WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers continue to provide direct relief to homeowners in Kentucky and across the country as part of the historic national mortgage foreclosure settlement. According to the fourth post-settlement report released today by the independent settlement monitor, 1,757 Kentucky homeowners received more than $61.1 million in settlement-related relief from Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, Chase and Wells Fargo through March 31, 2013. Borrowers received an average of $34,806 in assistance.
The report also shows that as of March 31, 2013, mortgage servicers were processing additional relief claims for Kentucky borrowers totaling more than $2.1 million, bringing Kentucky’s total consumer relief to $63.2 million. The report compiles information provided by the servicers and has yet to be verified by the compliance monitor.
The various forms of relief provided to Kentucky borrowers included 170 completed first lien modifications, 547 completed second lien terminations, 424 short sales and 296 completed refinances.
“I am pleased that struggling Kentucky homeowners continue to receive assistance as a result of this landmark settlement,” General Conway said. “However, there have been complaints from consumers that servicers are not meeting their obligations under the settlement. We are aware of the concerns and are collaborating with other Attorneys General about the best way to resolve these complaints to ensure that consumers receive the relief entitled to them.”
Nationally, the report found that more than 621,000 borrowers received some type of consumer relief during the same period totaling $50.63 billion. On average, each borrower received $81,437 in relief. These figures include first lien trial modifications, as well as completed relief.
Mortgage Settlement History
Forty-nine state attorneys general reached the historic $25 billion settlement with five of the nation’s largest banks in February of 2012. Kentucky received $58 million under the settlement. Thirty-eight million dollars is being allocated by the settlement administrator to consumers who qualify for refinancing, loan write downs, debt restructuring and/or cash payments of up to $2,000. Kentucky also received $19. 2 million in settlement money that was allocated to agencies in the Commonwealth that create affordable housing, provide relief or legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure, redevelop foreclosed properties and reduce blight created by vacant properties.
In addition to participating in the national mortgage settlement, General Conway filed suit in January 2013 against the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) for violating Kentucky’s recording statutes by not recording mortgage assignments with County Clerks when mortgages were sold or transferred from one bank to another. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that since MERS’ creation in 1995, members have avoided paying more than $2 billion in recording fees nationwide. Additional information about the MERS lawsuit is available at http://migration.kentucky.gov/Newsroom/ag/merscomplaint.htm .
To learn more about the mortgage foreclosure settlement, visit ag.ky.gov/mortgagesettlement .
Contact:
Allison Gardner Martin
Communications Director
502-696-5651 (office)
