Making Home Affordable Data File

User Guide

Version 9.0

As of September 1, 2015
Making Home Affordable Data File User Guide September 1, 2015

Introduction

In early 2009, President Obama announced the Making Home Affordable® (MHA) Program to 

help families restructure or refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure. As part of this plan, 

the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced a national modification program for 

mortgages, the Home Affordable Modification Program® (HAMP). Under HAMP®, participating 

servicers apply a uniform loan modification process to provide a borrower with sustainable 

monthly payments, which reduces the risk of default and possible foreclosure. Subsequently, 

Treasury introduced additional programs under the MHA Program including the Home 

Affordable Foreclosure Alternative® (HAFA), the Second Lien Modification ProgramSM (2MP), 

Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP. Furthermore, in January 2012, Treasury announced 

enhancements to expand program eligibility to include an additional evaluation or “Tier.” The 

additional modification evaluation is referred to as HAMP “Tier 2,” while the existing HAMP 

modification is referred to as HAMP “Tier 1.” 

This user guide provides an overview of the lifecycle of the HAMP modification process, the 

HAFA® process, the 2MP process and a presentation of data considerations when reviewing the 

Making Home Affordable Data File (Data File). Additional information about MHA policies 

and guidelines can be found at:

http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financial-stability/Pages/default.aspx

and http://www.HMPadmin.com.

Purpose of this User Guide

This MHA Data File User Guide, used in conjunction with the MHA Data File Data Dictionary,

is a reference source that is intended to:

• help interested constituents use and interpret the data provided in the Data File; and

• describe data quality themes observed in the data.

Terms used but not defined in this User Guide shall be as defined in the Making Home 

Affordable Program Handbook for Servicers of Non-GSE Mortgages, available at: 

https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/programs/guidance.jsp.

Purpose of the MHA Data File

As part of Treasury’s continued commitment to enhanced reporting and transparency, the Data 

File is made available to provide comprehensive data to researchers so that they may more fully 

understand the impact of the program. Treasury compiled the Data File from information 

provided by mortgage servicers participating in the program, while adhering to strict privacy 

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laws designed to protect homeowners’ privacy rights. The Data File is updated monthly and is 

located online at:

http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financial-stability/reports/Pages/mha_publicfile.aspx.

While this data is meant for responsible public use by interested parties, Treasury does not intend 

to provide validation of analysis to external parties.

This User Guide will be updated periodically as necessary. The most current available version is 

located online at the above URL.

MHA Data File Construct and Publication

The Data File is available as a comma-separated value (“.csv”) file. The CSV format is 

generally convertible into and readable by almost all spreadsheets and database management 

systems.

The Data File consists of four data sets: the First Lien Loan Modification Data Set, the 2MP Data 

Set, the HAFA Data Set and the Net Present Value (NPV) Data Set (each, a Data Set): 

• First Lien Loan Modification Data Set. Each record in this Data Set represents the 

most current information, as reported by participating servicers to Fannie Mae as the 

HAMP Program Administrator, on each modification of a first lien loan as it progresses 

through the stages of the modification process. This Data Set includes requests for 

modification that were not approved by servicers or not accepted by borrowers, trial 

modification setups, trial modification fallout, permanent modification setups, and 

permanent modification fallout. Also included in this data set are loans from other MHA 

programs such as those government loans modified under Treasury FHA-HAMP or Rural 

Housing Service Home Affordable Modification Program (RD-HAMP).

• Second Lien Loan Modification (2MP) Data Set. Each record in this data set represents 

the most current information, as reported by participating servicers to the Program 

Administrator, on second lien loan modifications and both partial and full second lien 

extinguishments. Trial data for 2MP modifications is not included as trial period plans are 

not mandatory and only those loans that have become permanent are reported to the 

Program Administrator.

• HAFA Data Set. Each record in this data set represents the most current information, as 

reported by participating servicers to the Program Administrator, on a Short Sale 

Agreement or Deed-in-Lieu (DIL) as it progresses through the stages of the HAFA 

transaction. Included is data obtained at an agreement execution, property ownership 

transfer or termination of the agreement.

• NPV Data Set. Each record in this Data Set contains data inputs to, and results of, the 

NPV test performed by participating servicers at the point in time that the first lien loan 

was evaluated for the HAMP program. It is important to note that loans might not be 

evaluated for an NPV analysis if the loan fails to qualify for the program because of other 

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reasons, such as an ineligible date of origination. While each record in the NPV Data Set 

can be associated with a record in the First Lien Loan Modification Data Set, the 

converse is not the case. For those servicers that use Treasury’s NPV portal, the last run 

on a related mortgage loan in the NPV portal is assumed to be the one used in the 

evaluation. The NPV test is not part of the eligibility criteria or evaluation process for 

2MP, Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP. Therefore, NPV data is not reported to the 

Program Administrator for these programs.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the First Lien Loan Modification Data Set, the 2MP Data Set, 

the HAFA Data Set and the NPV Data Set are further segregated into files sorted based on 

Property Region Codes (as defined below). An additional file will be created for each data set for 

those loans which do not have a value for Property Region Code. Also, a consolidated file will 

be created that encompasses all of the data from the eleven region files.

File Limitations

Privacy Considerations

The collection and use of the data contained in these files is subject to Federal privacy protection 

laws as well as restrictions in the MHA contracts with the servicers, which impact the overall 

content of the Data File. Treasury performed extensive analysis on compliance with these 

requirements, including the engagement of a third-party vendor to assist in the identification of 

potential risks to program participant privacy rights. Certain data attributes, such as social 

security number, borrower/co-borrower name and date of birth, have been excluded completely 

from this disclosure, while others, such as geographic location and exact number values, have 

been rounded or masked to protect individual participants.

