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Major banks announce new plan to cut home foreclosures

Bank of America, Citigroup and other major U.S. banks and lenders announced Tuesday a revised plan to help some borrowers in danger of default remain in their homes.

Encouraged by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the banks will offer a 30-day freeze on foreclosures while loan modifications are considered for borrowers who are at least three months late on payments. The program will include borrowers with prime mortgages, as well as those with poorer credit histories.

Second wave of defaults

The program is being initiated as the United States prepares for the second wave of mortgage defaults as variable mortgages rates reset in 2008. The U.S. Federal Reserve estimates that about two million mortgages will reset to higher rates, with foreclosures expected to soar to one million, absent an intervention. In a typical year, the U.S. has about 500,000-550,000 foreclosures.

The nation and the housing sector are also attempting to avoid the onset of a housing "vicious cycle" whereby defaults further lower home values, preventing some homeowners from refinancing, which would precipitate another round of defaults, further lowering home values, etc.

All plan participants rose on the news early Tuesday. The Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) gained 30 cents to $42.43, Citigroup (NYSE: C) rose 46 cents to $26.25, JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) climbed 15 cents to $43.50, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) rose 24 cents to $29.80, Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) gained 20 cents to $16.98, and Countrywide Financial (NYSE: CFC) added 10 cents to $6.74.

Slow progress

Economist Steve Affinito said the new plan represents "incremental progress, but more action and a larger program is needed."

"The banks still aren't ready to face the harsh reality that they're going to face massive losses, absent a restructuring of many at-risk loans," Affinito said. "They need to restructure these loans so that most borrowers can repay them. It will cut into their revenue, but getting 70% or 80% of projected interest income is better than getting no interest income. Banks are not in the real estate business, and absent this, they're going to have a lot homes on their hands with very few buyers."

Some in Congress are considering a larger federally-sponsored program. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is exploring the federal program to buy and restructure delinquent and near-delinquent loans, Bloomberg News reported.

Affinito said a plan of that scope "would probably cost more than $40-50 billion annually."

Affinito said it's highly unlikely President Bush would approve such a plan, and noted that it "would probably take a Democratic president and U.S. Congress" to get the legislation through, but "the housing crisis can't wait until after the November 2008 election for a possible solution."

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Last updated: May 09, 2008: 05:21 PM

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