H.R. 200, the "Helping Families Save Their Homes in Bankruptcy Act of 2009," and H.R. 225, the "Emergency Homeownership and Equity Protection Act": Hearing Before the H. Comm. on the Judiciary, 111th Cong., Jan. 22, 2009 (Statement of Associate Professor Adam J. Levitin, Geo. U. L. Center)

Authors

Adam J. Levitin, Georgetown University Law CenterFollow

Document Type

Congressional Testimony

Publication Date

1-22-2009

Abstract

Permitting modification of all mortgages in bankruptcy would create a low-cost, effective, fair, and immediately available method for resolving much of the current foreclosure crisis without imposing costs on taxpayers, creating a moral hazard for borrowers or lenders, or increasing mortgage credit costs or decreasing mortgage credit availability. As the foreclosure crisis deepens, bankruptcy modification presents the best and least invasive method of stabilizing the housing market and is a crucial step in stabilizing financial markets.