On November 30, 2009, the Treasury Department released guidelines and forms for its new Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA). HAFA is component of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). NAR has been urging the Obama Administration to take action to address the many problems with short sales.
HAFA provides incentives in connection with a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (DIL) used to avoid foreclosure of a loan eligible for modification under the HAMP program. HAFA applies to loans not owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which will issue their own versions in the coming weeks. Program features include: pre-approving sales terms before listing the property, prohibiting servicers from requiring reductions in real estate commissions that do not exceed 6 percent, paying incentives, releasing borrowers from future liability for the unpaid portion of the first mortgage debt, and imposing deadlines at each stage.
The program does not take effect until April 5, 2010, but servicers may implement it before then if they meet certain requirements. The program sunsets on December 31, 2012.
More information here.
