TIPS TO HELP PREVENT FORECLOSURE
Posted by perdewhomes on August 22, 2008
Avoiding Foreclosure
Presented by Freddie Mac
The last thing any homeowner wants to think about is losing the family home. No one expects to lose their house to foreclosure, but by understanding the foreclosure process and what may lead up to it, you can be in a better position to recognize and address potential problems that may impact your ability to make every mortgage payment on time.
What is foreclosure?
In the contract you signed when your mortgage lender loaned you money to buy your house, you agreed that if you can’t repay the loan, the lender can foreclose to take ownership of the house.
If you do not pay your monthly mortgage payment, you are technically in default on your mortgage. State laws vary, but generally, a loan that is as little as 90 days delinquent can be considered in foreclosure.
Your lender may send you a notice indicating that they are starting foreclosure proceedings, but don’t wait; take steps to prevent a foreclosure as soon as you realize you are having trouble paying the mortgage!
- Learn to recognize the warning signs of foreclosure.
- Know what early steps you can take to avoid foreclosure.
- If you are in the midst of a foreclosure, know the dos and don’ts.
- Know where to get help in dealing with issues that could lead to foreclosure.
Have a Plan B.
Don’t wait until you’re in a financial predicament before assessing your options. The time to develop a backup plan is not when things have gotten so bad that you are facing foreclosure, but when things are going well and you can prepare for the unexpected “what if’s” that happen in life.
Quick Knowledge Check
Take our Avoiding Foreclosure Knowledge Check to find out how much you know about protecting your home and avoiding foreclosure.
What to do in special circumstances…
If you are a victim of a natural disaster.
If your property has been damaged or destroyed by a tropical storm, hurricane, tornado, flood, or other disaster, talk to your lender immediately. They often have special disaster relief options to help you.
Check our Protection section for more information on help after a natural disaster.
If you are a service member on or recently released from active duty.
There are special financial relief options in place for service members through the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Talk to your lender about them.
If you are a veteran.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has produced a streaming video to provide information to
vets facing foreclosure.
To View Foreclosed Homes got to www.CentralValleyHomes.com
Carol Perdew
(209) 239-7979
www.CentralValleyHomes.com
Tony Orlando said
Well said… Great information, keep up the great work!
Nick said
Good article. Homeowners can’t wait until their financial hardship is over to take action. That might take 2-3 months, by which time the bank is already considering foreclosure or has hired local attorneys to file the paperwork.
And planning for foreclosure even when there’s no current likelihood of missing a payment is great advice. Of course, that usually means that no one will do it, but they should. Maybe with declining home values now, more borrowers will be forced to save money for a rainy day, rather than rely on refinancing out of a debt crisis.