Geographical Limitations 

The Data File masks property location to protect homeowner privacy. Based on volume and 

distribution of the modifications, the Data File limits geographic information to the related 

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or, in circumstances where the property does not reside in 

an MSA, or the property has not been geographically coded, the Data File provides the state code 

instead of MSA. Due to privacy considerations, it is not possible to provide loan-level 

information by zip code or Congressional district in this Data File.

Property Region Codes

As previously referenced above, the First Lien Loan Modification Data Set, 2MP Data Set, 

HAFA Data Set and NPV Data Set are segregated into files sorted into geographical regions 

(Property Region Codes) as well as a combined region code file Those codes are as follows:

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Property Region Code: Localities Included:

Combined All Geographic Regions

East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI

East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN

Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA

Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY

New England CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT

Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA

South Atlantic DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV

US National GU, PR, VI

West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD

West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX

No Geography Includes those with no Property Region 

Code.

Servicer Name Limitations 

The mortgage servicer for each loan is not specified in the Data File. The terms of the contracts 

with MHA-participating servicers, known as the servicer participation agreements (posted online 

at the below URL) restrict disclosure of loan-level servicer information. 

http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financial-stability/TARP-Programs/housing/mha/Pages/contracts.aspx

However, summary servicer performance information for the top servicers is provided in the 

MHA Program Performance Report, posted at: http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/financialstability/reports/Pages/Making-Home-Affordable-Program-Performance-Report.aspx

In addition, comprehensive MHA data (including information by servicer) is provided to 

program oversight entities and certain regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing fair lending 

laws.

Government Monitoring Information

Applicants and homeowners in the MHA program are requested, but not required, to provide 

Government Monitoring Information (GMI) – that is, race and ethnicity information – as part of 

obtaining a modification under the MHA program. However, many homeowners choose not to 

provide GMI data. 

Data Quality and Completeness Considerations

Treasury relies on participating servicers to report accurate and timely information on MHA 

participants and activity. The information contained in these files is data as reported by 

servicers. There are various quality and completeness observations noted for the data contained 

in these files given the staged rollout of the MHA program requirements.

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Treasury and its Program Administrator have, from the program’s inception, worked to identify 

data anomalies, with focus on the reporting of data elements used to calculate program financial 

incentives. Beginning in the first quarter of 2010, strong data quality remediation efforts were 

implemented that focused on data related to incentive payments for permanent modifications. As 

part of this remediation effort, servicers were required to certify the data quality of the incentiverelated data for permanent modifications reported to the Program Administrator. Treasury and 

its Program Administrator continue to work with servicers on data quality monitoring and 

remediation activities. As the data quality efforts are ongoing through the life of the program, 

issues may continue to be seen in the data. The most notable of those issues that may affect

analysis of this data are described in “Key Data Quality Themes” in Appendix A.

Collection and Reporting Date Limitations

Treasury guidelines require servicers to report GMI, NPV, trial not accepted/not approved 

(NANA) code and trial fallout data only for evaluations, trials and modifications after December 

1, 2009. Consequently, a substantial portion of the entries in the MHA Data File do not contain 

this data, particularly for modifications completed before December 1, 2009.

The aggregation of loan-level data provided in the Data File may not match exactly with data 

provided by Treasury in its monthly MHA Program Performance Report or with other publicly 

available information due to the differences in reporting requirements.

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Exhibit A – The Life of a HAMP 1st Lien Modification

There are four major stages of a 1st Lien Modification as depicted below. Data availability and 

quality vary through the stages of the loan modification process.

• Borrower not 

approved for trial; 

or

• Borrower did not 

accept trial plan 

offer

Request Not 

Approved/ Not 

Accepted

Active 

Permanent 

Mod

Active Trial 

Mod

Cancelled / 

Disqualified 

Trial Mod

Start

• Borrower approved for trial;

• Borrower accepts trial plan 

offer; and

• Borrower is making trial 

plan payments 

• Borrower successfully 

completed trial plan; and

• Borrower is not three 

payments behind

Permanent Mod 

Not in Good 

Standing

Permanent 

Mod Paid Off

• Borrower failed 

trial plan; or

• Borrower did not 

complete trial plan 

period

• Borrower is three 

payments behind

• Borrower pays off loan

• Borrower requests 

modification

Pre-Trial Stage

Trial Fallout Stage

Trial Stage

Permanent Modification 

Stage

What to Expect:

• Small subset of data collected by 

servicers

• Minimal verification of data by 

services

• Non-acceptance reporting 

effective December 1, 2009

• Borrower may be evaluated for a 

Tier 1 or Tier 2 modification or reevaluated for a Tier 2 modification

• Borrowers previously evaluated 

for a Tier 1 modification may be 

re-evaluated for a Tier 2 

modification

What to Expect:

• Extent of data verification by 

servicers will vary, based on 

timing of fallout event. 

• Reason code reporting effective 

December 1, 2009

What to Expect:

• Prior to June 1, 2010, servicers 

could begin trials based on stated 

information with data verification 

as a condition for conversion to 

permanent modification. Much of 

the data is estimated.

• After June 1, 2010, data 

verification is a condition for 

servicers to begin new trials

• As of June 1, 2012 the reporting 

requirement for Trial Period 

Payments were discontinued

What to Expect:

• Active confirmation and 

remediation initiative with servicers 

for compensation related data

• Tier 1 may be re-modified to a 

proprietary or other HAMP 

modification

• Modification term in which 

incentives are paid to the borrower 

was extended to six years, 

effective April 2015

Withdrawn

• The loan is re-modified

• The loan is repurchased after the sixth anniversary of the 1st Trial Payment Due Date

• There is a transfer of servicing to a non-participating entity

Data Quality Focus and Maturity Scale

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Pre-Trial Stage

A loan begins the Pre-Trial stage when a borrower requests a HAMP modification from his or 

her servicer. The servicer collects several types of data from the borrower to ensure the borrower 

and the loan meet basic HAMP eligibility criteria, then applies a series of waterfall steps as 

necessary to reduce the borrower’s monthly mortgage payment to an acceptable percentage of 

the borrower’s gross (pre-tax) income as defined in the Making Home Affordable Program 

Handbook. 

