Since 2006, the percentage of mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent, including defaulted loans and foreclosures in inventory, has risen. One option for resolving a mortgage default is foreclosure. Foreclosure, however, is costly for borrowers that lose what might be the largest asset in their portfolios; for lenders that may not be able to recoup the outstanding loan amount, legal fees, lost revenue and maintenance costs until the distressed property is sold. This book provides an overview of servicing and a summary of the typical array of loss mitigation that servicers may offer distressed borrowers. Also discussed are regional house price movements and unemployment trends which are important drivers of mortgage repayment problems and loss mitigation outcomes.
