Making Home Affordable Helps Homeowners Prevent Foreclosure

by Simon Volkov – (submitted 2010-03-31)

Making Home Affordable offers four programs; three of which help homeowners obtain reduced mortgage payments and prevent foreclosure. Home saving options include loan modifications, mortgage refinance, and second lien modification. A fourth program, Foreclosure Alternatives, is available to borrowers who can no longer afford to stay in their home.

The eligibility criteria for Making Home Affordable programs are somewhat limited; especially for borrowers who are currently delinquent with mortgage payments. In order to obtain foreclosure assistance through Home Affordable programs, homeowners cannot have been more than 30 days late on loan payments within the previous twelve months and must be current on their mortgage loan.

Qualified borrowers must submit applications for Making Home Affordable programs through their mortgage lender. The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) extends through December 31, 2012, while Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) expires on June 10, 2010.

“Local Naples Real Estate Broker, Mark Weber, of White Sands Realty stays on top of the trends in Naples Foreclosures and Short Sales. Please contact Mark Weber directly at 239-417-1115 with any questions related to Naples, Florida homes for sale or foreclosures.”

Home Affordable program participation is voluntary, so borrowers first need to determine if their lender is participating. The exception to this rule is lenders offering mortgages secured by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are required to offer Home Affordable options to borrowers. The Making Home Affordable website provides a list of participating mortgage lenders via their website at MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

Borrowers that apply for Home Affordable programs are subjected to standard lending procedures and required to provide financial documents and income verification. Borrowers applying for a loan modification will need to provide a Request for Modification and Affidavit (RMA) form, Internal Revenue 4506 tax form, and wage records. Many lenders also require a loan modification hardship letter which provides an explanation of events which caused financial hardships.

Home Affordable Modification Program is available to homeowners whose primary residence is a single family home consisting of no more than four units. Borrowers can apply for a loan modification under HAMP if the balance due on the first mortgage is within program limits. HAMP limits are: $729,750 for single family houses, $934,200 for two-unit houses, $1,129,250 for three unit houses, or $1,403,400 for four unit homes.

Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is available to homeowners with mortgage notes for residential homes consisting of up to four units. Mortgage refinance criteria requires homeowners be current with home loan payments; have no payment delinquencies of more than 30 days within the previous twelve months; and owe less than 125-percent of the current market value.

Borrowers in preforeclosure should contact their bank’s loss mitigation department immediately to discuss available options or apply for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program. Homeowners can learn more about Home Affordable programs and eligibility requirements by visiting MakingHomeAffordable.gov.
About the Author

Author and real estate investor, Simon Volkov, provides additional details about Making Home Affordable program, along with foreclosure prevention alternatives and how to short sale real estate via his website at www.SimonVolkov.com.

Posted in Naples FL Real Estate & Homes For Sale and tagged Foreclosure, Mark Weber, Mortgate, Naples Real Estate, White Sands Realty

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5.0

Based on 111 reviews

Brandon P.

17:31 10 Mar 23

We had the best experience working with Jamie for the purchase of our first home. She was so great walking us through each step of the process. She was always super responsive and flexible to go to showings with us at the drop of a dime which definitely made the difference in getting our offer accepted. We would 10/10 recommend her to friends, family, and anyone looking for an amazing real estate agent!read more

Vilus S.

00:37 10 Nov 22

We had a great experience with Javier Rodriguez! Communication was awesome Javier was readily available through the process answering all questions and assuring us and keeping us abreast of everything going on. We were able to purchase below list in this crazy market, he was also able to find us exactly what we wanted in a home and made the home buying process so smooth and seamless even through a hurricane!!! It was important for us to find someone who cared about our needs, had the wear with all to fight for what we wanted and able to get the deal done and he delivered! We Highly recommend Javier Rodriguez he’s the best of the best and we are so happy we chose him as a realtor.read more

Bill M.

11:47 03 Jun 22

My wife and I worked with Jamie Henry from White sands and we can't say enough good things about our experience. We were looking remotely from the Chicago area and Jamie was instrumental in being our eyes and ears on the ground. I've always found real estate transactions to be very stressful but having a partner like Jamie put all that at ease.I would highly recommend her to anyone looking in the Naples area.read more

Joseph V.

