uTAH gETS ESTIMATED $171 MILLION FROM AGREEMENT
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert announced a landmark $25 billion joint federal-state agreement today with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses and fraud and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices
The proposed agreement provides an estimated $171,115, 273 in total benefits to the state of Utah. The total includes an estimated $45 million in direct relief to Utah homeowners and $102 million indirect relief and addresses future mortgage loan servicing practices. The state will receive direct payment of $22,987,615.
“This is the second largest settlement ever by the states and addresses serious misconduct against homeowners in Utah and other states,” says Shurtleff. “This agreement provides relief to homeowners and also stops the outrageous conduct that led to the mortgage crisis.” “I commend the diligence and hard work of Utah’s Attorney General and his staff to right a wrong,” says Governor Herbert. “We hope those affected by the foreclosure crisis will take advantage of the programs and resources available through this settlement. I hope this sends a message that this kind of fraudulent conduct is not tolerated.”
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general announced the national settlement today in Washington, D.C.
Utah borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011 and suffered servicing abuse would qualify. Approximately 23% of Utah homes are now underwater.
The unprecedented joint state-federal settlement is the result of a massive civil law enforcement investigation and initiative that includes state attorneys general and state banking regulators across the country, and nearly a dozen federal agencies. The settlement holds banks accountable for past mortgage servicing and foreclosure fraud and abuses and provides relief to homeowners. With the backing of a federal court order and the oversight of an independent monitor, the settlement stops future fraud and abuse.
Under the agreement, the five servicers have agreed to a $25 billion penalty under a joint state-national settlement structure
Here are highlights of the settlement:
- Servicers commit a minimum of $17 billion directly to borrowers through a series of national homeowner relief effort options, including principal reduction. Given how the settlement is structured, servicers will actually provide up to an estimated $32 billion in direct homeowner relief.
- Servicers commit $3 billion to a mortgage refinancing program for borrowers who are current, but owe more than their home is currently worth.
- Servicers pay $5 billion to the states and federal government ($4.25 billion to the states and $750 million to the federal government). The state payments include funding for payments to borrowers for mortgage servicing abuse.
- Homeowners receive comprehensive new protections from new mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure standards.
- An independent monitor will ensure mortgage servicer compliance.
- Government can pursue civil claims outside of the agreement, any criminal case; borrowers and investors can pursue individual, institutional or class action cases regardless of agreement.
The settlement does not grant any immunity from criminal offenses and will not affect criminal prosecutions. The agreement does not prevent homeowners or investors from pursuing individual, institutional or class action civil cases against the five servicers. The pact also enables state attorneys general and federal agencies to investigate and pursue other aspects of the mortgage crisis, including securities cases.
“This agreement addresses some breakdowns in the mortgage servicing industry but still allows us to go after other misdeeds,” says Chief Deputy Attorney General John Swallow. “Significantly, those who are still underwater in their homes could be eligible for principal reductions and loan modifications that would not otherwise be available had we gone to trial.”
The final agreement, through a consent judgment, will be filed later in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and will have the authority of a court order.
Because of the complexity of the mortgage market and this agreement, which will span a three year period, in some cases participating mortgage servicers will contact borrowers directly regarding loan modification options. However, borrowers should contact their mortgage servicer to obtain more information about specific loan modification programs and whether they qualify under terms of this settlement. Settlement administrators or state attorneys general may also contact borrowers regarding certain aspects of the settlement.
More information on the proposed settlement is available at these webs sites and phone numbers:
www.NationalForeclosureSettlement.com
www.HUD.gov
www.DOJ.gov
Bank of America: 1-877-488-7814
Citi: 1-866-272-4749
Chase: 1-866-372-6901
GMAC: 1-800-766-4622
Wells Fargo: 1-800-288-3212
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