Home loan modifications are a set of procedures used to alter a loan in a a way that is more manageable for the homeowner, usually in an effort to prevent issues of payment. Loan modification programs in the United states began as early as the 1920s, when in the midst of the Great Depression, modification programs were enacted to buffer the high rate of foreclosures. In 2006, home loan modifications again became popular as "problem mortgages" increased against the economic decline. In general, home loan modifications consist of reassessing the person's ability to pay a loan, and then using those results to create a better loan. Most home loan modification programs focus on the short term aspects of the loan, making the mortgage more affordable in the next few years but possibly more expensive in the years following. However, there is a large variety of home loan modifications, so there can be vast differences depending on the individual.