In late March, HousingWire reported the Federal Housing Finance Agency would expand its suite of mortgage modification tools for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac servicers.

The Streamlined Modification Initiative is now in effect, in order to encourage servicers to handle delinquencies earlier, minimizing losses to the GSEs and taxpayers, while cutting back some of the red tape that slows down the traditional approval process.

All eligible borrowers must make three on-time trial payments, the FHFA said. Once those payments are made, the loan modification takes permanent effect.

The program expires Aug. 1, 2015.