There’s no doubt that the mortgage meltdown will be one of the most important issues facing the Obama administration. Finding a logical resolution won’t be easy. It will require a solution that’s balanced and beneficial to both mortgage holders and lending institutions. While there’s no magic answer for such a complex problem, here are some ideas I believe Washington should consider.

• Discontinue adjustable rate mortgages. It’s true that today’s stricter lending requirements and more conservative loan limits have largely eliminated these types of loans, especially the interest-only mortgages that are causing so much trouble. But there are still ARMs available, attracting buyers who must stretch their finances to become home owners. The problem with ARMs is that they are temporary loans by their very nature. They were initially intended to provide a way for first-time buyers to establish credit so they could convert to a fixed-rate loan at the end of three or five years. Today, however, many ARM borrowers can’t find permanent financing and are trapped with higher payments or balloons that require the entire loan principal to be paid off at once. That’s why ARM loans continue to have a destabilizing effect on the entire real estate market.

• Require lenders to refinance ARMs into fixed-rate mortgages. The federal government should require lenders not only to refinance the ARMs they originated into fixed-rate loans but also to make loan modifications as needed to extend the life of the loan so that borrowers can afford the monthly payments. This would allow many more home owners to avoid foreclosure—which would benefit lenders, too.

• Reappraise properties in overappreciated markets. Mortgage holders in pockets of California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, and other areas where home prices showed precipitous price run-ups in 2005 and 2006 should have their properties reappraised to reflect current market conditions. Lenders should be required to convert these troubled mortgages to fixed-rate loans based on the new appraisal values. At the same time, lenders should extend loan terms in order to ensure they are repaid the entire principal.

• Limit real estate equity lines of credit. Lenders should stop giving home equity credit lines for more than 100 percent of current appraised value and start following more prudent measures. They should introduce equity credit lines based on the actual equity in the property, rather than the value of the real estate.

• Give tax credits to home owners who pay on time. Borrowers who are current in their home mortgage repayment schedules should be rewarded with tax credits. Such a stimulus package would assist the average American mortgage holder in this current financial crisis.

Writer Darrell Gibbs is the broker in charge of Gibbs Realty and Auction Co. in Easley, S.C. The company is one of the largest privately owned companies in the Southeast that works exclusively with REO and bank-owned properties throughout the Carolinas. He can be reached at 864-855-3929 or www.gibbsrealty.net.

What’s on Your Mind?

REALTOR® magazine readers want to know. With the recent launch of our Commentary section, you have a great opportunity to share your views about the real estate business with your peers. Let us hear from you if you have a strong opinion on current industry issues such as how to stimulate home sales, the trend toward consumer ratings of salespeople, or the future of the MLS.

If you feel strongly about these or other industry issues, now’s the time to let your voice be heard. To be considered as a Commentary contributor, send your ideas to Senior Editor Wendy Cole at wcole@realtors.org.