Borrowers may be willing to arrive at compromises that help their credit, such as modifications, if they are not yet at the foreclosure stage."

From what I've seen servicers execute modifications "at the direction of" the lender which implies it's the lender ultimately negotiating the modified credit terms.

Persistence and action are vital so just keep making the necessary calls everyday and doing your DD.

I have no idea why that info wouldn't be in the file since it is a vital piece of the probate process.Sometimes that property address for the deceased is a nursing home or other facility.

Getting a modification on a loan would mean the borrower is willing to reinstate, which means the borrower is willing to start paying.  

This is key, a vital player on your team.

The "agreement" could be an assignment, or a loan modification, or a subordination agreement.

One technique, I used for years on Lease Options was to 'forget a vital piece of paperwork' when taking an application.

Welcome to the community @Tammy Vitale!  

As I look through my exam books right now, here are just a few of the topics covered in depth: Conditions of purchase Buyer alternatives-purchase/legal legal aspects/securities law LLC, S;yndication, partnerships, joint ventures, TIC;s/Tenant in common ownership-security/non security Investor participation, breach of contract, buyer's liabilities, Equity purchase transactions, Lease Purchase/Lease Option contract-legal burden of proof, Boundary disputes, easements, enchroachments, Promissory notes, due-on-sale regulations, Converting nonrecourse paper into recourse paper, deficiency in recourse loans, modification of notes, errors in payoff demands, AITD/Wrap mortgages, short payoffs on recourse/nonrecourse.