Digging out of a hole

The first cornerstone of our own recovery has been laid; GMAC has approved our loan modification, and the paperwork is making its way back to them. The net result is a swing of about $1500 a month in our favor over the next five years, during which one can hope that prices will recover enough to allow a refi into a fixed loan. Happily, I managed to negotiate this myself without the expensive services of a lawyer. Not bad for several hours' work.