16:34 09 May 22

Can’t say enough about our realtor Jamie Henry from White Sands Realty Naples Florida. When I met her, I was impressed with her knowledge of Naples . She had a list of locations to visit and explained the pros and cons of each . Never felt rushed to buy at any locations. She showed us the beauty of North Naples . The beaches, restaurants and happy hour locations lol . It was an enjoyable time , which was literally the whole day at looking at properties . She is always accessible by phone and that was a big help since I was from NY. We ended buying a new construction home and couldn’t be happier ! Thank you Jamie !!read more

J D

23:43 19 Jan 22

Worked with Jamie Henry, who got our offer in quickly to beat out the other people. Will use her again when back in the market for another property

Chris T.

11:55 15 Jan 22

We cannot say enough good things about JAMIE HENRY, who worked so hard in finding our “dream home” in Naples. We were very particular in our needs, and she didn’t waste our time showing us homes that were not right for us. We also loved that she spent time in taking us all around the area and pointed out highlights that were helpful in us making a final decision. You will love her positive attitude and hard work in finding you the perfect home!read more

Robert

18:14 11 Jan 22

My wife and I purchased our dream vacation home on Vanderbilt Beach in Naples, Florida in September 2020 in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic. This goal could not have been achieved without the help and expertise provided by Steve and Gorana Saner who displayed superior knowledge of the Naples real estate market. For many years my wife and I discussed purchasing a second home in the Naples area. Having some knowledge of the area we knew we wanted to be near Vanderbilt Beach and preferably on the beach itself. My wife and I communicated our preferences to Steve and Gorana with a budget range. Over the course of several months in mid-2020 Steve and Gorana were able to translate our requirements into a list of properties that they believed met our objectives. In August 2020, Steve and Gorana sent a newly listed property to us that my wife and I fell in love with. We knew we had to act quickly because the property was competitively priced, in a great location and would not last long on the market. My wife and I did not have time to fly to Naples to view this property so Steve and Gorana suggested we do a FaceTime walk-through. Usually, we like to visit and physically inspect a property before deciding to make an offer or not, but time was of the essence, and we agreed to the FaceTime walk-through. On the day of the walk-through Steve and Gorana were very thorough in their approach to viewing the property. The video presentation on FaceTime was very clear and all areas of the property were covered. The walk-through was interactive with my wife and I asking questions along the way. The process was so seamless that it almost seemed as if we were physically present at the walk-through. As we felt our main questions were answered to our satisfaction, my wife and I decided to make an offer on the property shortly after the walk-through. Steve and Gorana handled the negotiations and the offer and contracting process with expertise and professionalism, and everything required to make the offer was done electronically. Having purchased several other properties in the past, this had to be the smoothest offer and acceptance process we ever experienced. Having finally visited the property after our offer was accepted, there were no surprises to deal with and the closing went as smoothly as the offer and contracting phases. My wife and I could not be happier with our decision to buy this property and Steve and Gorana were the ones who made it happen.read more

warren B.

15:38 31 Oct 21

We purchased a home in Naples. FL through White Sands Realty during a very tumultuous time in the market. We expected, and were prepared for, a long and involved process. Instead, Ryan Ehman made it simple and painless. He was professional and very accommodating with respect to our particular needs. My wife and I cannot believe the purchase went as flawlessly as it did. Nor did we expect Ryan to guide us through all the other little problems in settling into a new space. He recommended a host of companies that could respond quickly to some minor "fixes" to the property. I guess part of being a realtor is needing to know a few dozen tradesmen and Ryan goes overboard on that front. Ryan is on of the best and we highly recommend him to anybody planning to purchase a home in this area.read more

Daniel C.

16:59 23 Oct 21

We have been working with Douglas Olmsted for approximately a year looking for the perfect property. Douglas has been most responsive, a great listener, very informed, and has guided us very professionally thru the process. If you are looking for a realtor with these qualities Douglas Olmsted is the realtor for you. Dan & Nancyread more

Samantha Z.

