COVID-19 Owner-Occupant Loan Modification
By Charlestien Harris The possibility of losing a home because of the pandemic or any unforeseen circumstance is frightening and can devastate the dream of homeownership. Just knowing there are viable home retention solutions that can help homeowners struggling to...
Southern Bancorp Opens New Hattiesburg Location
LITTLE ROCK – Southern Bancorp announced today the opening of a loan production office (LPO) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The LPO opened Monday, August 24, making it the community development bank’s 49th location in a market area spanning both Arkansas and...
FHA Loan Loss Mitigation Options after Completion of COVID-19 Forbearance
By Charlestien Harris Last week, I shared loss mitigation options for individuals with government sponsored enterprise (GSE) loans that are unable to make mortgage payments due to a COVID-19 financial hardship. This week my attention will focus on the loss mitigation...
Loss Mitigation Options to Prevent Foreclosure during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) loans: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac By Charlestien Harris In my previous article, I explained the terms and conditions of the forbearance option for homeowners with government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) loans during the...
Southern Bancorp Community Partners announces policy brief and webinar addressing debt in Arkansas
Deferred Dreams: How Unmanageable and Abusive Debt Hinder Savings and Economic Security to be discussed during public webinar on Wednesday, August 19. LITTLE ROCK, ARK – Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP) recently published “Deferred Dreams: How...
COVID-19 CARES Act: Forbearance for Homeowners Explained
By Charlestien Harris The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in March of this year, included special aid for homeowners with a mortgage. The CARES Act makes it much easier for homeowners that have been affected by the...
Home Buyer Education during the Pandemic
By Charlestien Harris Thanks to low mortgage interest rates, for some buyers this is the perfect time to think about purchasing a home. The best time to take a homebuyer education class is when you are starting to consider buying a home, not after you’ve already...
How to Handle an Overdue Mortgage
By Charlestien Harris The stress of not being able to make mortgage payments and other financial obligations because of the pandemic or any hardship can be overwhelming, but sometimes just knowing where to turn for help can give us a sense of relief. The CARES...