Lenders modified 1.76 million permanent loans for homeowners in 2010 thanks to lender in-house policies as well as the federal government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

It still remains unclear how many of the in-house modifications received are still current, however 1 out of every 5 modified loans under HAMP were at least 60 days delinquent on their mortgage payment at the end of the year, according to the Treasury Department.

According to Hope Now, a private-sector group of investors, insurers, mortgage servicers and nonprofit counselors, 2.87 million homeowners were at least 60 days behind in their mortgages by the end of the 2010. The data also concluded that there was a large fourth-quarter drop in foreclosure starts in a quarterly comparison. Although, the drop is said to be a result of the suspension of foreclosure actions by lenders due to the investigation of office procedures.