The Home Affordable Refinance Program, HARP, is rolling into its last year.
The program run by the Federal Housing Finance Agency is a critical help for some South Florida homeowners.
Verna Roberts has lived in her Broward County home for about 22 years. For the last year and a half, her property has been underwater -- she has a mortgage higher than the value of her house. Roberts still lives there.
"I would like to be able to sell it, but it's a difficult situation," says Roberts.
She attended one of several panel discussions about the program that have been happening around the country -- this one at Miami Dade College North Campus.
Yvette Gilmore works for Freddie Mac, which is working with HARP.
"We're out here getting the word saying it's only around for another year," says Gilmore. "Help us help borrowers help themselves because this is easy money."
She says that the program can save South Floridians in particular a significant amount of money -- on average $217 a month, she says.
But it’s only for people like Verna Roberts who have kept up with their mortgage payments. It’s a kind of reward for good behavior.
"I'm hoping that the HARP program will be able to help me out," says Roberts. "If not, I will just rent the property and move as I desire to."
Borrowers whose homes are underwater have until December of 2015 to refinance through HARP.
