"While HAFA has been widely credited with streamlining the short sale process by setting clear timelines, documentation requirements and procedures, feedback from various stakeholders including servicers, housing counselors, realtors and others supported that additional enhancements could be made to further streamline short sale transactions, to the benefit of homeowners."
A recent report from the folks who oversee the TARP (the Congressional Oversight Panel) said that the Treasury has spent just $4.3 million on HAFA for 661 short sales. So Treasury, last week, decided to change the rules a bit:
- HAFA no longer requires that servicers verify the borrowers finances
- HAFA no longer requires servicers to determine if the borrowers monthly payment is higher than a 31 percent debt-to-income ratio.
- HAFA no longer requires second-lien holders to agree to accept 6 percent of the unpaid principal balance owed them, up to $6,000. Servicers now decide who gets paid how much, with a cap still at $6000.
- HAFA now requires borrowers seeking a short sale get an answer/agreement within 30 days.
The last one is a no-brainer, as delays have scuttled far too many deals that could have benefited both borrowers and lenders.
I'm less thrilled with the verification of borrowers' finances and DTI ratio. If you don't have to verify anything about the borrower, other than a so-called, "hardship affidavit," then that opens the program up to all kinds of scams by borrowers who don't need to sell their home but just want to get out from under a bad investment. They may be delinquent on their loans by choice, not by necessity.