Important Information for MassHousing Borrowers

Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund (Mass HAF)

Please Note: After June 30, 2023, Mass HAF will no longer accept new applications.

The U.S. Treasury has created the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), which was authorized by the U.S. Congress under Section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The HAF provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners who have had difficulty making their mortgage payments due to COVID-19.

If you have a MassHousing loan

MassHousing borrowers who have a MassHousing home mortgage loan who have had difficulty making payments due to COVID-19, and who wish to seek assistance through HAF, must contact MassHousing to request a HAF application. To request an application, call 888-843-6432, send an email to HAF@masshousing.com or log on to your account at www.masshousing.com/connect.

If you do not have a MassHousing loan

Homeowners who have a loan with a lender other than MassHousing should visit The Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund (Mass HAF) information page at www.mass.gov/haf, or go directly to the Mass HAF application website at www.massmortgagehelp.org.

Making your payment

Our online mortgage servicing portal, www.MassHousing.com/connect, is operational so that you can make your payment electronically, view your payment history or check on disbursements from your escrow account.

If you cannot electronically transmit your payment, you may also mail your payment in the envelope provided along with your billing statement. Please note mailed payments will take longer to process. Please do not attempt to drop off a payment in person at our offices.

Enhanced Unemployment Mortgage Payment Protection Benefits - MI Plus

Many MassHousing customers have their mortgages insured by MassHousing's Mortgage Insurance Fund. Loans with MassHousing Mortgage Insurance carry an enhanced benefit, MI Plus, for borrowers experiencing a temporary loss of income due to unemployment. If you have MassHousing mortgage insurance, complete the benefits application online or call us at 888.843.6432 #3 to discuss your options.

Temporary Changes to MI Plus Eligibility

As part of its response to the COVID-19 crisis, MassHousing has announced the following changes to eligibility requirements for MI Plus benefits:

• No waiting period: the requirement that a borrower must have made six months' of regularly scheduled payments to qualify for MI Plus benefits has been waived
• Eligibility extended: MI Plus benefits are available to borrowers with active MassHousing mortgage insurance. This was previously limited to the initial 10 years of a loan's term.

If you have MassHousing mortgage insurance and believe you are eligible for MI Plus mortgage payment protection benefits, complete the benefits application online or call us at 888.843.6432 #3 to discuss your options.

Having difficulty making your payment?

If you are unable to make your mortgage payment, MassHousing has experienced and dedicated staff who will work with you to find the best options. Please call us at 888.843.6432 or email us at hocustomerservice@masshousing.com so that we can assist you.

Options if you cannot make a payment

We are here to help if you are experiencing a hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic and you are unable to make a mortgage payment due to a loss or reduction of your income, or due to illness by you or your dependent family member. We are working with federal agencies and housing authorities to make new programs available for homeowners as quickly as possible. As new programs develop, please check back regularly for updates to this page.

Here is what you can do right now if you need help

If you are experiencing a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic you have the option to temporarily pause or reduce your mortgage payment for a limited period of time, through a forbearance plan. You will not incur late charges or negative impacts to your credit during the term of the forbearance plan.

A forbearance plan may help ease the impact of this crisis for some. It is important to note that once your forbearance plan has ended, any paused or reduced mortgage payments will need to be repaid. MassHousing is committed to working with you to find a payment solution that works for you once the forbearance plan ends.

If you qualify for a forbearance plan, you will be able to pause or pay a reduced amount towards your mortgage payment for an initial period of up to 180 days, with a possible extension of an additional 180 days. After each three months, we will reach out to you to reevaluate your situation. Please be assured that we will work with you to determine if extending your forbearance plan is the right option for you.

If you have been offered a zero payment or reduced payment forbearance plan and your circumstances have changed, please contact us at 888.843.6432. You may resume making full or partial payments during any offered forbearance plan.

What happens after the forbearance plan?

Once the forbearance plan ends, all payments not made during the forbearance plan will have to be paid back. We acknowledge this will be a financial strain for you so we will provide you with options on how to bring your account current after your forbearance plan ends. We will work with you to determine which option below is best for you:

• Reinstatement: Pay all payments that were not made during the forbearance plan as a lump sum;
• Repayment Plan: Over an agreed number of months, an extra amount will be added to your contractual monthly payment to cover the amount owed from the forbearance plan.
• Payment Deferral: This brings your mortgage current and delays repayment of certain past-due monthly principal and interest payments, as well as other amounts related to past-due payments that MassHousing made on your behalf. You will be responsible for paying past-due amounts upon the current maturity date as provided in your note and mortgage, or upon the sale or transfer of the property, refinance of the mortgage loan or payoff of the interest-bearing unpaid principal balance.
• Modification: If a reinstatement or repayment plan are not right for your financial situation, we will work with you to establish a modification of your account. A Modification will modify the terms and conditions of the Note and Mortgage.

Why is MassHousing not offering payment forgiveness?

MassHousing services your mortgage for federal agencies such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and we are contractually obligated to follow their guidelines, which do not provide for payment forgiveness. However, each federal agency has a variety of loan modification programs designed to help you bring your account current. Rest assured that MassHousing's experienced HomeOwnership Retention staff will work with you to provide the best possible terms to bring your account current at the conclusion of your forbearance plan.

MassHousing is committed to serving our customers. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

Protecting your personal information

MassHousing is committed to protecting your privacy.

If we ever reach out to you, we won't ask for personal or financial information or access codes through email, text or unsolicited calls. See our Privacy Policy for more information.

For the latest information about coronavirus, visit www.mass.gov/covid19 and the CDC's resource center at www.cdc.gov/covid19.

Be Aware of Scams

Scam artists take advantage of vulnerable consumers during disasters and times of economic turmoil. Scammers have stolen millions of dollars from distressed homeowners by promising immediate relief from foreclosure, or demanding cash for counseling services.

HUD‐approved counseling agencies provide these services for FREE. If you receive an offer, information, or advice that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any doubts, contact MassHousing. Don't let scammers take advantage of you, your situation, your house, or your money. Keep in mind, MassHousing is not responsible for paying damages resulting from a scam. Remember, help is FREE.

How to Spot a Scam

Beware of a company or person who:

• Asks for a fee in advance to work with MassHousing to modify, refinance, or reinstate your mortgage.
• Guarantees they can stop a foreclosure or get your mortgage modified.
• Advises you to stop paying MassHousing and pay them instead.
• Pressures you to sign over the deed to your home or sign any paperwork that you haven't had a chance to read, and you don't fully understand.
• Claims to offer "government‐approved" or "official government" mortgage modifications.
• Asks you to release personal financial information online or over the phone and you have not been working with this person and/or do not know them.

How to Report a Scam

• Go to www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint to submit a complaint and get information on how to fight back.
• Call (888) 995‐HOPE (4673) and tell the counselor about your situation and that you believe you were scammed or know of a scam.