Builder, Realtors Sidelined on Cramdown Issue

In their fight to stop bankruptcy cramdowns, financial services groups can no longer count on the support of the Realtors and homebuilders as the House prepares to vote on a housing bill that would allow bankruptcy judges to reduce or cram down the principal amount of residential mortgages. The National Association of Realtors is supporting passage of the bill (H.R. 1106) because it enhances the FHA Hope for Homeowners program that allows certain troubled borrowers to refinance and provides legal protections for servicers that engaged in loan modifications. The National Association of Home Builders recently changed its position on bankruptcy cramdowns. And the trade group is willing to accept a temporary change in the bankruptcy code to facilitate loan modifications. Meanwhile, the House is slated to vote Thursday (Feb. 26) on the housing bill and financial services lobbyists are working to narrow the negative effects of the bankruptcy provisions.