HOPE FOR HOMEOWNERS

A federal aid program aimed at helping homeowners who reside in neighborhoods that were hit the hardest in the subprime meltdown of 2008. Hope for Homeowners will offer nearly $4 billion in aid to homeowners who are behind on their mortgages to refinance into a fixed-rate loan charging a reasonable rate of interest. These loans are backed by the FHA.

Hope for Homeowners loans are primarily designed to help two types of homeowners: those with high-interest rate subprime loans and those with mortgages that now exceed the values of their homes. The first-time homebuyer credit is also included as one of the incentives of this program.