Do You Qualify for Short Sale Assistance Under the HAFA Program?

The new Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Program, or HAFA, is meant to assist homeowners who are eligible for a loan modification but cannot work out a payment plan they can afford. Instead of being foreclosed, HAFA assists such homeowners with the short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure process. HAFA is voluntary, and lenders are not required to sign up for it. Do you qualify under HAFA? Here’s a checklist to see if you do:

1) Your loan is a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan.  However, you may qualify even if it is NOT a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan.
2) Your bank or servicing company signed up to participate in the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) by December 31, 2009, AND your bank has also since signed up to participate in HAFA.
3) The property in question is your primary residence.
4) Your loan is the first mortgage on the property.
5) You took out the loan before January 1, 2009.
6) Your unpaid balance is less than $729,750.
7) Your monthly mortgage payment is exceeds 31% of your gross income.
8) Your loan is already in default, OR default is reasonably foreseeable.