Fannie Mae — among the largest mortgage lending institutions in the nation — has introduced an attractive financing program to “jump-start sales” of its homes in South Florida and beyond, according to the Daily Business Review.

HomePath.com, which includes all properties that are owned by Fannie Mae, will now offer homebuyers the opportunity to purchase foreclosures with just 3 percent down through its HomePath® Mortgage Financing program.

The report indicates that “buyers of Fannie Mae-owned homes can finance up to 97 percent of the sale price and don’t need to buy mortgage insurance, typically a requirement of low down-payment loans.”

Jane Severn, Fannie Mae director of new business initiatives, had this to say about the financing program:

“We heard from buyers that getting financing is one of their biggest challenges when looking to buy a property, particularly foreclosed properties. We are trying to be as flexible as possible for someone to buy a Fannie Mae home.”

There is a wide selection of homes currently listed on HomePath.com, including single-family homes, condominiums, and town houses, which are located in a variety of neighborhoods in all corners of the United States.

To check out the Fannie Mae-owned homes available in your area today visit HomePath.com.

NBA stars present and past, Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, recently joined the foreclosure fight in South Florida, taking part in a roundtable discussion and bus tour that highlighted the growing foreclosure issue and how it’s affecting Miami communities.

HOPE NOW Alliance sponsored the Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) event, which was designed to raise awareness of the housing crisis that has gripped the region, as well as promote the free foreclosure assistance resources that are currently available to cash-strapped homeowners.

Here’s a snip from Wade via the Miami Herald:

“It hurts my heart. I know it hurts everyone’s heart in here. I’m here to help bring awareness to this and to let everyone know that there is an opportunity for them, and that there is hope.”

Wade plays professional basketball for the local Miami Heat and is currently among the top talents in the league. Mourning — who played for the Heat on-and-off for about 10 seasons — retired in 2008 and is the only player to have his number retired by the organization.

Their collective star power and celebrity undoubtedly helped garner much-needed attention for a problem that needs fixing fast to reduce the amount of residents in the area losing their homes.

In addition to the roundtable discussion, Wade and Mourning participated in a bus tour, visiting distressed homeowners and educating them about their options such as renegotiating the terms of their loans. The pair, naturally, also posed for photos and signed autographs for fans at each stop.

According to the report, “Miami was the third stop on HOPE NOW’s nationwide ‘Bringing Hope Home’ bus tour. Earlier this year, the caravan rolled through Newark, New Jersey, with Queen Latifah and Wyclef Jean, and Atlanta, featuring Mary J. Blige and Big Boi.”

Keep the wheels on that foreclosure bus turning round and round ….

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