Contacts:
Keosha Burns, HopeNow, 202-589-2427
Karmela Lejarde, MERS, 703-761-1274

HOPE NOW Welcomes 15 New Members to the Alliance Since October 2007
HOPE NOW also welcomes all HUD counseling intermediaries to the alliance

Washington, D.C., March 19, 2008—HOPE NOW has welcomed 15 new members since October, to help in getting homeowners the help needed to avoid foreclosure.

"HOPE NOW will continue to expand the alliance to include as much of the market as possible," said Faith Schwartz, Executive Director of HOPE NOW.  "HOPE NOW covers more than 90% of the subprime market and a majority of the prime market, which allows HOPE NOW to touch as many at-risk homeowners as possible and get them the help they need."

The new members include: Aurora Loan Services, Avelo Mortgage LLC, Carrington Mortgage Services, Home Loan Services, Inc. (d/b/a First Franklin Loan Services & NationPoint Loan Services), HomEq Servicing, Indymac Bank, LandAmerica Financial Group Inc./LoanCare Servicing Center, Litton Loan Servicing, MERS, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Ocwen Loan Servicing, Saxon Mortgage Services, Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., Strategic Recovery Group LLC, and Wilshire Credit Corporation.

HOPE NOW has also welcomed all the HUD counseling intermediaries to help counsel at-risk borrowers, which include ACORN, HomeFree-USA, Money Management International Inc., National Council of La Raza, National Urban League and many others.

Please click here for a full membership list.

HOPE NOW's mission is to maximize the preservation of homeownership while minimizing foreclosures.  HOPE NOW assists borrowers who have the willingness and wherewithal to remain in their homes, but need some help to do it. The goal is to keep people in their homes and when that is not possible, prevent foreclosure.

HOPE NOW efforts and the 1-888-995-HOPE hotline, provided by the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, come at no cost to the borrower.  Borrowers should be wary of sources that offer help but require a fee, as there should never be a cost associated with putting the borrwer in touch with HUD-approved counselors or their services.

ABOUT HOPE NOW

HOPE NOW is an alliance between counselors, mortgage market participants, and mortgage servicers to create a unified, coordinated plan to reach and help as many homeowners as possible. The members of this alliance recognize that by working together, they will be more effective than by working independently. The Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development encouraged these leaders to form this alliance, which includes, American Bankers Association, American Financial Services Association, American Securitization Forum, Assurant, Inc., Aurora Loan Services, Avelo Mortgage, LLC., Bank of America, CCCS Atlanta, Inc., Carrington Mortgage Services, Chase, Citigroup Inc., Consumer Bankers Association, Consumer Mortgage Coalition, Countrywide Financial Corporation, EMC Mortgage, Inc., Fannie Mae, The Financial Services Roundtable, First Horizon Home Loans and First Tennessee Home Loans, Freddie Mac, GMAC ResCap, Home Loan Services, Inc. (d/b/a First Franklin Loan Services & NationPoint Loan Services), Homeownership Preservation Foundation, HomEq Servicing, Housing Partnership Network, The Housing Policy Council, HSBC Finance, Indymac Bank, LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc./LoanCare Servicing Center, Litton Loan Servicing, MERS, Mortgage Bankers Association, N