A standardized NPV test is then used to analyze the cost/benefit of the loan modification to the 

investor. If a borrower is determined to be ineligible for HAMP or does not accept the Trial 

Period Plan (TPP), servicers are required to report the Trial NANA code to the Program 

Administrator and send the borrower a Non-Approval Notice. Changes in the borrower’s 

circumstances and/or other considerations may elicit a re-evaluation of the borrower for the 

program, requiring continuous reporting updates to the loan information that reflect the latest 

evaluation data.

Trial Fallout Stage

If a borrower fails to complete the TPP, the participating servicer is required to report the reason 

to the Program Administrator. It should be noted that the reasons for trial failures that occurred 

prior to December 1, 2009 were reported only at the discretion of the participating servicers. 

Those reason codes may not appear in the Data File. Appendix B lists the potential reasons why

a borrower may not complete a TPP. 

Trial Period Plan Stage

Once a borrower is determined to be eligible, the servicer will offer a TPP. The homeowner 

must make the modified monthly mortgage payments on time and in full, during the trial period 

to demonstrate that the modified monthly payment will be sustainable. 

Permanent Modification Stage

Once a borrower successfully completes a TPP and a permanent modification is established, 

participating servicers are required to report permanent modification setup data to the Program 

Administrator. The loan setup file reflects the status of the loan after the final trial period 

payment is applied. The setup file also contains data for the current reporting period, which will 

include the prior month’s unpaid principal balance.

Participating servicers begin reporting monthly payment activity in the month after the 

permanent modification is effective. Servicers must continue to report payment activity for all 

such loans on a monthly basis thereafter as long as the loan remains in good standing under the 

Program or is withdrawn by the servicer. The modification terms of the loan can change after 

the sixth anniversary of the 1st Trial Payment Due Date as a result of a re-amortization or 

“recast” of a borrower’s unpaid principal balance. The data reflects the original terms of the 

modification. The servicer may withdraw a modification due to a re-modification, a repurchase 

after the sixth anniversary of the 1st Trial Payment Due Date, or a transfer of servicing to a nonparticipating servicer. 

It should be noted that the current process for handling changes to investor data for 1st lien 

permanent modifications includes a cancellation of the active permanent modification, or a reMHA Data File User Guide

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activation of the disqualified permanent modification, and a subsequent resubmission of the 

permanent modification with the revised investor information.

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Exhibit B– The Life of a 2MP Loan

The Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) provides a borrower with a modified first lien an option 

for modifying an eligible second lien loan. 

There are four stages of a 2MP Modification as depicted below. Data availability and quality vary 

through the stages of the loan modification process.

 

Data Quality Focus and Maturity Scale

What to Expect:

Active confirmation of permanent 

modification related data

What to Expect:

Active confirmation that the second 

lien is fully forgiven by the investor

What to Expect:

Standard process to change a reported 

transaction is through cancellation and 

resubmission

What to Expect:

No data provided to Program 

Administrator

Active 

Permanent 

Mod

partial extinguishment;

or modification

Servicer 

extinguishes 2nd

lien loan

• Borrower 

successfully 

completed trial 

plan; and

• Borrower is not 

three payments 

behind

2MP 

Permanent 

Mod Paid Off

Borrower pays off 2nd

lien loan

Servicer identifies 2nd lien loan 

associated with 1st lien

Borrower is three 

payments behind on 2nd

lien loan 

Associated 1st lien

(Modification Stage)

(Permanent Modification)

2MP Cancelled

2MP 

Extinguished

full

extinguishment

2MP 

Permanent 

Mod

2MP 

Withdrawn

• 2MP extinguishment cancelled; or

• 2MP permanent mod cancelled

Borrower is not three 

payments behind on 

2nd lien loan

1MP Match Active Trial 

Mod

• Borrower approved 

for trial;

• Borrower accepts 

trial plan offer; and

• Borrower is making 

trial plan payments 

(Trial Period Plan)

2MP Start

2MP Cancellations Stage

Pre 2MP Mod Stage

Full Extinguishment 

Option Stage

Permanent Modification Stage

2MP 

Permanent 

Mod Not in 

Good 

Standing 

• 2nd lien loan is re-modified 

• There is a transfer of servicing to a nonparticipating entity

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Pre 2MP Modification

When a borrower’s first lien is modified, the 2MP servicer must offer to modify or extinguish the 

corresponding eligible second lien. The terms of the first lien modification will be used to 

determine the terms of the second lien 2MP modification.

2MP Cancellations

2MP servicers are required to report to the Program Administrator, all 2MP cancellations using

the appropriate reason code. It should be noted that cancellations are also used as a means to 

correct data previously reported to the Program Administrator. For loans requiring an update, a 

participating 2MP servicer must cancel the existing loan and resubmit the transaction using the 

correct data.

It should be noted that cancellations were previously also used as a means to transfer the 

servicing of 2MP modifications between servicers. However, as of August 2013, 2MP servicers 

can use existing system servicing transfer functionality to perform servicing transfers versus 

cancelling and resubmitting.

Full Extinguishment Option

As an alternative to modifying an eligible second lien, a 2MP servicer may elect to extinguish 

the second lien. The extinguishment of the second lien may not become effective until the 

modification of the first lien becomes effective. Subsequent activity on the first lien 

modification will not impact a 2MP extinguishment that has been completed.

Full extinguishments must be reported to the Program Administrator in the month in which the 

full extinguishment is effective.

Permanent Modification

A 2MP permanent modification can become effective once the corresponding first lien 

permanent modification is effective and once the borrower has made all 2MP trial period 

payments, if required. 2MP servicers are required to follow the first lien modification steps to 

modify the second lien.

When applicable, a servicer may also offer a partial extinguishment of additional principal as 

part of the 2MP modification. This alternative can also be used instead of interest rate reduction. 

