The Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable initiative and its two programs, the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) have created a demand for upgrades to mortgage industry software so that it will comply with the new federal guidelines. The HAMP alone is expected to help as many as 9m homeowners modify their mortgages. Add First American’s (FAF) VendorScape software to the myriad of mortgage industry-centric programs that have been upgraded to implement the HAMP. The software upgrade includes a calculator that can assist loss mitigators in modifying a borrower’s loan in accord with HAMP guidelines. For borrowers who do not qualify for HAMP, their information is already in the system so servicers can access VendorScape’s other applications to attempt additional modification solutions. The upgrade can also compile the reports that are needed for servicers to receive incentive payments from the HAMP. Along with its improvements to VendorScape, First American launched a new Web site for borrowers. Homeowners can access the site to respond to direct mail and call campaigns while avoiding potentially embarrassing conversations with servicers in person or over the phone. The site offers online forms borrowers can fill out to predetermine their HAMP eligibility and facilitates servicers’ electronic communications with borrowers. Write to Austin Kilgore. Disclosure: The author held no relevant investment positions when this story was published. Indirect holdings may exist via mutual fund investments.

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