Abstract
What is the most cost-effective mortgage modification program to reduce mortgage defaults? To shed light on this question and evaluate the Home Affordable Modication Program (HAMP) initiated in 2009, we present a quantitative model where home-buying households can take out a mortgage loan whose price is endogenously determined to reflect the mortgage contract terms—maturity, per-period payment, and amortization scheme—as well as the default risk. We conduct an experiment in which (i) a series of house price shocks are plugged into the model economy to generate the housing market crash, mirroring the recent financial crisis, and (ii) three alternative government-funded mortgage modification programs, each associated with a change in maturity, per-period payment, or amortization scheme, are introduced and compared. We find that the amortization reschedule is the most cost-effective way of implementing a modification program, followed by the payment reduction and the term extension.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