Servicers are required to report 2MP permanent modification transactions the month in which the 

2MP modification is effective. Participating servicers are required to report monthly payment 

activity beginning in the first month after the 2MP permanent modification is effective. The 

servicer may withdraw a modification due to a re-modification or a transfer of servicing to a nonparticipating servicer.

Additionally, for instances where a 2MP modification was originally modified under a first lien 

HAMP Tier 1 modification that lost good standing, was re-modified or withdrawn, the 2MP 

modification is reinstated upon successful reporting of the re-modification, if applicable. 

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Exhibit C – The Life of a HAFA

The HAFA Program provides borrowers with the option of a short sale or a DIL as an alternative 

to foreclosure on an eligible loan. Borrowers that meet the eligibility criteria for HAMP, but 

who are not offered a TPP, do not successfully complete a TPP, are in an active permanent 

modification or defaulted on a permanent HAMP modification may be evaluated for HAFA. 

HAMP qualified borrowers may also decline a HAMP modification and pursue a HAFA 

transaction. There are three major stages in the HAFA Process as depicted below. Data 

availability and quality vary through the stages of the overall process.

Servicers participating in HAFA are required to report loan-level data to the Program 

Administrator at key milestones. Each of these milestones constitutes a separate data 

transmission.

Borrower not approved for trial; or Borrower 

did not accept trial plan offer

Request Not 

Approved/ Not 

Accepted

Active 

Permanent Mod

SS Notice/DIL 

Agreement 

Issued

Cancelled / 

Disqualified 

Trial Mod

Start

• SS Notice / DIL Agreement in effect

Borrower successfully completed trial plan; 

and Borrower is not three payments behind

Permanent Mod 

Not in Good 

Standing

SS/DIL 

Transaction 

Closed

Borrower failed trial plan; or Borrower did 

not complete trial plan period

Borrower is three payments behind

• SS / DIL transaction complete

• Borrower requests 

foreclosure alternative

• SS Notice / DIL agreement expired; or

• SS Notice / DIL agreement terminated by borrower; or

• SS Notice / DIL agreement cancelled by servicer 

Exit from HAMP

(During Modification Stage)

(Permanent Modification)

(Trial Fallout)

(Pre-Trial)

SS Notice/DIL 

Agreement 

Cancelled

Short Sale (SS) / Deed-in-Lieu (DIL) Notification Stage What to Expect:

Active notification that SS or DIL is 

being pursued

Property 

Ownership 

Transferred Stage

What to Expect:

Active confirmation that a SS or DIL 

was completed

If an active permanent modification 

exists, it is denoted as Paid Off to 

enable HAFA transaction to be 

reported

Effective February 1, 2015 data 

corrections may be submitted 

subsequent to the closed transaction

Notice Expired/

Agreement 

Terminated Stage

What to Expect:

Standard process to change a 

reported transaction is through 

cancellation and resubmission prior to 

February 1, 2015

Data Quality Focus and Maturity Scale

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Short Sale / Deed-in-Lieu Notification Stage

Servicers must report the loan-level notification data the month after a Short Sale (SS) Notice or 

a Deed-in-Lieu (DIL) Agreement was issued. The notification must be submitted before a 

HAFA loan setup transaction can be processed. 

Property Ownership Transferred Stage

A Short Sale or DIL Loan Setup transaction is submitted to the Program Administrator the 

month after the property ownership is successfully transferred through a SS or DIL. An active 

HAFA Notification record with a matching HAMP Servicer Number and Servicer Loan Number 

must exist. 

Notice Expired / Agreement Terminated Stage

A HAFA Cancellation transaction is submitted in the month after the SS Notice or the DIL 

Agreement expires or when the SSA or DIL Agreement is terminated by the servicer.

A cancellation submission must include the cancellation reason code. The list of Short Sale or 

DIL Cancellation Reason Codes that servicers must use is detailed in the MHA Data File Data 

Dictionary found in Appendix C.

It should be noted that the current process for handling a transfer of a HAFA transaction includes 

a loan cancellation by the transferor and a resubmission of the notification by the transferee. This 

could cause multiple instances of the same HAFA transaction appearing in the data file.

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Appendix A – Key Data Quality Themes and Observations

Key Data Quality Themes and Observations 

Throughout the course of the program, Treasury has undertaken several data initiatives to assess 

and improve the quality of data reported by the servicers to the Program Administrator. 

Participating servicers are required to maintain and report accurate records pertaining to MHA 

activity. To ensure that this is the case, the Program Administrator works with Servicers to 

improve the quality of the existing reported data and additionally implements incremental 

program edits to prevent further data issues from occurring. As a result, MHA program data is 

continuously improving; however, data anomalies exist. These anomalies should be considered,

as they could limit the usability of the data and/or affect data interpretation.

Some common themes among those anomalies are described below. Additionally, Appendix C 

includes details for the applicable attributes for each theme. 

Theme 1: Inconsistent Data Formats Reported

Definition: As described in the Data Dictionary attached hereto as Appendix C, program 

guidelines specify all percentages are to be reported as integer. Due to the various external 

reporting systems and data entry methods, data are sometimes reported as decimals causing 

inconsistent formats across the data.

Example: A Mark to Market LTV of 152% is reported as ‘1.52’, (decimal) instead of ‘152’, 

(integer).

Theme 2: Unreasonable Data Ranges

Definition: As described in the Data Dictionary and program guidelines, data reported are not 

within a reasonable range when compared to values for other modification attributes or expected 

guidelines. Outliers exist for some of the data elements identified in Appendix C.

Example: Amortization Term before Modification is less than the Remaining Term before 

Modification.

Theme 3: Misinterpretation of Data Requirements per Program Guidelines

Definition: Data reported are not in compliance with the existing attribute definition or the 

expected timing of the data.

