[tnhampton1]

...modification. He isn't currently behind. Should he go directly to countrywide? The loan payment are too high right now. We don't have enough equity in the home to refinance. So Loan Modification is our only choice.

[dustycat]

I would, this eliminates any other extra fees. I actually did this, I had one with Chase and 2nd with Countrywide, originally I had a mortgage broker and this time after being taken advantage of with no fixed mortgage, I did it myself directly with Chase and Countrywide. You'd be surprised but don't let them get you either. I had to keep stressing FIXED NO ADJUSTABLE I saved myself 1% on both by being assertive and not letting them walk all over you.Also, after I paid closing costs, Countrywide now offers no closing costs on refinance and also no cash required, no cash is different than closing costs because this means they wrap up these fees with the loan. Also if it's been X time since appraisal, they should be able to use this and not charge for new appraisal, just keep picking away at any expenses they try to give you and you'd be surprised at the difference of what you started to what you finalized on. Why didn't they just give the good one to begin with? Because most of us don't question, always question, this is why we have all the problems, because we trust these people, do not trust.