MHA Programs are helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and giving hope and relief

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MHA Enhancements Offering Help to More Homeowners

New MHA Program Fact Sheet

(January 3, 2026 from Jason Ian Hector is a REALTOR® and licensed CA Real Estate Broker specializing in short sales) The Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) which was created in 2009, has not been able to meet it's own projections when created much in part due to the banks unwillingness to quickly process people who are applying for loan modification. When someone applies for a loan, for example, the lender can give a decision very quickly once all the information is given. However, with a loan modification, they take more than 90 days just to review a file and by that time, the documents become old and something else is requested. The updates can be found at https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/programs/docs/hamp_servicer/sd1202.pdf

New MHA program flyer summarizes programs available to homeowners who are eligible. Recent updates are that the MHA Program expiration date has been extended to December 31, 2025 and also Tier 2 has been fully implimented and has expanded eligibility

One positive change with the new June 1st updates is the removal of the occupancy requirement and consideration of rental properties now for MHA Programs. For homeowners, one of the most promising changes is the increase in the incentives offered to investors for principal reduction under HAMP's PRA (Principal Reduction Alternative) Program. There are also some changes to the HAFA guidelines like raising the cap for secondary lien holders and including rental properties. Homeowners should contact myself 818-357-9658 or their lender / servicers regarding specific questions about the Programs.

Below are some of the MHA Programs available only to approved and participating servicers:

Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)
Designed to enable borrowers that meet eligibility requirements to avoid foreclosure by modifying loans to a level that is affordable for borrowers and sustainable for the long-term.
Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP)
Provides servicers with the flexibility to provide assistance to borrowers whose hardship is related to unemployment and is a supplemental program to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Specifically, UP requires servicers to grant qualified unemployed borrowers a forbearance period during which a borrower's monthly mortgage payment may be reduced or suspended prior to considering such borrowers for HAMP.
Second Lien Modification Program (2MP)
Designed to enable borrowers struggling with their mortgage to lower payments on second mortgages.
Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA)
Designed to provide borrowers that do not qualify for a HAMP modification with options to avoid foreclosure through a short sale or deed-in-lieu.
Treasury FHA Home Affordable Modification Program (Treasury FHA-HAMP)
Designed to enable borrowers with FHA-insured first lien mortgage loans that are modified under FHA-HAMP to be eligible for certain incentive payments under HAMP.
Treasury/FHA Second Lien Program (FHA2LP)
Designed to enable borrowers who are current on a negative equity mortgage to restructure their debt and refinance into an FHA-insured first lien loan.
RD Home Affordable Modification Program (RD-HAMP)
Designed to enable borrowers with RHS-guaranteed first lien mortgage loans that are modified under RHS guidelines to be eligible for certain incentive payments under HAMP.

The MHA Handbook provides the guidance and requirements for servicers to use in their understanding and implementation of the MHA Program. Any questions about the MHA Programs should be referenced in the MHA Handbook's latest version which can be found at www.hmpadmin.com.

Jason Ian Hector is a REALTOR® and licensed CA Real Estate Broker specializing in short sales.