Lenders, though, have avoided such schemes and haven't done mortgage modifications on any meaningful scale.

Another possibility, Mr. Glantz said, is a mortgage modification.

Several companies charge a fee to help you apply for a mortgage modification or to stop foreclosure proceedings.

Homeowner activists singled out the firm for its aggressive tactics that ruled out mortgage modifications, and brought class action suits against it.

It outlines what people should watch out for to avoid mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue scams.

About 422,000 mortgage modifications overseen by the government were considered permanent as of July, up from 389,000 in June.

Can I still get a mortgage modification?

Underwriting: process of examining all the data about a homeowner's property and income documentation to determine whether the mortgage modification should be issued.

As a result of this formulaic approach, borrowers are not required to furnish significant documents in order to obtain mortgage modifications.

More than 135,000 Atlanta households have received mortgage modifications, many through direct Administration programs.