Examples:

• Association Dues/Fees before Modification is reported as an annual amount instead of a 

monthly amount during loan setup

• Second lien modifications, which will have a step up after the five-year modification 

term, have been reported as fixed rate in the system of record.

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Theme 4: Default values are reported when data is not available or not properly set up for 

reporting.

Definition: As a result of program changes and/or construction and limitations of external 

reporting systems, some data reporting may not be consistent with defined program parameters.

As a result, in certain circumstances data may be reported with default values in order to allow 

activity to be entered into the system of record.

Example: Servicers may have implemented policy changes related to HAFA borrower 

relocation assistance prior to the functionality being in place in the system of record. As a result, 

reported transaction dates may be adjusted to align to the effective date of the system revision.

Theme 5: Data Inconsistencies When Compared Across Various Data Attributes or Data

Sets

Definition: There is a subset of data attributes across the data sets that, while similar in 

definition, may vary due to timing of reporting or purpose of collection. Any comparison of 

these cross data set attributes or use of cross data set attributes to perform recalculations of other 

attributes may produce unexpected results due to the difference in timing or purpose of the 

specific attributes. 

Examples: 

• Monthly Housing Expense before Modification = Principal and Interest Payment before 

Modification + Escrow Payment before Modification + Association Dues/Fees; or 

Principal and Interest before Modification from the NPV Data Set does not equal the 

Principal and Interest Payment before Modification from the First Lien Loan 

Modification Data Set. 

• First Lien Step Schedule data reported does not align with expected policy variables. 

Examples such as the Interest Rate reported for the Final Step does not align with 

Maximum Interest Rate After Modification.

Theme 6: Availability of Data

Definition: With the evolution of the program, changes in reporting requirements often occur. 

Servicer implementation of new reporting requirements often lags adoption of policy changes. 

In addition, not all changes to program requirements require retroactive reporting. As a result, 

gaps may exist in modification data.

Refer to Appendix C for implementation specific conditionality.

Example: Trial Fallout Reason Code is blank for a cancelled trial modification with an effective 

date of October 1, 2010. 

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Appendix B:

MHA Reason Codes and Definitions

MHA Reason Code Description

HAMP Reason Codes

1 Ineligible Mortgage Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because it 

does not meet one or more of the following basic program eligibility 

criteria:

• Mortgage loan must be a first lien mortgage loan originated on or 

before January 1, 2009. 

• Current unpaid principal balance (UPB) of the mortgage loan prior 

to capitalization must be no greater than $729,750 for a one-unit 

property; $934,200 for a two-unit property; $1,129,250 for a threeunit property; or $1,403,400 for a four-unit property.

• Mortgage loan has been charged off and borrower released from 

liability for repayment.

2 Current DTI Less 

than 31%

Under HAMP Tier 1, borrower’s current monthly housing expense, which 

includes the monthly principal and interest payment on their first lien 

mortgage loan plus property taxes, hazard insurance and homeowner’s dues 

(if any) is less than or equal to 31% of their gross monthly income (i.e. 

monthly income before taxes and other deductions).

3 Property Not Owner 

Occupied

Loan is not eligible for modification under HAMP Tier 1 because the 

property secured by the mortgage loan is not occupied by the borrower as 

their primary residence.

4 Other Ineligible 

Property - Property 

Condemned, 

Property > 4 units

Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because:

• The property secured by the mortgage loan is vacant 

• The property is condemned or uninhabitable, 

• The property has more than four dwelling units.

•

5 Investor Guarantor 

Not Participating

Loan cannot be modified under the MHA program because the investor of 

the subject mortgage loan has not provided contractual authority to modify 

the loan; the private mortgage insurance company insuring the subject 

mortgage loan has not approved the modification; or the guarantor of the 

subject mortgage loan has not approved the modification.

6 Court/Public Official 

Declined

Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because 

proposed modified terms were not approved by a court or public official.

7 Negative NPV Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because the 

result of the standardized Net Present Value (NPV) test is “negative”. The 

standardized NPV test compares the NPV result for a modification to the 

NPV result for no modification. If the NPV result for no modification is 

greater than NPV result for the modification scenario, the modification 

result is deemed “negative”.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 15
MHA Reason Code Description

HAMP Reason Codes

8 Offer Not Accepted 

by Borrower / 

Request Withdrawn

Borrower withdrew their modification request for consideration for either a 

Trial Period Plan or HAMP modification or did not accept either a Trial 

Period Plan or a HAMP modification offer. Failure of borrower to make the 

first trial period payment in a timely manner is considered non-acceptance 

of the Trial Period Plan.

9 Default Not 

Imminent - Default 

Status Not Eligible

Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because: 

• For HAMP Tier 1 or owner-occupied HAMP Tier 2: The subject 

loan is not delinquent and default is not reasonably foreseeable.

• For rental property considered under HAMP Tier 2: The borrower 

has not missed two or more mortgage payments.

10 Property and/or 

Borrower Exceeds 

Allowable number of 

HAMP 

Modifications

Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because the 

subject loan, borrower or co-borrower has received the maximum number of 

modifications permitted under the Home Affordable Modification Program.

11 Loan Paid off Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because the 

subject loan was completely paid off and there is no longer a debt obligation 

or the subject loan was reinstated. 

12 Excessive 

Forbearance

Loan is not eligible for modification under HAMP Tier 1 because the 

principal forbearance required to achieve a payment of no more than 31% of 

the borrower's monthly income resulted in a forbearance amount that 

exceeds program guidelines.

13 Request Incomplete Borrower requested a modification under the MHA program but did not 

provide the financial and/or hardship verification documentation required to 

complete the evaluation of their request in a timely manner. As part of the 

MHA program procedures, servicers provide the borrower with two notices 

listing all documents needed to complete the evaluation and dates by which 

the information must be received before the borrower can become eligible 

for the MHA program. If the borrower fails to provide all required 

verification documentation by the date provided, for the servicer is unable 

to offer a modification.

