Every Friday, DCNova will post a chapter from our 10 part series: Should I Short Sale My Home?
This post is our final installment for our series. Remember McGlothlin Properties is always ready to answer any questions you may have regarding short sales. Please call us at 703.447.6800.
SHOULD I SHORT SALE MY HOME?
HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE:
HOW TO SURVIVE THE WORST
REAL ESTATE MARKET IN HISTORY
By Tim And Julie Harris and Robert McGlothlin
*This book and it’s content is not intended to give legal or accounting advice. Readers of this book are advised to seek additional information from their accountant and or attorney. The authors and co-authors are not accountants or attorneys.
Chapter Ten
Something You Should Know: The Death Of The HELOC….Millions Of Homeowners Shut Out.
Most major lenders are freezing withdrawals from Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) – and I don’t want you to be caught off guard by this development. If you were planning on using your HELOC for spring home improvements or college tuition chances are the money has been shut off.
You should be aware that the lender retains the right to suspend or reduce the line of credit available if your property value falls below the appraised value used to originate the loan. Lenders are actively assessing (performing Broker Price Opinions, or Appraisals) properties and then suspending access for account holders who have seen a downward slide in their home value. Many of our students who do BPOs are reporting to us a dramatic increase in BPO requests from lenders for this reason.
Actual notice from Countrywide..sent to borrowers:
‘Important message about your loan: At Countrywide Home Loans we are committed to helping customers sustain homeownership. As part of the commitment, and in keeping with its sound risk-management and responsible lending practices, Countrywide Home Loan is reviewing and analyzing home equity lines of credit in its servicing portfolio.
declined. We believe that the decline in the value of your property, from its original appraised value at the time your loan was made is significant. In accordance with the terms of your Home Equity Credit Line Agreement and Disclosure Statement (Agreement), we have elected to suspend further draws against your account as of the Effective Date above.’
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Countrywide notified many homeowners they’ve lost their right to borrow against their credit lines:
‘Tens of thousands of homeowners with home equity lines of credit are getting a rude surprise: They’ve been told by their lender that they can no longer take money out on their credit lines because sinking home prices have left them with little or no equity.
Among the lenders taking such action is Countrywide Financial Corp., which sent 122,000 letters to customers last week telling them they could no longer borrow against their credit lines. In some cases, according to the company, the borrowers are now “upside down” — the total debt on the home exceeds the market value of the property.
Calabasas-based Countrywide, the nation’s largest mortgage lender, says it uses computer modeling that factors in changes in home prices to determine which customers will have their money tap shut off.’
If there was any question that consumers were feeling the pinch before…just wait until they are told that their homes are worth LESS than what they owe. Or in the word of Countrywide, “Significantly Less”. Do you think that will have an effect on the economy? Think this will make consumers feel more confident about housing?
