaged property and rehabilitate it. In addition, Florida homeowners can also use a 203k FHA mortgage to refinance existing debt when they finance one or more home improvements using the FHA 203k mortgage program. Many borrowers are finding out what a good deal a Florida FHA home loan really is. Call 1-800-570-0448 today or simply use our quick application to find out more!  

A Home Loan Modification can help you stop foreclosure and stay in your home. But if you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably wondering how it will affect your credit, and whether in a good or bad way. Unfortunately, there’s no single answer—it all depends on how far behind you are and the kind of mortgage loan modification you’ll be granted. Best-case scenarios Technically, since you’re not borrowing any money, a home loan modification won’t hurt your credit score. If you’re paying less in interest, you have a smaller debt burden. And since most lenders prefer an interest rate reduction, there’s a pretty good chance that a Home loan modification will improve your credit score. The implications are even better if your lender forgives part of the principal, although this is less common. If they write off $50,000 from your loan amount, it will show up on your report as a smaller loan, which can increase your credit score. The lender factorUnfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way. It also depends on how your lender reports the home loan modification to the credit bureaus. Many of them will consider it paid for less than the original amount owed, which will count against your score. If you’re already in foreclosure, the impact on your credit can be substantial. Of course, compared to a short sale or a foreclosure, a Mortgage Loan Modification is still the best way to maintain your credit standing. Tax implications One of the early problems with Loan modification is that the amount forgiven is usually taxable. That means if your debt is reduced by $50,000, the IRS views it as income and imposes the corresponding tax. This can catch homeowners off guard during tax season, as many of them don’t know the tax implications at the time of the modification. To avoid such incidents, the IRS announced in 2007 that Loan modification would no longer be classified as “prohibited transactions. ” This applied to all loans originated from January 2004 to July 2007, the peak of the sub-prime boom, and those due to adjust from January 2009 to July 2012. If your mortgage falls under these categories, you won’t have to file a 1099 declaring the change as taxable. A loan modification is much like going to court: you can save your money and get a court-appointed lawyer, or you can invest in professional representation and get the best mortgage assistance. Your loss mitigation won’t happen overnight, but if with a capable Loan Modification Attorney, you can be sure you’re in good hands.