RISMEDIA, December 21, 2010—Fannie Mae announced the opening of a new mortgage help center in Dallas and partnerships with two non-profit housing agencies that will provide free counseling services for struggling homeowners in the greater Dallas and Fort Worth metro areas, with loans owned by Fannie Mae.
According to the organization, the Fannie Mae Dallas/Fort Worth Mortgage Help Center is the sixth Fannie Mae facility in a series of nationwide help centers to assist borrowers in the hardest hit areas. The North Texas Housing Coalition is partnering with Fannie Mae to work directly with borrowers at the help center. A second partnership with Tarrant County Housing Partnership also offers counseling services for homeowners with Fannie Mae loans at their facility in the Fort Worth area.
“Distressed homeowners facing economic hardships of varying degrees should know that free counseling is just a phone call or e-mail away, and that our experienced staff is here to help each homeowner navigate through the myriad of options available to them,” said Jeff Hayward, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president, National Servicing Organization. “With one in every 281 Texas homes in foreclosure, and Dallas and Tarrant Counties ranking second and third in the state for the highest foreclosure rates, we are reaching out to thousands of local homeowners to help resolve their mortgage situation.”
At both facilities, distressed homeowners will meet directly with dedicated on-site English- and Spanish-speaking staff and experienced housing counselors to discuss their mortgage situation. These face-to-face meetings will help borrowers better understand the range of foreclosure prevention options available, advise them on how to resolve their mortgage situation, accelerate servicer response time and provide financial counseling.
“We live in communities filled with homeowners struggling to make ends meet and keep their homes,” said Albert Martin, Director of the North Texas Housing Coalition. “The new Fannie Mae Dallas/Fort Worth Mortgage Help Center is important to North Texas and the communities it serves by positively impacting the families in our communities. For families who could be facing foreclosure, the center provides the lifeline they need to get help.”
“This partnership could not have come at a better time,” said Donna Van Ness, president of Tarrant County Housing Partnership. “So many of our residents are struggling to stay current on house payments and there is a lot of confusion about mortgage programs that are in place to help, so we look forward to working with Fannie Mae to help people stay in their homes and keep our neighborhoods strong.”
Counselors will provide a full range of services, which include reviewing a borrower’s loan, discussing foreclosure alternatives, collecting the required documents for the federal Making Home Affordable Program and providing help to finalize any pending loan workout efforts. Fannie Mae, North Texas Housing Coalition, and Tarrant County Housing Partnership will provide information and clarify expectations with regard to the foreclosure prevention process. Efforts will be made to counteract local scams and groups that charge fees for modifications and foreclosure prevention services.
The Fannie Mae Dallas/Fort Worth Mortgage Help Center and the Tarrant County Housing Partnership are available for any borrower who has a mortgage held by Fannie Mae. Homeowners can determine if Fannie Mae owns their loan by visiting www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup or by contacting Fannie Mae at 1-800-7FANNIE. Homeowners who do not have loans owned by Fannie Mae can contact the Homeowner’s HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE or visit Fannie Mae’s new consumer website, www.KnowYourOptions.com.
The Fannie Mae Dallas/Fort Worth Mortgage Help Center is available by appointment only and borrowers wishing to schedule a visit should call 1-866-442-8575 or e-mail dallas_mhc@fanniemae.com.
For more information, visit www.fanniemae.com.