14:06 20 Oct 21

When searching to relocate within the Naples area, we knew we were in for a wild ride. We knew the real estate market was a tough one, but Jamie Henry took “the bull by the horns” and helped my family and I find the forever home of our dreams! Jamie’s bubbly personality can make any day brighter, and having her by our side as we searched tirelessly for a home in Naples made the process so much better. Her spirit remained high and it paid off, as we now enjoy our mornings sipping coffee and listening to the birds in our new forever Florida home. If you are looking for a home in Naples, give Jamie a call! She’s well versed in the area, and is always hard at work for her clients. Thank you so much, Jamie!- Sammieread more

Fedor S.

00:30 20 Oct 21

Jamie was always professional and prompt. She answered all our questions patiently and accurately, and she gave great advice to help sell our condo quickly. The whole process was painless and we were thrilled with Jamie's service. Highly recommend.read more

Patricia A.

22:00 30 Aug 21

We had the best buying experience of our new vacation home, due to the expertise of Steve and Gorana Saner. We had not bought a home since we purchased the home that we live in in Pa. 43 years ago, so to say we were super unexperienced in the process of home buying is an understatement. Steve and Gorana guided us through everything in this ever changing market. We first dealt with Steve after signing up on the White Sands Website. He sent us properties that were in our price range and the types that we were interested in. He did not bug us, he just checked in with us every few months. When we were ready to seriously look we arranged a visit from PA and both Gorana and Steve accommodated our schedule even being available the weekend before Memorial Day. We were determined that we were not going to pay over the asking price for our new home even in this market,where that was the rule rather than the exception. Before our trip to Florida Gorana became involved and put together a nice mix of old and new properties that met our criteria as far as size, location, price and amenities. By time we arrived at least half had been sold and this was only in a couple of days! Gorana put together more properties that fit all the criteria above and this went on for the four days we spent with them. We feel that we saw a lot of properties both old and new, in that time frame thanks to their diligence and knowledge of the Naples area. We honestly did not think we would find a house, since things were so volatile, but we did and it was the second property that we saw, we liked it but did not know it was going to be ours until we put an offer on it for the asking price and it was accepted! From then on Steve and Gorana guided us to settlement. Steve had called us before our trip and went through the agreement of sale so we thoroughly understood it so when it came time to put the offer in we could do it seamlessly with no delay, which is what you have to do in this market to get a property you love. So after the offer was accepted there were some other pitfalls that we had to get through due to the history of the property we were purchasing, but Steve and Gorana were right with us every step of the way until we finally reached settlement. So now we are proud owners of a beautiful Naples home in a beautiful gated golf community, that honestly we did not think it would happen as fast as it did. We would highly recommend Steve and Gorana Saner for their professionalism, knowledge of real estate and their knowledge of the Naples area and their overall personality. Although, they were definitely professional they also were friendly and caring through the process and we feel as though we have gained two new friends in the Naples area.read more

John D.

06:34 04 Aug 21

Ever since my wife and I started our "Naples" dream search in 2017,Gorana and Steve have provided exceptional customer service, along with much needed guidance and patience in our search endeavors. They showed us countless listings and always took our best interests into consideration. Always polite, conscientious, and courteous in interacting with our relentless search, we could not have asked for a better team to fulfill our dream. Gorana and Steve, you have our heart felt thanks and appreciation for your exceptional service and commitment! You are the best!!read more

Maryann S.

01:51 23 Jun 21

My husband and I relocated from NJ and we were lucky enough to work with Lindsey to find us our dream house. She was so attentive and informative and really helped make the process more enjoyable. She knew all about the different neighborhoods, kid friendly areas, school districts, etc. We really loved working with her!read more

Mary H.

