Comments on: Homeowners Assistance Program Helps Military Members Who Lost Money Due to PCS

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:18:21 +0000

So… not eligible for the HAP program. How hard is it to short sale with PCS orders as a forced harship even though you’re current on payments? Who pays realator fees in a short sale? How does the benefits under the National Mortgage Settlement apply for military members forced to move and do not qualify for benefits under HAP?

By: Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:16:58 +0000

Christopher, I believe this program is for people who were forced to sell their home at a loss due to a base closure. If this applies in your situation, then I recommend contacting the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If this does not apply to you, then you may not be eligible for the program. The USACE will be the best source for information specific to your case.

By: Christopher Nugent

Christopher Nugent — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:31:09 +0000

Should I apply for the EHAP Program?
I just found about this program and I am wondering if I might qualify?
My Specifics
2001 Bought Home while stationed in Illinois
2004 Dec Transfered on order to oversears Spain duty station. spoke with realestate agents house would not sell for what I owed.
2007 Dec Transfered on orders to Hawaii.
2007 tried to sell the house was to far upside down.
2009 short sold the home had no choice no renter could not afford it anymore. First morgage shows as closed on credit report 2nd mortgage shows outstanding balance on credit report. At forclosure time I was forced to take a 30K promissary note for 0% interest I have been paying on since.
July 2011 Retired from military.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:46:51 +0000

I recently completed a EHAP sale on a rental home which initially was my primary. I closed in Dec 2011 using the Private Sale method and received the EHAP benefit in Jan 2012. Now doing 2011 taxes and am trying to determine how to claim HAP on the sale because I took a $50K loss on home without their assistance. If I report that loss, I believe I am “double-dipping” because I did receive assistance. Any guidance on how to report/claim the assistance as part of the sale? Is it necessary? The assistance will not be reported anywhere on my 2012 tax documents (W2, 1099S…) because it is non-taxable income, falls under “Fringe Benefit.” I have consulted with CPAs and the IRS with no definitive answer. Thanks.

By: Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:29:57 +0000

Patrick, The program has very specific rules and eligibility requirements, with the prime reason being a Base Realignment or Closure. If that happened in your area, then you should contact the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to see if you are eligible. There may also be programs which may benefit you – there are several at the state and/or national level. However, these are also on a case by case basis, and I am not an expert in this area. You may try contacting a real estate agent or lawyer who specializes in real estate in your area, as they may be more familiar with the new rules or programs that are available.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:37:23 +0000

I have a question. I left Active duty in FL to Palace Front to the MI ANG. I moved from FL to MI leaving the family behind. The house in FL has still not sold and it’s begining to make life harder for myself and my family. Could this program help me. I am a full time ANG at the GS level. Just wondering if there was a program to help me out. Thank you for your time.

By: michelle

michelle — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:03:22 +0000

Absolutely concur. Unbelievable that when we try to do the right thing; by attempting to refinance into a fixed rate, reliable loan, we are told we have to pay the same rates as those people who make a living off of real estate and who contributed to this mess! Military families don’t have a choice regarding whether we move or not and the bank does not care that this is our primary home (or will be for the future). They only want to obtain the highest rates, but military families who only wish to have a home to live in once they retire-same as civilians- are treated as a financial “risk”. I am aghast that this is legal. Why should we have to pay more than anyone else when this is our only home? We are trying other lenders so hopefully we will get a fair rate, but after reading your experience as well, I have my doubts. So what do we do? Wait for the reset and hope rates don’t go up to 15% in the future, or let the banks have there way and make extra money without taking on the extra risk by paying the additional 1% in interest they demand?

By: Paulette Parker -- Realtor--Keller Williams

Paulette Parker -- Realtor--Keller Williams — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:24:05 +0000

I am a full time Realtor in the Savannah, Georgia area that has worked as a Realty Specialist within the USACE Homeowners Assistance Program in the Savannah District. (the east coast)

While working in the HAP program I could not assist applicants on the real estate side of the transaction. I have left that position so that I can help military personnel work through the program and receive the best benefit for them while it is still funded.

If there is anyone in the Savannah, Georgia (Fort Stewart and/or Hunter Army Airfield) that has questions concerning the HAP program I am currently looking for HAP listings–I know this program and can help determine what portion of the program would work best for you.

Within the Expanded HAP program there are several benefit types: Government Acquisition, Private Sale Augmentation, Privates Sale, Private Sale Short Sale and Foreclosure.

Each file is different and there is not a benefit paid on any portion of the mortgage was was obtained after the purchase unless it is documented with receipts and invoices per the IRS guidelines. The portion of the mortgage that is covered has to be part of purchase funds or home improvements….not repairs.

There is a possible benefit for military personnel that retire if retirement is based on the end of career–ie: 30 years and you can not reenlist another term. The typical 20 year voluntary retirement is not usually eligible for the program.

The July 1, 2006 date was determined by a 20 city study that showed when the market started to fall.

There are two types of HAP–traditional an expanded.

I hope that this information helps answer some of the questions. I would also suggest that you read the written law –it can be located on the U S Army Corps of Engineers HAP web site.

By: Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:16:05 +0000

Pillarr1, Unfortunately, I’m not too well versed in the intricacies of this program – it is fairly complicated because of all the dates, rules, and stipulations.

My recommendation is to gather every supporting document you can find for your property and create a timeline supported by those documents. Then go back with everything in a clearly labeled format and walk them through it line by line. Many times claims get declined because they seem complicated on the surface, and a complicated situation added to a complicated program makes it twice as difficult for the approving agency. The easier you make it on them, the more likely your odds of having your application approved. Sorry I couldn’t add more specific advice.

By: Pillarr1

Pillarr1 — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:29:22 +0000

I have a HAP question regarding the primary residence requirement for BRAC HAP applicants. We bought our house is 2001. Lived in it from 2001 to July 2005, when we by orders dated Dec. 2004, PCSd to Ft. Belvoir from Ft. McPherson . We were owner/occupants on the BRAC announcement date of May 13, 2005. We PCSd back to Ft. McPherson in April, 2008. We did not move back into the house that we own and lived in from 2001 to July 2005. With orders dated July 25, 2010, we will be moving to Ft. Bragg because my command (at Ft. McPherson) will be relocating to Ft. Bragg in the BRAC.

We applied to the Savannah office for HAP assistance and we were denied. First, they said we were not “assigned to a BRAC installation on May 13, 2005.” I am baffled by this finding because we lived in the house and I worked at Ft. McPherson until July, 2005. I did not sign into my new command at Ft. Belvoir until July 25, 2005. The second reason they denied us was because the home is not considered our primary residence. Does anyone know at what point you have to live in the house? We lived there for 4 years. When we PCSd back to Ft. McPherson, it was rented out so we could not move back into it.. The law states that for BRAC applicants, they had to have been the owner-occupant of the house on the date of the BRAC announcement, May 13, 2005 – we meet this criteria.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.