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Frequently Asked Questions
- I've missed a few mortgage payments, what will
happen?
Your home may undergo the foreclosure process, but there
are ways for you to prevent this from happening.
- What should I do once I'm behind on my mortgage
payments?
Don't wait, get help early! By actively working to
resolve the issue as soon as possible, you greatly
increase your chances of avoiding the loss of your home
through foreclosure. If you even see the possibility of
missing a payment, contact your lender and explain your
financial situation. This act of initial contact, before
letters of delinquency arrive, will help your lender
understand that you are facing issues that impede your
payments, providing your lender an incentive to find a
proper "work out" resolution, or to begin modifications
to your loan.
- What is a "work out" resolution?
Commonly, the term "work out" resolution is an agreement
where you continue making payments on your past due
amount over a period of time, or a modification to your
loan to lower your interest rate, or an extension loan
period that will help lower your payments.
- I am in the foreclosure process, should I stay in
my home or leave?
You should contact your attorney to determine the best
course of action. Abandoning your property may have
severe negative consequences on your qualification for
assistance.
- Do you have any other advice?
Always be wary of potential scams. Any person or company
offering a solution that sounds overly optimistic may be
trying to take advantage of you during your time of
financial troubles. Some warning signals of a scammer
include anyone who charges a fee before any services are
completed.
- Why would my lender rather help me stay in my
home than foreclose?
There are several reasons your lender may be interested
in other options than foreclosure. Most times, the
lender will take substantial financial losses, on
average $50,000, from a home foreclosure. Mortgage
companies are not interested in owning and selling
homes.
- How common is foreclosure?
Unfortunately, foreclosures are becoming more common and
happen to many Americans. Although the number of
foreclosure filings vary from state to state, and even
from one financial quarter to the next, the number of
filings nationally in 2008 was 3.1 million for 2.3
billion U.S. properties. This is an 81% increase from
2007 and represents 1 in 54 housing units in America
having received at least one foreclosure filing during
2008.
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