There
are programs available to help stop foreclosure regardless of your
credit situation. Time is critical and you MUST act fast to stop
foreclosure.
If you feel that your situation will not improve in
the immediate future you should consider selling your home while there
is still time. By selling your home you get to keep most of the equity
you have built. Depending on how far into the process of foreclosure
you are you may have to talk to your current mortgage company about
doing a short sell. If this is the case you should contact a Realtor in
your area that specializes in listing distressed properties.
When you contact your mortgage servicer, you can
try to work out a payment plan to bring your back payments current. Not
all mortgage servicers are willing to work this out with you, but there
is a chance that they may. They do not want to foreclose on your home
because that means that they will lose money in the long run.
Before foreclosure proceedings begin on your house
you must get in touch with a mortgage broker to expedite your available
options before you lose your house. There are lenders out there that
will do foreclosure bailouts so long as a Notice of Default is not
filed on the property. Refinancing the property if there is equity is a
much better alternative to foreclosure. You can also sell your property
and not have the foreclosure hit your credit report.
Before your house can be foreclosed on, a notice of
default must be sent to you. This is a notice that demands back
payments are brought current. If the payments are not made current
within the time given, the lender will begin the foreclosure process.
We have programs available to help stop the foreclosure.
Homeowners can file a Chapter 13 which will enable
them to pay back their arrearage over time. This option works best when
the cause of the late payments was temporary and the borrower can now
afford to pay the regular payment.
A private loan from a friend or family member could
be a last resort to save your home from foreclosure.
Remember, if you are in danger of foreclosure, you
are past due and need help, there are options available to you, but you
must act quickly. When you are facing a foreclosure, you are not only
in danger of losing your home- you are in danger of doing severe damage
to your credit score that will be very hard to repair.
Repayment Plan -A repayment plan allows you to
repay the amount you owe within a fixed period of time, in which your
unsettled dues will be combined with your regular monthly payment.
(Hard to do in tough times, but they may allow you to skip a payment or
2 with the understanding you will pay your regular payment plus a
quarter of what you missed)
Reinstatement-This is the amount that you have to
pay to your mortgage company in order to bring your loan current. Your
loan delinquency will be taken into account, as well as other unpaid
fees and costs associated with your loan. (You can look into getting a
hard money loan to do this)
Note Modification -Although you are unable to
settle your previous accounts, the lender might agree to modify your
mortgage if you make your regular payment now. (Often requires
supervisor approval)
Short Sale - The lender will allow you to sell your
home, even at a loss to them. So if you don't have enough equity to pay
prepays and commissions this may be an option to you. Make sure you
work with a realtor that specializes in selling distressed properties.
The foreclosure process is a very stressful and
time sensitive issue. But you do have options. There are hard money
loans to help you catch up but there are also options you can work out
with your current lender.
Forbearance -During what is called the forbearance
period, the lender agrees to accept less than the full amount for a
temporary period. This happens only if you show the bank or the
mortgage company that you have sources for funds that can let you bring
the mortgage current at a future date. (Usually you have to be a couple
payments behind for them to approve you for this)
Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure -In a deed in lieu of
foreclosure, the lender agrees to release the debtor from any liability
on the loan itself. This agreement is usually reached only when the
debtor transfers his or her property to the name of the lender.