MPA Information Page

(The application period for MPA is now closed;
this page is intended to provide information for eligible homeowners)

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Having technical difficulties with the OHSI verification & HEP pages?

Most Recent Update 11.1.11

Table of Contents:

Archive Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

NEDCO Workshops & Counseling Services

Contact Information

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Most Recent Update 11.1.11

October Payments Delayed

For those of you have begun receiving mortgage payments, OHSI notified us last week that the October payments have been delayed, due to technical difficulties. OHSI is in communication with all of the servicers, but you will likely still get form letters from your servicer about the late payment. You don't need to do anything to follow-up with us or your servicer; OHSI will post the payments as soon as possible - maybe as soon as Tuesday. They still expect November payments to be made on time.

For information about when your payments have been made, please call OHSI Customer Service at 503-986-2025.

Random Audits

OHSI has begun conducting random audits of MPA files, statewide. These audits will not just be checking your ongoing verification status, but will also include a review of your original application and eligibility. It is possible, during the course of the audit, that you may be asked to provide additional documents to the underwriting department, regarding both your current income and details of your original application. We will be learning more about this process in the coming weeks and will keep you posted as soon as we have more details. In the meantime, we thought it was important for you to know about this possibility, here is what we know, so far:

• Roughly 20% of files will be selected for audit, statewide.
• Of those, some will 'pass' the audit with no further action needed, and you won't even know that your file was selected.
• If the audit uncovers a need for additional documentation, OHSI will notify NEDCO, and we will contact you. You will have only 5 calendar days to return the documents to us, so that we can get them back to OHSI by their deadline.
• Document requests will start in early November, and continue for about 6 weeks.
• If we receive a document request for you, we will first notify you by email, since this will let us list exactly what documents have been requested. Please check your email frequently during this time. We will title the email "Document Request from NEDCO", so you'll know to respond right away.
• As always, you can email, fax, mail or drop off the documents. Email (with *.pdf attachments) is easiest for us, if it works for you!
• Requested documents may relate to your current status or to your original application.

Credit Reporting

As many of you know, the original delays in payments from OHSI caused many servicers to report you as late to the credit bureaus, even after you had signed MPA loan documents. OHSI has been advocating with servicers to reverse this reporting, for all homeowners who were current when they entered the MPA program. Recently, Wells Fargo agreed to the correction, which is a major victory. OHSI is continuing to negotiate with all servicers. However, please note that the corrections will take time - even for Wells Fargo clients, the corrected information will not be sent to the bureaus until November at the earliest. The good news: once a correction is sent by the servicer, all trace of the late payments is removed from your credit report - it's as if it never existed. So the timing is less important than simply making sure it happens.

Assorted Notes on Monthly Verification

Monthly verification has been a bumpy road so far - with delays at the start of the month, technical problems with the website, and confusion about when to start. Here are a few helpful hints that we have learned so far:

• When to Start (1st Month): You will be notified by e-mail directly by OHSI when you are to begin Monthly Verification and the Homeowner Education Program. That e-mail will provide you with a link and instructions on how to begin the processes. You will not be able to access the OHSI site until you receive the e-mail from OHSI.
• When to Start (Ongoing): Please wait until AFTER the first of each month to download and print out that month's verification form. The form may change from month to month and you must submit the proper form to be counted as complete.
• Method of Submitting: Please provide your verification by ONE method only; when we receive your paperwork by email, mail and fax, it causes quite a bit of confusion!
• Fax cover sheets are not necessary. Our office is small enough that everyone knows where those forms need to go.
• How Will You Know We Got It? We will send an e-mail at the end of business on the 8th of each month to everyone: one email to those whose verification we have not received, and one to those we have received. Please wait to receive this e-mail prior to calling our office to confirm that your verification has been received. We wish we could confirm each as they come in, but we just don't have time!

Experiencing Technical Difficulties with the Verification or HEP Website?