14 Trial Plan Default Borrower accepted a Trial Period Plan under the MHA program but failed 

to make all the trial period payments in accordance with the Trial Period 

Plan 

18 Submission Error 

Correction (incorrect 

transaction type)

A HAMP Trial or 2MP Modification was not initiated or a record already 

exists in the HAMP Reporting System with the most current data for this 

loan.

19 Unemployment 

Forbearance Plan

Borrower accepted a Trial Period Plan under the MHA Program however 

prior to receiving a permanent modification has become unemployed and 

qualified for an unemployment forbearance program.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 16
MHA Reason Code Description

20 Federally Declared 

Disaster

Borrower accepted a Trial Period Plan under the MHA program however 

prior to receiving a permanent modification has been affected by a Federally 

Declared Disaster that has qualified them for a forbearance period.

HAMP Reason Codes

21 Application 

Discrepancy

Borrower is in a Trial Period Plan but there is a discrepancy in 

documentation that requires additional documentation, and borrower has not 

provided all the requested documentation to resolve the discrepancy. Trial 

Period Plan will be terminated if required documents are not received by the 

date set by the servicer. 

Borrower is under consideration for a Trial Period Plan, but there is a 

discrepancy in the provided documentation and additional documentation is 

needed to complete the review of the loan. The request for modification 

will be considered withdrawn if documentation is not received by the date 

set by the servicer. 

23 Waiver Cancellations Servicer has been specifically granted permission to remove a loan from the 

HAMP Reporting System.

24 Dodd Frank 

Certification NonCompliance

Borrower did not meet the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 

Reform and Consumer Protection Act

25 Ineligible Borrower Borrower or a co-borrower own in excess of five single family properties 

exclusive of principal residence or the borrower of the loan or owner of the 

property is not a natural person, i.e., Corporation or LLC.

26 Ineligble Rental 

Property

The property fails to satisfy the criteria of a rental property to receive a 

Home Affordable Modification because the property is a second home, is 

rented on a seasonal basis and not year-round, or the Rental Property 

Certification was not included in the Request for Mortgage Assistance.

27 Insufficient Monthly 

Payment Reduction

Principal and interest payment of a potential modification cannot be reduced 

by the minimum standard defined for HAMP Tier 2 in the MHA Handbook.

28 Post-Modification 

DTI Outside 

Acceptable Range

Proposed modified monthly payment, which includes a modified monthly 

principal and interest payment on the first lien mortgage loan plus property 

taxes, hazard insurance premiums and homeowners dues (if any), is not 

within eligibility guidelines defined for HAMP Tier 2 in the MHA 

Handbook.

29 No Change in 

Circumstance

Borrower did not accept the offer of a Trial Period Plan or Home Affordable 

Modification; twelve months have not elapsed since borrower received a 

modification, and/or circumstances have not changed. Or borrower 

circumstances have not changed since previously being denied a Home 

Affordable Modification.

30 Transfer to Non 

Participating Entity

The loan was transferred to a transferee that is not currently and does not 

intend to become a SPA or AAA servicer (e.g., involuntary servicing 

transfer or repurchase).

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 17
MHA Reason Code Description

FHA-HAMP and RD- HAMP Reason Codes

1 Ineligible Mortgage Loan is not eligible for modification under the MHA program because it 

does not meet one or more of the following basic program eligibility 

criteria:

• Mortgage loan must be a first lien mortgage loan originated on or 

before January 1, 2009. 

• Current unpaid principal balance (UPB) of the mortgage loan prior 

to capitalization must be no greater than $729,750 for a one-unit 

property; $934,200 for a two-unit property; $1,129,250 for a threeunit property; or $1,403,400 for a four-unit property.

Mortgage loan has been charged off and borrower released from liability for 

repayment.

14 Trial Plan Default Borrower accepted a Trial Period Plan under the MHA program but failed 

to make all the trial period payments in accordance with the Trial Period 

Plan 

15 Data Correction Servicer cancelled the modification in order to correct data.

16 Payor Request The payor, which may be Treasury, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, requested 

the modification be cancelled.

17 Compliance Request MHA-Compliance requested the modification be cancelled.

18 Submission Error 

Correction (Incorrect 

Transaction Type)

A HAMP Trial or 2MP Modification was not initiated or a record already 

exists in the HAMP Reporting System with the most current data for this 

loan.

HAFA Reason Codes

1 Agreement 

Expiration

The amount of time allowed for execution of the SS or DIL agreement has 

ended.

2 Agreement 

Termination

The SS or DIL agreement was terminated because the terms of the SS or 

DIL agreement were not adhered to.

3 Notification 

Cancellation

Servicer cancelled the SS or DIL notification because it was submitted in 

error or a correction was needed.

4 Loan Setup 

Cancellation

Servicer cancelled the SS or DIL payment request because it was submitted 

in error or a correction was needed.

5 Servicing Transfer of 

HAMP Loan

Servicer cancelled the SS or DIL setup because the related HAMP 

Modification is in the process of being transferred to another servicer.

6 Payment of HAMP 

Loan

Property is not eligible for a SS or DIL under the MHA Program because 

the subject loan was completely paid off and there is no longer a debt 

obligation.

7 Other Servicer cancelled the SS or DIL for a reason not of a type previously 

described.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 18
MHA Reason Code Description

1 Ineligible Mortgage Automatically assigned by the HAMP Reporting System whenever the 

corresponding first lien modification is cancelled, resulting in the 

cancellation of the 2MP modification.

Servicer has been granted permission from MHA to cancel the loan from 

the HAMP Reporting System.

2MP Reason Codes

15 Data Correction Servicer cancelled the modification in order to correct data.

16 Payor Request The payor, which may be Treasury, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, requested 

the modification be cancelled.

