Restructurings Not Occurring, Testimony Says

Mortgage lenders and servicers are not restructuring loans for troubled homeowners, according to the Center for Responsible Lending and a bankruptcy judge, who urged Congress to amend the bankruptcy code to prevent unnecessary foreclosures.Marilyn Morgan, a bankruptcy judge in Northern California, said she sees too many foreclosures and has not heard of a "single meaningful workout with a home lender." CRL executive Eric Stein told a House Judiciary panel that servicers fear being sued by investors if they restructure mortgages. Amending the bankruptcy code to allow restructurings by judges would "remove the fear" so that servicers can voluntarily modify loans. Steve Bartlett, president of the Financial Services Roundtable, testified that the industry has adopted principles that encourage loan modifications, and "we should expect more and more homeowners with subprime mortgages to get needed relief."