Fannie Mae Marks First Year of "Know Your Options" with Nearly Half-Million Visits

Keosha Burns

202-752-7840

Washington, DC — One year ago, Fannie Mae launched KnowYourOptions.com™, a consumer Web site to educate distressed homeowners about options that may be available to them, which has welcomed more than 400,000 visitors and more than 1.5 million page views.

"KnowYourOptions.com has seen almost half a million visits in the last year, with the most popular pages being our interactive Options Finder and the modification calculator," said Jeff Hayward, Senior Vice President of Fannie Mae's National Servicing Organization. "These tools are reliable, informative, and easy to understand. In addition to our network of Mortgage Help Centers and Mortgage Help Network Partners across the country, Fannie Mae is using the Web to reach struggling homeowners. KnowYourOptions.com is an integral part of our effort to prevent foreclosures whenever possible and stabilize neighborhoods."

Key features of KnowYourOptions.com include:

• Interactive Options Finder to help homeowners identify options that might be right for their situation;
• Calculators to help borrowers understand how many of the options would apply to them, including refinance, repayment, forbearance, and modification;
• Videos featuring real homeowners discussing how they received help and housing counselors providing advice;
• A virtual assistant to walk homeowners through key areas of the site; and
• Next steps and helpful forms, including a financial checklist and contact log to help borrowers be prepared when contacting their mortgage company or housing counselor.

The site features interactive tools presented to homeowners within two categories: options for those who want to stay in their home and options for those who may want to leave. A very popular feature on the site is the award-winning interactive video simulation called WaysHome™. Viewers choose from several role-playing options, and then play the part of a homeowner struggling to make mortgage payments. They make decisions for their character and experience the positive outcomes or negative consequences of those choices. Helpful tips and advice are included along the way.

KnowYourOptions.com is designed to bring the best information and guidance together in one place so that struggling borrowers can focus on finding solutions that work for their particular circumstances.

Visit KnowYourOptions.com