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South Carolina Homeownership Employment Lending Program (SC HELP) Andrea E. Loney, Esquire Executive Director. Funding Source of SC HELP. $295 Million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund (Hardest Hit Funds).
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South Carolina Homeownership Employment Lending Program (SC HELP) Andrea E. Loney, Esquire Executive Director Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Funding Source of SC HELP • $295 Million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund (Hardest Hit Funds). • To South Carolina State Housing Finance & Development Authority. • South Carolina Homeownership & Employment Lending Program established to administer Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Purposes • Help homeowners avoid foreclosure Or • Transition from homeownership to rental Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Impact of Foreclosure • Reduction in property taxes • Reduction in property value • Increase in crime • Increase in domestic violence • Increase in school problems • Increase in stress on extended family Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Eligible Borrowers • Responsible Borrowers • Unemployed – getting unemployment compensation or it ended within the last 12 months • Under-employed or reduced income/hardship because of death of spouse, catastrophic medical expenses, divorce, disability, etc. • Self-employed with reduction in income Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
AMOUNT OF BENEFITS A. Five Year Forgivable Loans • Unemployed; under-employed; self-employed can get monthly mortgage payment – up to $36,000 or 24 months (whichever comes first) • Direct Loan (reduced income) – up to $36,000 on past due amount • Combined Assistance – pays past due mortgage (direct loan) up to $25,000 and makes monthly payments for a combined total of $36,000 Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Amount of Benefits, Cont’d. • B. Grant 1. Property Disposition Assistance: move from home ownership to rental - $5,000 a. Application with SCHELP completed FIRST b. Permission for short-sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure granted by mortgage company c. Money distributed AFTER execution of deed completed Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
General Information 1. Hardship • Need not be delinquent • Lender must agree to participate in SC HELP • Value of home -- $729,500 • Mobile home taxed as real property • Owner occupied • Minimum of 24 months homeownership history Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Types of Information Needed • Everyone either on mortgage or deed must sign • Complete application online or call the toll-free number for assistance • Hardship letter • Property tax bill • Bank statements • Tax returns w/ W-2 • Income information • Deed and mortgage account information • 2 most recent pay stubs (if paid twice monthly) • 4 most recent pay stubs (if paid every week) Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
How to Apply • Homeowners may call South Carolina Legal Services: 1 (888) 257-1988 • Homeowners may also submit an application at www.SCMORTGAGEHELP.com • Or call: 855 HELP 4 SC Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
HAMP • This program was issued as a part of the Making Home Affordable initiative to incentivize modification of mortgages. • Requires screening of all loans by participating servicers, subject to investor restrictions • Provides cash incentives for participating servicers Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
How to Apply for HAMP • Must complete and provide the following to your HAMP participating mortgage servicer: 1) Request for Mortgage Assistance Form 2) IRS Form 4506T-EZ or 4506-T 3) Verification of Income Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Some General HAMP Eligibility Requirements • Borrower obtained mortgage on or before January 1, 2009. • The property has not been condemned • Borrower owes up to $729,750 on primary residence or single unit rental property Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
Some General HAMP Eligibility Requirements, continued…. • Borrower has a financial hardship and is either delinquent or in danger of falling behind on mortgage payments *** Non-owner occupants must be delinquent in order to qualify • Borrower has sufficient, documented income to support a modified payment ***Must be 31% of borrower’s gross monthly income • Borrower gets trial period plan of 3 months Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
A Borrower Should Apply for HAMP IF: • A borrower needs to obtain a permanent modification of his/her mortgage with lower monthly mortgage payments • HAMP does NOT help pay monthly mortgage payments, arrearages, or provide funds for families to move Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
A Borrower Should Apply for SC Help IF: • A borrower needs help making his/her monthly mortgage payments on a temporary basis • A borrower needs funds to move from home in foreclosure or about to be in foreclosure • A borrower needs help to pay arrearage in the amount of $20,000 or less to make mortgage current Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013
A Borrower Applying for Both HAMP and SC Help • If a borrower is going to apply for HAMP, then the borrower should first apply to SC Help or do so simultaneously, if the borrower is in arrears on his/her mortgage. • SC Help does not usually pay arrearages for a borrower who has already obtained a Home Affordable Modification. Developed and created by SC Legal Services, 2013