US Treasury sets guidance on housing short sales

NEW YORK Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Monday set guidance on a plan for mortgage companies to use "short sales" and other loan modification alternatives to stem a rising tide of foreclosures.

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program simplifies the procedures for completing short sales, a growing practice in which a house is sold for less than the principal owed on existing mortgages, according to an announcement on the Treasury's website.

(Reporting by Al Yoon; Editing by Dan Grebler)

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