by Calculated Risk on 1/15/2010 11:59:00 PM

UPDATE: The trials modification period was originally 3 months, and then was extended to 5 months, and then extended to the end of January. This means that for the borrowers in the trial modification program, there will be no further extensions. For borrowers just entering the trial phase, they will have the normal three month period.

From the WSJ: Paperwork Woes Plague Mortgage Plan

The administration last month gave borrowers who were current on their payments after at least three months an extension until Jan. 31 to provide needed paperwork. But the administration doesn't plan to extend that deadline, Assistant Treasury Secretary Michael Barr said Friday.

"We are going to have further guidance for [mortgage] servicers at the end of the month," he said.

No extension, but "further guidance".

Unless something changes, distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) should start to increase in February. BofA's estimates the number ...

"of homes being taken back by Bank of America [will] range from 11,000 to 14,000 a month in the early part of this year to 29,000 to 35,000 by November and December, said John Ciresi, vice president and portfolio manager for Bank of America in Towson, Md.
...
The system became "clogged" by a voluntary moratorium on foreclosures while banks met the requirements of President Obama's Making Home Affordable mortgage plan program and by state legislation requiring mediation before banks can start the foreclosure process, Ciresi said ...

Bank of America is getting 40,000 new offers a month on short sales, or homes offered for less than the mortgage balance, Ciresi said."

Here comes the next wave of distressed sales, and based on the BofA estimates, the wave will build all year.

Here was an earlier post today: HAMP: 66,465 Permanent Mods

Here is the Press Release from Treasury: Administration Releases December Loan Modification Report, Update on Conversion Drive and the December HAMP report.