Tennessee homeowners are continuing to reap substantial benefits under the National Mortgage Settlement, according to a progress report released Monday by settlement monitor Joe Smith.
Tennessee is participating in the $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers. This settlement arose from an investigation into unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. The servicers participating in the National Mortgage Settlement announced in February are Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Citi, GMAC/Ally Financial, and Wells Fargo. The settlement should provide an estimated $146 million in relief to Tennessee homeowners and addresses future mortgage servicing practices.
Compiling data received from all five mortgage servicers who are party to the settlement, the report shows that Tennessee homeowners have already received over $85 million in relief from March 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012. The relief comes in the form of loan modifications, refinances, and facilitated short sales.
The monitor’s report also shows that servicers were in the process of offering an additional $28 million in savings to eligible Tennessee homeowners.
“This progress report shows that these five servicers are continuing to provide assistance to Tennessee homeowners, but there is still more work to do,” said Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper. “My office is continuing its outreach efforts to ensure that eligible homeowners receive the benefits they are entitled to under the settlement.”
Struggling homeowners can call the state’s mortgage assistance hotline at toll-free 855 876-7283 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT) and speak to a representative who can direct homeowners to a free foreclosure prevention counselor and explain various housing assistance programs. Although the National Mortgage Settlement only covers select homeowners whose loans are serviced by the nation’s five largest servicers, the hotline is available to all struggling Tennessee homeowners, regardless of who services their loan.
In addition, homeowners who are having trouble with the five servicers covered by the settlement can report problems to the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight by visiting www.mortgageoversight.com.
For more information about free foreclosure prevention counselors or mortgage assistance programs in Tennessee, homeowners may visit www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral or www.KeepMyTNHome.org. For more information about the settlement, please visit www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.