17 Compliance Request MHA-Compliance requested the modification be cancelled.

18 Submission Error 

Correction (Incorrect 

Transaction Type)

A HAMP Trial or 2MP Modification was not initiated or a record already 

exists in the HAMP Reporting System with the most current data for this 

loan.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 19
MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 20
Appendix C:

MHA Data File Data Dictionary

A data dictionary in a separate Excel workbook is provided for each data set (1st Lien 

Modification Data Set, 2nd Lien Modification Data Set, HAFA Data Set and NPV Data Set). 

Data elements in the dictionary are listed in order of the Order in File. Each data dictionary 

contains the following information:

• Ref ID - A unique reference identifier for the data element.

• Order in File - Indicates the order in which the data element appears in the file.

• Name of Data Point - The name of the data element as used in the file.

• Business Name - The business name of the data element.

• Description - The definition or business description of the data element.

• Data Model Entity - Identifies the entity in the MHA Program Data Model with which 

the data element is associated.

• Calculation / Derivation - Identifies any formula / calculation associated with the data 

element.

• Source - Indicates whether the data is reported by the servicer or generated by the 

system.

• Data Type - Identifies the format in which the data is provided and the character limit. 

For numeric data, the decimal precision is also specified.

• Allowable Values - Identified valid enumerations or data ranges, when applicable.

• Conditionality - Describes the condition under which data is available:

o M = Mandatory. Data is always provided for each record in the file.

o CR = Conditionally Required. Data is provided under the specified condition(s).

• Data Quality Theme - Identifies key data quality themes for the data element. Refer to 

the Government Data File User Guide Appendix A for more detailed descriptions of each 

data quality theme.

• Data Quality Observations - Identifies key data observations as the data element relates 

to the Data Quality Theme, mentioned above.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 21
Key Technical Specifications

The table below lists key technical specifications for the 1st Lien Modification Data Set, the 2nd

Lien Modification Data Set, the Home Affordability Foreclosure Alternative Data Set, and the 

NPV Data Set of the MHA Data File (Data File).

1st Lien 

Modification Data 

Set

2nd Lien Modification 

Data Set

Home Affordability 

Foreclosure Alternative 

(HAFA) Data Set

Net Present Value 

(NPV) Data Set

File Name: HMP_Public_User_M

od_Data_$RegionCd_

YYYYMMDD.csv, 

where YYYYMMDD 

is the reporting date 

and $RegionCd = 

Property Region Code. 

($RegionCd = 99, 

when Property Region 

Code is unknown).

HMP_Public_User_2MP

_Mod_Data_$RegionCd

_YYYYMMDD.csv, 

where YYYYMMDD is

the reporting date and 

$RegionCd = Property 

Region Code. 

($RegionCd = 99, when 

Property Region Code is 

unknown).

HMP_Public_User_HAFA

_Mod_Data_$RegionCd_Y

YYYMMDD.csv, where 

YYYYMMDD is the 

reporting date and 

$RegionCd = Property 

Region Code. ($RegionCd 

= 99, when Property 

Region Code is unknown).

HMP_Public_User_NPV_D

ata_$RegionCd_YYYYM

MDD, where 

YYYYMMDD is the 

reporting date and 

$RegionCd = Property 

Region Code. ($RegionCd 

= 99, when Property Region 

Code is unknown).

File Character 

Type:

ASCII ASCII ASCII ASCII

Primary Key: Financial Asset ID MHA Loan ID MHA Loan ID Financial Asset ID

Scope of File • Program Inception through date of the file

File Structure 

Type:

• Comma-separated format (csv) with double-quotes around each field

• If a data field has multiple values, e.g. Borrower Race Type Code , then the group of multiple values 

will be bounded by [ ]. The values within the group are pipe delimited, i.e., separated by | 

File Header: • First record is data file header record

• Contains the data element names in a comma-separated format with double-quotes around each name 

and listed in the same order as the data

File Footer: • N/A (no footer on file)

Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program Data Model

Exhibit D on page 23 depicts the Data File Data Model. Each data entity in the data model is a 

logical grouping of related data elements in the Data File that represent a concept within the 

MHA program. The primary or central data entity is 1st Lien Loan. Relationships between the 

data entities may be mandatory or optional; data relationships where the cardinality is depicted as 

[0:m] or [1:m] indicate repeating groups.

Data Entity Descriptions:

• 1st Lien Modification – Represents a 1st lien modification that was evaluated under HAMP, 

Treasury FHA-HAMP or RD-HAMP.

• 1st Lien Modification Status - Indicates the status of the 1st lien modification under HAMP, 

Treasury FHA-HAMP or RD-HAMP. Includes the status of the last transaction submission 

reported by the servicer (Submission Status) as well as the current 1st lien modification status 

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 22
(Loan Modification Mode Code and Loan Status Code). Loan Modification Mode Code and 

Loan Status Code must be inspected together to understand the current status of the 1st lien 

modification. The last transaction submission reported by the servicer (Submission Status) may 

not be the same as the current status of the 1st lien modification (Loan Modification Mode Code 

and Loan Status Code). Servicers report Permanent Cancellation Codes only on government 

loans modified under Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP.

• Subject Property Information – Represents the residential property securing the mortgage loan.

• 1st Lien Trial Modification Information – Information on the trial modification period under 

HAMP, Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP. If the trial period is underway or was 

successfully completed, information on the date of the first trial payment received from the 

borrower will be available. If the trial was cancelled by the servicer, trial payment data will not 

be available. If the trial was not approved or was not accepted, reason codes will be available. 

However, if the trial was cancelled by the servicer, reason codes may not be available. Trial 

payment data may be available if reported by the servicers; however, the trial payment data 

reported by the servicer may not reflect the complete number of trial payments made by the 

borrower.

• Borrower Information - General information on the primary borrower. Does not include 

identifying information, such as name or social security number.

• Borrower Race Data - Information disclosed by the borrower.

• Co-Borrower Information - General information on the co- borrower. Does not include 

identifying information, such as name or social security number.

• Co-Borrower Race Data – Information disclosed by the co-borrower.