15:46 22 Jun 21

When we decided to build a house in Naples, we asked Lindsey Dyer to help us find a lot and a builder. We knew from an existing relationship that she is sharp, organized, and detail oriented, so we had confidence that she was the best person for us. The complexity of being several hours away made it even more important to have an agent whose judgment we could trust.Lindsey found a beautiful lot for us in a perfect location, as well as builder who has been knowledgeable and accommodating. Her recent experience in building her last two homes has provided her with a wealth of information that she has readily shared – it was not necessary for us to know what questions to ask. As construction has progressed, Lindsey has kept us informed, sent pictures, and remained in contact with the builder’s team. We have really appreciated having a knowledgeable agent whose judgment we trust to supplement our contact with the builder and serve as our local presence.read more

Glen

19:03 28 Apr 21

Douglas is a fantastic realtor, always attentive to my wants and needs and was very persistent in forwarding quality, relevant listings to me as I was shopping from the east coast. I strongly recommend this realtor if you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Naples area!read more

Dustin H.

21:51 13 Apr 21

We contacted Peter Warrick-Marsh after deciding to explore places in Naples. Peter was incredibly responsive and helped us narrow down our search and find the best community for us. Peter was professional and helped us navigate the process. We are incredibly excited to spend time in Naples and Peter was a big part in supporting us get there. I would highly recommend him as an agent.read more

Louis D.

18:37 03 Apr 21

We contacted Douglas Olmstead by chance when researching homes for sale in Naples, FL. Did we get lucky! He was professional and friendly and knew quite a bit about the Naples area. But I have to add that in my opinion, Douglas went ABOVE and BEYOND his realtor duties. Because we live out of state, Douglas was always happy to check out a property for us and send us pictures or facetime. He always responded promptly and also gave us great advice which was very much appreciated since we have been out of the house buying market for 35 plus years. I highly, HIGHLY recommend Douglas and White Sands Realty. Thank you Douglas for helping us purchase our home in Naples, FL.read more

Diane W.

16:13 13 Feb 21

We were lucky to find Douglas Olmsted to work with during a house search in the Naples area. He was very professional and had a lot of local knowledge. He made this stressful time into fun and educational for us!read more

lpgiese

00:11 20 Jan 21

Steve Saner Is an excellent very responsive real estate agent who helped us find and secure our dream home in Naples Florida. Steve has been very patient with us since we were very specific about the needs that we had for our new home in Florida. He has been working with us for a while and we thought that we would have to wait another year to secure a property. However Steve was very proactive and we trusted his opinion on a home we bought, site unseen. We are amazed at our purchase as we sit in our new home right now. Steve was active throughout the whole process from pre-purchase through actually the closing it was a great help to us in our new move to Florida. We highly recommend Steve as your real estate agent. He was very low-key and no pressure and was very valuable with information on the Naples area that sold us to move here.read more

Goran J.

18:39 22 Nov 20

Mark was great to work with and very accommodating and responsive to our needs.

Harvey L.

22:35 12 Nov 20

My wife and I were fortunate to have found Douglas Olmsted to assist us in our home search. We were traveling to Florida from out of state, and Douglas could not have been more helpful in advance of our visit. We spent a week with him and benefitted from his vast real estate experience and advice, as well as enjoying his warm and caring personality. He was patient, thorough, and dedicated to help us find the perfect home - which we did. We are forever grateful to Douglas, and we can recommend him without hesitation as he can be trusted implicitly to do a great job for you.read more

Michael H.

20:53 30 Aug 20

Peter Warrick-Marsh and Doug Olmsted are refined professionals. They completely understood what we needed to accomplish in our short two day stay. When we arrived in Naples they had a number of properties to present to us based on our criteria. Their connections and knowledge of the area meant they were able to expertly guide us to our perfect new home. Peter is patient, diligent, prepared and gracious. Doug is insightful, responsive and extremely knowledgeable. In under 48 hours we signed a contract. It took all the guess work and countless exhaustive hours out of the process for us. Peter even helped us find temporary accommodation close to our new home until its ready for move in. If you want a stress free and flawless home buying experience, please contact Peter Warrick -Marsh and Doug Olmsted at White Sands Realty.Anna and Mike Harmonread more

Jack B.

18:27 09 Aug 20

Andrea

16:22 05 Jun 20

How fortuitous that we found Derek Anderson from an internet search. From our home across the country, he helped set expectations, provided numerous listings tailored to our needs, was extremely knowledgeable and diligent. When we arrived in Naples, Derek organized house showings for just the right amount of time and never used high pressure tactics. We are now happy year-round residents and homeowners thanks to Derek.read more

Julie F.

