Despite loan modification being widely discussed as an alternative to foreclosure, little research has focused on quantifying its effect on loan performance. I quantify the effects of additional modifications made early in the recent housing crisis by exploiting exogenous variation in the...

Securitized mortgage appraisals routinely target pre-specified valuations, 45% of purchase loan appraisals exactly equal purchase prices, and appraisals virtually never fall below purchase prices. As a result, appraisals exceed automated valuation model (AVM) valuations 60% of the time and are...