Watch CBS News

Rep. Grimm Calls For Mortgage Relief For Sandy-Ravaged Homeowners

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) on Saturday called on federal home mortgage entities to help homeowners who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy stay in their homes.

Homeowners affected by Sandy were initially permitted to defer mortgage payments by 90 days, and the term was later extended to 180 days. But the deferred payments must be paid back in one lump sum, and for many struggling homeowners, that poses a serious problem, Grimm told WCBS 880.

"You've got to remember – many of these people are paying rent somewhere else because their homes are so badly damaged, they can't move back in," Grimm said. "And now that that moratorium will end after six months, they'll have to pay the current month, plus those six months all in one lump sum – which is not only impractical, but for most of these individuals and homeowners, it will be impossible."

Grimm wants bakes either to amortize the arrearage over the life of the loan or tack it onto the end of the loan.

Amortizing the arrearage would mean just adding it to the payments the homeowner has left on his or her mortgage – if you have 20 years left, "your payment would go up $25 or $30." Tacking it onto the end would merely mean extending the term of the mortgage by six months.

"It will give desperately-needed relief to these homeowners that are already so stressed out. They've had so much put on their plate. A lot of them have lost everything they've ever saved. Their children have been traumatized. We really need to do everything we can to give them as much relief as possible, and I think this is a common-sense solution that is a practical and realistic ask of the mortgage holders," Grimm said.

Grimm said after Sandy, his constituents asked with how they will deal with deferred payments when they come due.

Please leave your comments below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.