14:29 24 May 20

My husband and I worked with Ryan Ehmen and we found the perfect home in one day. Ryan was professional, responsive and very knowledgeable about the Naples area. He handled all aspects professionally and went above and beyond as we were living in Connecticut and bought our Naples home during the COVID 19 pandemic. What should have been an extremely stressful situation ended up being the easiest home purchase I have experienced. I would not hesitate recommending Ryan or his company in the future. Outstanding job!read more

Yumna I.

21:04 01 May 20

Jamie Henry has helped my husband and I buy two Naples properties including our recent purchase, a condo in Pelican Bay.Jamie is wonderful to work with. She’s very professional but you feel more like she’s part of the family. She went out of her way to help with getting our place ready to be lived in. Jamie is definitely a gem. I am very grateful to know her and have her on my team. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone who asks! Thanks Jamie!read more

Mary D.

13:51 29 Apr 20

My husband and I are from out of State and the contractual and closing processes are quite different in Florida. Jaime helped us find the home of our dreams and was good enough to walk us through to closing every step of the way -- she really went above and beyond. I would recommend Jaime to anyone looking to buy in Naples, FL.read more

Michael Fasano J.

20:06 24 Apr 20

Without hesitation or reservation I highly recommend Ryan Ehmen, it is hard in this day and age to find a qualified, capable realtor with both skill and integrity. Do not hesitate to use Ryan for all your real estate needs - you will not be disappointed.read more

Julia D

17:58 24 Apr 20

Ryan Ehmen took care of everything. We have had two real estate transactions with him and both were seamless. There was no problem that Ryan wasn't willing to solve. He works hard for his clients and feels like family. We highly recommend him and White Sands.read more

Duane O.

19:22 07 Apr 20

We've been working with Derek Anderson for years! He's great at finding what we wanted in our properties, plus he has a good feel for adding in houses we may not have considered until we saw the community and the layout. Communication is always great, gets right back to you with an explanation on everything. Highly recommend as he's very familiar with the area!read more

Leslie P.

19:30 14 Feb 20

Jamie Henry was wonderful to work with. Went above and beyond in keeping us up to date on our home construction while we were away. Excellent agent - we highly recommend Jamie!

Michael S.

17:43 21 Dec 19

Over the years I have used a number of real estate brokers with regard to purchasing and selling homes. The experience I had with White Sands Realty and Doug Olmsted has clearly been my best experience—-by far. Everything you would want in utilizing a real estate broker you can find in Doug. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful and friendly and always available. He tells it like it is and is a valuable asset in house hunting in the Naples area. There are many brokers and associates who have come into this field as an afterthought or simply because they weren’t able to find a job in their chosen profession—-and those individuals you should avoid at all costs. On the other hand, Doug has been a broker for 25 years and has enormous expertise that will make buying or selling a house or condo a fabulous and enlightening experience. You simply can’t go wrong using Doug and White Sands Realty. If I could, I would give him 7 Stars.read more

Nathan M.

15:10 06 Dec 19

Mark Weber and his team and very down to earth and knowledgeable about the real estate market in Naples FL. When we were shopping for homes, we connected with Ryan from his team. He was incredibly responsive and personal. He asked us great questions about what we were looking for and showed us homes almost immediately. Since we are from Chicago, Ryan even did a virtual walk through using FaceTime which was helpful. Based on our experience with Mark and Ryan, after we moved to Naples, my wife Julie even joined their team! I would highly recommend Mark and the White Sand Realty team.read more

Katherine L.

15:23 29 Oct 19

steve C.

19:49 28 Oct 19

Jamie helped us buy our vacation home in Bonita Springs FL. Buying from the UK seemed like a daunting prospect until we meet Jamie, She is so friendly & helpful that we could not recommend her highly enough! if you are looking to buy or rent in Naples then do yourself a favour and look no further, you wont regret it. Thank you Jamie for finding us our place in the sun. 5 stars all the way.read more

Stephen P.