We have a couple of trouble-shooting ideas on our website. If these don't work, please call OHSI Customer Service at 503-986-2025 or email homeownerhelp@hcs.state.or.us.

Workshops and Classes

Still thinking about a loan modification? Wondering about how to plan for the end of MPA? Or could you use a little help with creating a financial plan? NEDCO continues to offer Default Intervention Workshops and Financial Recovery Classes in each county. Click here for a link to our class schedules, and check back often for updates.

I think that's everything for today. As always, feel free to call or email with questions, and we'll try to resume our more regular email updates.

We will email a confirmation on November 8th that we have received (or not!) your verification paperwork. Please wait for this email, rather than calling our office to confirm.

Thank you so much for all of your continued understanding and cooperation with this program - we couldn't do it without your support.

Archive Updates

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Having Technical Difficulties with the OHSI Verification & HEP Pages?

MONTHLY VERIFICATION FORM
If you are having trouble downloading your verification form, it could be one of a couple problems. You might need to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Here is a link for that: http://get.adobe.com/reader/. We also suggest clearing your cache (deleting all of your temporary internet files), closing your browser, restarting your computer, and trying again. Here is a good link on how to clear your cache: http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache. If neither of these fixes works, please contact OHSI homeowner help directly at 503-986-2025 or homeownerhelp@hcs.state.or.us for additional technical help.

HOMEOWNER EDUCATION PROGRAM
If you are having trouble viewing the videos, it could be one of a couple problems. You might need to download the latest version of Flash. Here is a link for that: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/. We also suggest clearing your cache (deleting all of your temporary internet files), closing your browser, restarting your computer, and trying again. Here is a good link on how to clear your cache: http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache. If neither of these fixes works, please contact OHSI homeowner help directly at 503-986-2025 or homeownerhelp@hcs.state.or.us for additional technical help.

If you Haven't Heard from Us About Your Loan Documents

Below is a table that explains each step your application will go through. We do not know where individual applications are in the process, but all the steps need to be completed before we receive your loan douments.
Please direct all questions about the status of your application to OHSI: 503-986-2025 or homeownerhelp@hcs.state.or.us.

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If you Have a Pending Foreclosure Sale:

We know that the extension of the state's timeline is hardest on homeowners who have foreclosure sale dates. Please be in contact with your lender to explain that you have been accepted into the MPA program. We can try to help you negotiate a later date with your servicer, to buy more time for MPA payments to begin. OHSI recommends that you provide your lender with a copy of the Determination Letter that you were given by NEDCO, stating that your application was submitted, and a copy of the email from OHSI (sent 2/1/11 or 2/2/11) confirming your eligibility. If your servicer requests it, we are happy to provide a letter of verification on our letterhead.

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Workshops and Counseling:

1. We would also encourage you to continue any alternate planning that you may have already begun. Toward that end, NEDCO has more than doubled our Default Intervention Counseling staff, and we want to provide you with information about our regular services. Also remember that, as a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency, all of our Default services are free of charge.

2. We offer 90-minute Default Intervention Workshops twice a month, to cover:

• Timelines and key roles

• Basic financial analysis

• Intro to workout options: loan modification, short sale, etc.

• To sign up for a Default Intervention Workshop, follow this link:

Click Here to Register for the Default Intervention Workshop

3. In our Individual Counseling appointments, our certified housing counselors will help you analyze your own financial situation, and walk you through the options available to you. Please attend the Default Workshop to be eligible for Individual Counseling.

4. We will also be starting a series of Financial Recovery Workshops, as part of our regular financial literacy program; click the link below for more information on how to register: This non-required NEDCO sponsored & offered Financial Recovery Workshop will cover the following topics:

• Credit Repair

• Tracking Expenses

• Identifying Spending Leaks

• Budgeting

• Savings

• Protecting Your Assets

Click Here for More Details and to Register for a Financial Recovery Workshop