• 1st Lien Loan Characteristics Before Modification – Describes key characteristics of the loan 

before modification under HAMP, Treasury FHA-HAMP or RD-HAMP.

• 1st Lien Loan Characteristics After Modification – Describes key characteristics of the loan 

after modification under HAMP, Treasury FHA-HAMP or RD-HAMP.

• Step Rate Schedule Data – the rate schedule of the step rate product after modification of the 1st

lien or 2nd lien loan.

• 1st Lien Permanent Modification Payment Information – Represents the most recent monthly 

payment information reported by the servicer during the permanent modification. Does not 

represent the full payment history of the permanent modification.

• Investor – Represents the owner of the 1st lien modification, 2nd lien loan or short sale or deed-inlieu.

• MHA Program – Indicates the MHA program or campaign for which the 1st lien loan, 2nd lien 

loan, or short sale or deed-in-lieu was evaluated was evaluated.

• 2nd Lien Modification – Represents a 2nd lien loan that was modified or extinguished under 

2MP. 

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 23
• 2nd Lien Modification Status – Indicates the status of the 2nd lien modification under 2MP. 

Includes the status of the last transaction submission reported by the servicer (Submission Status) 

as well as the current 2nd lien modification status (Loan Modification Mode and Loan Status 

Code). Loan Modification Mode Code and Loan Status Code must be inspected together to 

understand the current status of the 2nd lien modification. The last transaction submission 

reported by the servicer (Submission Status) may not be the same as the current status of the 2nd

lien loan modification (Loan Modification Mode and Loan Status Code).

• 2nd Lien Trial Modification Information – Represents a 2nd lien loan that was modified or

extinguished 2MP.

• 2nd Lien Loan Characteristics Before Modification – Describes key characteristics of the 2nd

lien loan before modification or extinguishment under 2MP.

• 2nd Lien Loan Characteristics After Modification – key characteristics of the loan after 

modification under 2MP. 

• 2nd Lien Permanent Modification Payment Information – Describes key characteristics of the 

loan after modification under 2MP. 

• Short Sale / Deed In Lieu Information – Information on the short sale or deed-in-lieu provided

to the borrower as an alternative to foreclosure on an eligible 1st lien modification under HAMP.

• Short Sale / Deed In Lieu Status – Indicates the status of the short sale or deed-in-lieu. Includes 

the status of the last transaction submission reported by the servicer (Submission Status) as well 

as the current Short Sale/Deed In Lieu status (Loan Modification Mode Code and Loan Status 

Code). Loan Modification Mode Code and Loan Status Code must be inspected together to 

understand the current status of the Short Sale/Deed In Lieu. The last transaction submission 

reported by the servicer (Submission Status) may not be the same as the current status of the 

Short Sale/Deed In Lieu (Loan Modification Mode Code and Loan Status Code). 

• NPV Evaluation Information – Describes key inputs to and results from the Net Present Value 

(NPV) test that may have been performed on the 1st lien loan as part of the eligibility process at 

the point in time when the loan was first evaluated for HAMP. Government loans evaluated 

under Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP are not subject to the NPV test. Due to the point-intime nature of the data in the NPV data set, the data in the NPV data set may not be consistent 

with more current data values reported in the 1st Lien Loan Modification Data Set.

• Alternative (PRA) NPV Evaluation Information - Describes key inputs to and results from the 

Alternative (PRA) scenario of the Net Present Value (NPV) test that may have been performed on 

the 1st lien loan as part of the eligibility process at the point in time when the loan was first 

evaluated for HAMP. Government loans evaluated under Treasury FHA-HAMP and RD-HAMP 

are not subject to the NPV test. Due to the point-in-time nature of the data in the NPV data set, 

the data in the NPV data set may not be consistent with more current data values reported in the 

1st Lien Loan Modification Data Set.

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 24
Exhibit D - MHA Program –Data File Data Model

HAFA Data Set

2nd Lien Modification Data Set

NPV Data Set (1st Lien)

1st Lien Modification Data Set

1st Lien 

Modification

1st Lien Mod 

Status

MHA Program

NPV Evaluation Info

1st Lien Trial Mod 

Info

Subject Property 

Info

Borrower Info

1st Lien Loan 

Characteristics 

Before Mod

may have reported [0:1]

has reported [1:1]

may have reported [0:1]

has [1:1]

is associated with [1:1]

1st Lien 

Permanent Mod 

Payment Info

may have reported [0:1]

has reported [1:1]

may have reported [0:1]

1st Lien Loan 

Characteristics 

After Mod

may have reported [0:1]

2nd Lien 

Modification

Borrower Race 

Data

Step Rate 

Schedule Data

modified loan product may have [0:m]

may have reported [0:m]

Investor

may have reported [0:1]

LEGEND

Data 

Entity

Data 

Entity

mandatory relationship [cardinality]

Data 

Entity optional relationship [cardinality]

Co-Borrower Info Co-Borrower 

Race Data

may have reported [0:1] may have reported [0:m] Alternative (PRA) 

NPV Evaluation Info

may use alternative (PRA) waterfall [0:1]

may also have [0:1]

2nd Lien Mod 

Status

MHA Program

2nd Lien 

Permanent Mod 

Payment Info

2nd Lien Loan 

Characteristics 

After Mod

Investor

2nd Lien Loan 

Characteristics 

Before Mod

has [1:1]

is associated with [1:1]

has [1:1]

may have reported [0:1]

may have reported [0:1]

has [1:1]

may have reported [0:1]

2nd Lien Trial 

Mod Info

may have reported [0:1]

Step Rate 

Schedule Data

modified loan product may have [0:m]

Subject Property 

Info

has reported [1:1]

Short Sale/Deed In 

Lieu Info

Subject Property 

Info

has reported [1:1]

Short Sale/Deed 

In Lieu Status

has reported [1:1]

MHA Program is associated with [1:1]

Investor

has reported [1:1]

MHA Data File User Guide

Version 9.0, as of September 1, 2015 Page 25