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» VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM 7 A look at facts you didn't know you couldn't live without. Compiled by the DS News Staff TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE NUMBERS D ATA B I T S Fannie Mae's serious delinquency rate in March 2015 was 1.78 percent, its lowest point since before the recession, and has declined every quarter since Q1 2010, according to Fannie Mae. There have been 283,587 bankruptcy filings in the United States in the first four months of 2015, down from 320,002 for the first four months of 2014, according to AACER bankruptcy data reported by Epiq Systems. FHFA ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF HARP UNTIL THE END OF 2016 PAGE 20 INSIDE THE JOURNAL // MOVERS & SHAKERS // ON THE WEB // THE APP SPECTRUM Source: CoreLogic (as of March 2015) Source: Black Knight Financial Services (as of January 2015) STATES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF UNDERWATER BORROWERS 1 Nevada 16.4% 2 Florida 15.1% 3 Maryland 14.0% 4 Illinois 13.7% 5 New Jersey 13.7% 6 Rhode Island 13.5% 7 Connecticut 12.3% 8 Ohio 12.0% 9 Georgia 10.8% 10 Michigan 10.8% State Percentage Ranking METRO AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST 12-MONTH SUM OF COMPLETED FORECLOSURES 1 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida 17,674 2 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia 14,947 3 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida 14,374 4 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas 7,682 5 Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Illinois 7,479 6 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona 7,365 7 St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois 5,663 8 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California 5,622 9 Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas 5,347 10 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland 5,102 Ranking State Total e government's Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) will be extended until the end of 2016, according to an announcement from Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mel Watt. Speaking at the Greenlining Institute 22nd Annual Economic Summit, Watt announced a one-year extension of the government's two affordable housing programs, which began in 2009 in response to the housing crisis. Both programs were set to expire at the end of 2015. "Since HAMP and HARP were first launched in 2009, these programs have provided critically important relief for many borrowers by allowing them to lower their monthly payments and, as a result, have prevented many foreclosures," Watt said. "HAMP provides modifications that allow borrowers significant payment reductions that are tied to their income. is gives borrowers a more stable, affordable monthly payment and improves performance rates. e HARP program allows borrowers, including those who are underwater on their mortgage and who are regularly making their mortgage payments, to refinance their loans to take advantage of historically low interest rates." HARP is a program intended to help save money by lowering monthly payments for borrowers who are underwater but are regularly making mortgage payments, while HAMP is targeted toward borrowers who are delinquent and possibly facing foreclosure by providing them a modification with significantly reduced monthly payments tied to their income. e participation rates for both programs have been on the decline, partly because many borrowers are already participating in one program or the other, and partly because of recovering house prices, Watt said, but lenders and sevicers continue to approve modifications through HAMP and refinances through HARP. "Extending HAMP and HARP through the end of 2016 will provide real relief for borrowers who continue to face challenges either paying their mortgage or refinancing their loan," Watt said. Watt said this will be the final extension for FHFA's participation in HAMP and he anticipates this will be the final extension for HARP, adding that neither program was intended to be permanent. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SINGLE-FAMILY BUSINESS AT FREDDIE MAC "Extending HAMP and HARP through the end of 2016 will provide real relief for borrowers who continue to face challenges either paying their mortgage or refinancing their loan." — Mel Watt FIVE MINUTES WITH David Lowman

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