Excerpt: “The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will enhance their Flex Modification policies to allow more borrowers facing longer-term hardships to achieve meaningful payment reductions. The updated Flex Modification policies will promote sustainable homeownership and the safety and soundness of the Enterprises. … Flex Modification is the Enterprises’ loan modification offering that provides a home retention solution for eligible borrowers facing a permanent hardship who can no longer afford to make their regular monthly mortgage payments. The enhanced Flex Modification policies lower a borrower’s monthly payment by incrementally applying the steps below to achieve a 20 percent Principal and Interest (P&I) payment reduction.”