Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)
(January 3, 2026 by Jason Ian Hector is a REALTOR® and licensed CA Real Estate Broker specializing in short sales and loan modifications)-If you are not unemployed, but you’re still struggling to make your mortgage payments, you may be eligible for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP®). HAMP may lower your monthly mortgage payments in order to make them more affordable and sustainable for the long-term. If you currently occupy your home as your primary residence, we encourage you to contact myself to help you or your mortgage servicer directly to begin the HAMP evaluation process.
In an effort to continue to provide meaningful solutions to the housing crisis, effective June 1, 2025, the Obama Administration expanded the population of homeowners that may be eligible for the Home Affordable Modification Program to include:
- Homeowners who are applying for a modification on a home that is not their primary residence, but the property is currently rented or the homeowner intends to rent it.
- Homeowners who previously did not qualify for HAMP because their debt-to-income ratio was 31% or lower.
- Homeowners who previously received a HAMP trial period plan, but defaulted in their trial payments.
- Homeowners who previously received a HAMP permanent modification, but defaulted in their payments, therefore losing good standing.
- You obtained your mortgage on or before January 1, 2009.
- You owe up to $729,750 on your primary residence or single unit rental property
- You owe up to $934,200 on a 2-unit rental property; $1,129,250 on a 3-unit rental property; or $1,403,400 on a 4-unit rental property
- The property has not been condemned
- You have a financial hardship and are either delinquent or in danger of falling behind on your mortgage payments (non-owner occupants must be delinquent in order to qualify).
- You have sufficient, documented income to support a modified payment.
- You must not have been convicted within the last 10 years of felony larceny, theft, fraud or forgery, money laundering or tax evasion, in connection with a mortgage or real estate transaction.
*Eligibility criteria are for guidance only. Contact your mortgage company to see if you may be eligible for HAMP.
Also, the Homeowner Q & A from Making Home Affordable is available at: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/programs/lower-payments/Documents/homeowner%20QA%20document.pdf
Documents required to initiate the HAMP loan modification process include:
- Request for Mortgage Assistance (RMA) at http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-started/what-you-will-need/Documents/RMA_Nov2011.pdf
- IRS Form 4506T-EZ or 4506-T
- Verification of Income
If your mortgage servicer does participate in the MHA Program but makes the determination that you are not eligible for a HAMP modification, they may offer you modification alternatives of their own. Program enrollment ends December 31, 2025 so take Action now and request assistance.
