Evidently the government is serious about getting these delinquent mortgages modified – here is another positive change to HAMP:

Press Release from HUD:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary
Shaun Donovan today announced the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
has implemented changes to its loan modification program to ensure
consistency with the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Modification Program. By August 15th,
FHA borrowers will be able to significantly reduce their monthly
mortgage payments by seeking a loan modification through their current
mortgage company or loan servicer under the new FHA-Home Affordable
Modification Program (FHA-HAMP).

"Today, we're bringing another vital tool to the table to help
struggling families who are desperate to keep their homes," said
Donovan. "Tens of thousands of FHA borrowers will now be able to modify
their mortgages in the same manner as so many others who are taking
advantage of the Administration''s Making Home Affordable program. This
is just the latest tool we are providing to help homeowners prevent
foreclosures through the Making Home Affordable program. Earlier this
month we announced an expansion of the Home Affordable Refinance
Program to borrowers who are up to 125 percent underwater. Together,
these actions will significantly increase the help available to
homeowners.

"The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, signed into law on
May 20, allows FHA to give qualified FHA-insured borrowers the
opportunity to reduce their monthly mortgage payment by modifying the
mortgage through FHA-HAMP. FHA released the program's implementation
guidelines today. FHA expects all servicers to implement the changes by
August 15. The program permanently reduces a family's monthly mortgage
payment through the use of a partial claim, which defers the repayment
of mortgage principal through an interest-free subordinate mortgage
that is not due until the first mortgage is paid off.

FHA has used the partial claim option in the past, which allows a
lender to advance funds on behalf of a borrower, to reinstate a
delinquent loan that was up to 12 months delinquent. Now, this program
will allow HUD to bring the borrower's payment down to an affordable
level. This will be accomplished by bringing the mortgage current,
buying down the loan by up to 30 percent of the unpaid principal
balance and deferring these amounts in a partial claim.

FHA will pay an incentive to loan servicers for each FHA loan modified
under this program. A Mortgagee Letter, along with detailed
requirements for the FHA-Home Affordable Modification Program, was
distributed to all FHA lenders today. The implementation of this
program will further the Obama Administration's efforts to stabilize
the housing market by helping homeowners to stay current on their
mortgages and stay in their homes, therefore preventing the destructive
impact of foreclosures on families and communities.

Making Home Affordable, a comprehensive plot to stabilize the U.S.
housing market, was first announced by the Obama Administration on
February 18. More than 200,000 trial loan modifications are already
underway, tens of thousands of refinancings have closed, and
informational mailings about the program have been sent to more than
one million borrowers who may be eligible.

FHA borrowers who are experiencing difficulty making their mortgage
payments should contact their loan servicer or HUD's National Servicing
Center at (888) 297-8685 to determine if they qualify for the FHA-Home
Affordable Modification Program. The Mortgagee Letter, with detailed
information about the program, is available on the HUD website. Non-FHA
borrowers can find information about the Obama Administration's Making
Home Affordable program at www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

HUD News Release 09-137

Related posts:

1. Treasury Department’s “Making Home Affordable” Program Attempts to Tackle 2nd Lien Dilemna
2. DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU! NY Attorney General’s Crackdown on the Loan Modification Industry
3. Short Sales & No-Flip Clauses in the Approval Letter – Removing a Roadblock