A new study shows that despite the best efforts of lawmakers and mortgage-service companies, little is actually being done to help homeowners facing foreclosure, says the Wall Street Journal.

The study, compiled by the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group, made up of banking regulators and attorneys general in 11 states, found that seven out of 10 borrowers who are seriously delinquent on their mortgages aren’t on track to receive any kind of help with their payment problems.

The number of delinquent borrowers working with their lenders has increased, the report found, but overall increases in the number of delinquent loans have outstripped those gains. The proportion of borrowers who weren’t engaged in any sort of loan workout was unchanged from the group’s previous report in February.

“While there’s been a lot of effort put in by mortgage servicers and government officials, there has been little change in outcomes for homeowners,” said Mark Pearce, deputy banking commissioner for North Carolina. “We’re still treading water.”

Some AG’s, such as Iowa’s Tom Miller, are not ruling out litigation if mortgage companies don’t do more for troubled homeowners.

“If loan mitigation and modification don’t produce fruitful results for homeowners, I, for one, would be inclined to look at litigation possibilities to secure help for homeowners,” he said.

States Fault Effort to Stanch Foreclosures [Wall Street Journal]
(Photo:gruntzooki)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.