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Andrew Jakabovics

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Now We’re Talking Report
The best foreclosure mediation programs are those where the state automatically schedules the first mediation session once the mortgage servicer initiates the foreclosure process. (iStockphoto)

Now We’re Talking

Report from Alon Cohen and Andrew Jakabovics examines current state-based foreclosure mediation programs and offers proposals for how to bring them to scale.

Alon Cohen, Andrew Jakabovics

A Welcome Foreclosure Plan Article
A foreclosure home for sale is shown in Spring, TX. Both judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure states reap the benefits of foreclosure mortgage mediation through faster foreclosures and stable homeownership leading to reduced vacancy, stabilization of property taxes, reduction in vandalism and squatting, and stability in surrounding home values. (AP/David J. Phillip)

A Welcome Foreclosure Plan

Helping homeowners cope with paying on mortgages more costly than their homes is the right way to tackle the foreclosure crisis, writes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

Fourth and Inches Article
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, left, grins after listening to Nicholas Tekperety of Reston, VA, foreground, share his experiences with participating in the Home Affordable Modification Program on May 14, 2009, in Washington. New mortgage relief guidelines are important steps forward but fall short of the needs of many responsible but beleaguered homeowners. (AP/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Fourth and Inches

New mortgage relief guidelines are important steps forward but fall short of the needs of many responsible but beleaguered homeowners, writes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

Location, Location, Location Article
New homes for sale in Chicago. New housing market data shows that housing prices may be beginning to stabilize. (AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Location, Location, Location

Andrew Jakabovics offers analysis of new housing data, saying that it offers mixed answers and the federal government must remain vigilant.

Andrew Jakabovics

Modifying Modifications Article
A homeowner gets help with restructuring her mortgage from a loan counselor at an event in Chicago. (AP/Damian Dovarganes)

Modifying Modifications

Treasury should authorize housing counselors to approve HAMP modifications, writes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

Unequal Opportunity Lenders? Report
The practice of originating high-priced mortgages for minority borrowers was particularly prevalent among the 14 banks and subsidaries analyzed in this report, and the disparities persist even when looking only at high-income households. (AP/Donna McWilliam)

Unequal Opportunity Lenders?

Report from Andrew Jakabovics and Jeff Chapman shows racial disparities in higher-priced lending among the 14 largest banks and subsidiaries during the housing bubble.

Grading on a Curve Article

Grading on a Curve

Andrew Jakabovics reviews the first report on the performance of mortgage service companies charged with modifying at-risk home mortgages. There’s reason to be disappointed by some of the biggest players.

Andrew Jakabovics

Called to the Carpet Article
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, right, accompanied by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, briefs reporters on the Home Affordable Modification program. (AP/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Called to the Carpet

Mortgage servicing companies will face tough questions from the Obama administration about the slow pace of mortgage modifications amid rising foreclosures, writes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

It’s Time We Talked Report
Given the magnitude of the foreclosure crisis and the degree to which the federal government is already invested in mortgages, the federal government should take a more direct role in providing opportunities for mediation. (iStockphoto)

It’s Time We Talked

Andrew Jakabovics and Alon Cohen argue in a report that the federal government has a role to play in expanding mediation programs for those facing foreclosure.

Andrew Jakabovics, Alon Cohen

CBO: Pollution Cuts Cost Little Article
The Laramie River Station coal-fired power plant north of Cheyenne, WY, produces about 15 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. The Congressional Budget Office announced on Friday that the average American household would spend only a very modest amount each year to reduce global warming pollution under H.R. 2454. (AP/Bob Moen)

CBO: Pollution Cuts Cost Little

Daniel J. Weiss and Andrew Jakabovics provide analysis of a just-released CBO report showing that energy reductions would have very minimal cost implications.

Daniel J. Weiss, Andrew Jakabovics

Don’t Hamper Mortgage Modifications Article
Foreclosure and for sale signs sit outside a foreclosed home in Houston, TX. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Treasury Department need to ensure that the new Public-Private Investment Program to clean banks of toxic assets does not upend the Obama administration’s existing efforts to resolve the housing crisis. (AP/David J. Phillip)

Don’t Hamper Mortgage Modifications

The Treasury’s plan to rid banks of toxic assets should not upend the existing program to help responsible at-risk homeowners, argues Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

Sustainable Mortgage Modifications Report
In keeping with the Obama administration’s belief in transparency and accountability, reporting requirements and benchmarks in its Home Affordable Mortgage Program should be established in short order. (iStockphoto)

Sustainable Mortgage Modifications

Report from Andrew Jakabovics recommends setting clear benchmarks to measure progress and identifies possible next steps to contain the foreclosure crisis.

Andrew Jakabovics

At Last, Help for Homeowners Article
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chair Sheila Bair talk prior to President Barack Obama's remarks today about the home mortgage crisis at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona. (AP/Gerald Herbert)

At Last, Help for Homeowners

The Obama administration’s housing plan actually helps homeowners, writes Andrew Jakabovics. Now that’s progress.

Andrew Jakabovics, David M. Abromowitz

Bank Bailouts Done Right Article
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, seen here with the president, will unveil details of the Obama administration's plan for the remaining Troubled Assets Relief Program funds early next week. (AP/Ron Edmonds)

Bank Bailouts Done Right

Spending an additional $350 billion to rescue the U.S. financial system requires adhering to four basic principles, writes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

Hank to Homeowners: Drop Dead Article
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson stated yesterday he will not purchase mortgage-related assets under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which is ironically the premise behind granting the program's money in the first place. (AP/Gerald Herbert)

Hank to Homeowners: Drop Dead

Treasury Secretary “Hank” Paulson is willing to buy all kinds of debt, except mortgage-related assets, observes Andrew Jakabovics.

Andrew Jakabovics

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