16:10 09 Oct 19

E G

12:55 09 Oct 19

Jamie Henry was an absolute pleasure to work with on our home purchase in Naples! She's such a positive, driven and detailed oriented person. Our home buying experience couldn't have been better for my wife and me coming from Minnesota. We immediately knew from our first phone conversation with Jamie that she was a perfect fit for us!read more

John L.

13:52 22 Sep 19

We would highly recommend Ryan Ehmen as your agent. He was very helpful in assisting in our home purchase in South Naples. We conveyed with him our target area and he showed us homes in our prices range. We were glad he was he was there to assist us through the complete experience.read more

Dan F.

14:49 11 Sep 19

Douglas was very knowledgeable of the area and had a very good understanding of what we were looking for in a home. His knowledge and professionalism made finding a home easy and pleasant. I would highly recommend White Sands Realty to anyone looking to buy a home in the Naples area. We feel very fortunate to have been able to have White Sands Realty and Douglas assist us in our search.Dan & Carolynread more

Jennifer W.

19:15 01 Sep 19

Thank you Peter Warrick-Marsh for helping sell my condo and finding a new home that fits all my wants and needs!I was very happy with the whole process and highly recommend Peter! He was able to sell my condo quickly and coordinate the purchase so that everything came together the same day for closings! He was professional, patient and readily available to answer questions.read more

Erick L.

22:56 28 Aug 19

Peter Warrick-Marsh was a great agent for my recent home purchase! He was responsive and helped at all points through the purchase to make sure all was well. I would recommend Peter to anyone looking to purchase their next property!read more

Joann M.

22:28 18 Jul 19

Derek Anderson is a true real estate professional. We are from the Boston area and were looking for a second home in Naples. Derek quickly and effectively assessed our needs, dreams and price range. He shared several properties and ideas with us online to get a good handle on what we wanted. By the time we arrived in Naples, all appointments were made for a two day visit. By the end of the weekend, we had made a purchase. Even more important to us was the incredibly efficient and accurate way in which Derek handled the offer and closing processes. His attention to detail made our entire experience perfect and stress free.I would recommend Derek to anyone. He is a top notch, enthusiastic and detail oriented guy with a positive laid-back style that gives you the freedom to think carefully about your decision. Loved him!read more

Julie I.

21:52 01 Jul 19

Derek was FANTASTIC! He is a true real estate professional who knows the real estate market, is thorough in his work, honest, trustworthy, and goes above and beyond to get the job done. I highly recommend him. He did an outstanding job! Julieread more

Robert J.

17:50 24 Jun 19

Derek was very knowledgeable about the local market, calm, experienced and professional. He made the whole process as smooth as it could be.

Drew B.

23:16 28 May 19

I recently had the pleasure of working with Steve Saner on the purchase of a property. Steve is an excellent Realtor who truly cares about the needs of his clients, and routinely goes above and beyond to ensure their satisfaction. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about the intricacies of the local real estate market. I highly recommend Steve, and look forward to working with him in the future!read more

Michele J.

13:53 06 May 19

Steve Saner was an amazing agent. He was so knowledgeable and caring. He went above and beyond for our family assisting with a sale of our condo. We are truly grateful to have him as our agent.read more

Riley S.

20:47 12 Mar 19

Derek was very professional and non pressuring. He was able to listen to what we were looking for and laser focus in on properties that met our criteria. Derek was able to iron out the issues in a complicated transaction that led ultimately to a smooth transition to ownership.read more

Bob F

17:22 10 Mar 19

Derek Anderson is a phenomenal agent, very knowledgeable and extremely responsive. He made the process of purchasing, setting up inspections and closing much easier than we anticipated, all while living in the Chicago area. We found our dream condo in Naples thanks to Derek's help. He is the best and highly recommend him!read more

Janet M.

20:21 21 Feb 19

Jamie Henry is amazing!! She was responsive, gave us great advice, and made the process of finding our new home as well as the move, painless. Jamie is very knowledgable about the Naples area. We love the place she helped find for us - it has everything we sought and we couldn't be happier.read more

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