Mortgage Assistance

*Application Deadline is approaching so look into this quickly if it can help you.
It is not a first come first serve basis and Oregon is still accepting applications.*

What is the Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative (OHSI)?
The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative is the name of Oregon’s new foreclosure prevention programs. The US Department of Treasury gave 17 states—including Oregon—money from a special fund for states hit hardest by the recession. Oregon Housing and Community Services created OHSI to deliver programs throughout the state to help prevent foreclosure.

What is the Mortgage Payment Assistance Program (MPA)?
Mortgage Payment Assistance is the first OHSI program. It will help at least 5,000 Oregon homeowners pay their mortgages for up to one year, or offer $20,000, whichever comes first. It is the largest of OHSI’s programs, funded at $100,000,000.

How can I apply for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
The application for Mortgage Payment Assistance will be available on December 10, 2010 at www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. Further details about the application process will be available in December.

How long do I have to apply?
Beginning December 10, 2010, homeowners will have one month to apply for the MPA program.

Will homeowners who receive Mortgage Payment Assistance have to pay it back?
It depends. Mortgage Payment Assistance payments will be five-year, forgivable, interest free, non-recourse loans. OHSI will defer all payments and forgive 20 percent of the balance each year. If a homeowner who gets Mortgage Payment Assistance sells their home or refinances the home within five years, the homeowner may have to repay some of the assistance.

Will every struggling homeowner in Oregon get help from OHSI?
No. There are tens of thousands of homeowners who need help in Oregon. The program cannot serve everyone who needs help.

How will the state choose who gets help paying their mortgages?
Oregon’s housing crisis is hurting thousands of homeowners. Oregon has enough money to help about 5,000 homeowners through its MPA program. That means many more homeowners need help with their mortgages than the program can serve. The state will conduct a random drawing to choose who will get help. The program is not first come, first serve. The state will accept applications over several weeks so all eligible homeowners have a chance. All eligible applications will be in the drawing.

How do I know if I’m eligible for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
You can take a simple test to find out if you may be eligible on www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org.

I am delinquent on my mortgage. Am I still eligible for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
Yes.

I am not behind on my mortgage. Am I still eligible for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
Yes

Are small business owners eligible for this program?
Yes

Do I have to be unemployed to be eligible for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
No

What about the other OHSI programs?
Other OHSI programs will launch early next year. Details about the application process and eligibility will appear on this site soon.

What can I do right now to apply for Mortgage Payment Assistance?
The application will be available on December 10, 2010. Visit www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org to learn more and to sign up for updates.

Mortgage Payment Program Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications
The household’s income cannot be equal to or more than 120 percent of state median income (see chart at bottom of page for details). A homeowner who has an Oregon bond loan meets this test.The homeowner’s current first mortgage must date before January 1, 2009.The homeowner must be unemployed or have a verifiable loss in income of 25 percent or more.The homeowner cannot have more than four months of mortgage payments available as liquid assets. (Retirement and education savings accounts are OK).The homeowner must complete and sign a Financial Hardship Affidavit.The homeowner, in connection with a mortgage or real estate transaction, cannot have been convicted, within the last 10 years, of any one of the following: (A) felony larceny, theft, fraud or forgery, (B) money laundering or (C) tax evasion.

Property
The subject property must be an owner-occupied, primary residence and be located in Oregon. Manufactured homes are eligible only if the structure is recorded in the county’s deed records. *Note: Condominiums and Town homes are NOT considered single-family, 1-unit, detached homes. No more than two years’ property tax may be unpaid on the subject property.

Exclusions
The homeowner’s unpaid mortgage balance cannot exceed $729,750.Homeowners who have received notification of trustee/sheriff sale before February 1, 2010 are ineligible for the MPA program. Homeowners who own other residential real property are ineligible for the MPA program. Homeowners who are currently in active bankruptcy are ineligible for the MPA program.Any homeowner who knowingly submits more than one application for the MPA program

State of Oregon Median Income

Household size Income 120% Median Income

1 Person $43,300 $51,960

2 Persons $49,400 $59,280

3 Persons $55,600 $66,720

4 Persons $61,800 $74,160

5 Persons $66,700 $80,040

6 Persons $71,700 $86,040

7 Persons $76,600 $91,920

8 Persons $81,600 $97,920