Trial loan modifications under the Making Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) were up 41% in September compared to August, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) said. Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) had a combined 286,000 mortgages in the three-month trial stage of a HAMP modification. In August, that figure was 202,200. Completed loan modifications declined for the fourth consecutive month to 7,100 in July, according to the latest data available. Short sales increased by 24% in July from June to 5,500. Delinquencies were also on the rise and approximately 74,200 new loans became 60 or more days delinquent. There are now 1.4m mortgages 60 or more days delinquent, but not yet to foreclosure proceedings. Foreclosure starts decreased 30% in July compared to June to nearly 85,300. Foreclosure and third-party sales increased slightly to 25,000 in July up from 24,700 in June, the FHFA said. Write to Austin Kilgore.