August 9, 2012

Program aims to transform homeowners into renters

The Associated Press

Citigroup will try something new to keep struggling homeowners out of foreclosure: turn them into renters.

CitiMortgage announced the program Wednesday and painted it as a way to help homeowners stuck in houses they can't afford. The New York-based bank, however, won't manage the program. Instead, it is handing the reins to an investment firm. The bank just sold a $158 million mortgage portfolio to investment firms that will manage the program.

It will work like this: Carrington Capital Management and its sister mortgage company will comb the portfolio for eligible homeowners, looking for people who owe more on their house than it's worth, but also seem to have the means to keep making monthly payments.

They also must live in the house, meaning it can't be a vacation home or investment property. And they have to be at least four months late on payments.

Carrington says the pilot program will help about 500 homeowners in six markets: Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, Nevada and Georgia. It says it will begin contacting eligible homeowners this month.

 

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