Avoiding Foreclosure

9 Steps to Avoiding Foreclosure

Foreclosure can mean the loss of your home, any equity in your home, your credit rating and your dignity. Foreclosure is a very public process, with your name listed in the public court records and then published in your local newspaper. Then, once you are ready to move on with our life, your foreclosure appears on your credit report for at least 7-10 years. In addition, all mortgage applications currently ask if you have EVER had a foreclosure. You'll have to check "Yes" for the rest of your life.

A foreclosure usually means that you won't be able to buy another house for several years unless you agree to the exorbitant interest rates of "Bad Credit' mortgages which can be twice the rate of regular mortgages.

But what if you've experienced a temporary hardship? Life is unpredictable and we all experience circumstances in our lives that are unforeseen and that are out of our control. Often times these circumstances can prevent us from making our monthly mortgage payments on time. Some of the issues contributing to delinquency include:

If you have experienced one of these situations it can severely impact your ability to pay your mortgage obligation. If you have experienced a temporary setback, you may have several options available to you to stop foreclosure. Here are several proven strategies to avoid a foreclosure:

1. Mortgage Modification - Most often used if you have experienced a permanent reduction in income and can't afford a repayment plan. In this case, the terms of the loan may be adjusted (the interest rate is lowered or the term is extended) so that monthly payments become affordable.

2. Forbearance Agreement - Typically used if you have experienced a temporary hardship that is now over and you can resume making your regular payments. A popular option when you can't pay all of your past due mortgage payments at once. Here the lender agrees to move your delinquent payments to the back of the loan.

3. Repayment Plan - The preferred method of most lenders. Here the lender agrees to let you catch up the back payments by adding a portion of the past due amount to each current monthly payment until the account is current again.

4. Mortgage Refinance - You may elect to refinance your delinquent loan with your existing lender or a new lender if you faced a temporary financial setback, had good credit prior to the setback, and can prove that you can now support the new mortgage payment. Usually not an option in other situations unless you agree to very high interest rates.

5. Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure - Here you voluntarily convey the deed to your property back to the mortgage holder in order to prevent a foreclosure. By accepting the deed, the lender releases you from personal liability on the loan.

6. Sell your Home - You may choose to sell your house prior to the foreclosure auction. Lenders may postpone the foreclosure auction to allow you time to sell the home. If you are unable to work with your existing lender, or find a new lender, then it is time to get serious about selling. The longer you wait, the more likely you will need to sell your house quickly, most likely to an investor who will buy the house as-is and close quickly, but will pay less than fair market value.

7. Bankruptcy - Filing bankruptcy will temporarily stop the foreclosure case. You can file anytime before the foreclosure auction. However, this should be your LAST option, NOT your first. Though it usually does not permanently end the foreclosure, it can interrupt the foreclosure procedure and buy you months or years without losing your property. Statistics have shown however, that approximately 85% of all Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings FAIL to permanently save a homeowner from foreclosure. This is because the reorganization arrangement typically requires the homeowner to make plan payments that are much higher than the original payments that they could not afford!

8. Military Indulgence - If you are currently active in the U.S. military, you may be entitled to relief under the Soldiers' & Sailors' Civil Relief Act. Most lenders will not foreclose on you if you have been granted Military Indulgence.

9. Partial Claim Payment - There are a number of other programs available to you if your mortgage is FHA-insured. Under this program, HUD pays your lender the amount owed to bring your loan current. You then begin making your regular monthly payments. HUD records a 2nd mortgage against the property for the amount that they paid your lender. You do not have to pay the Partial Claim mortgage until you sell the house or the 1st mortgage is paid off.

The bottom line for stopping foreclosure is to learn your rights and research options; contact your lender and pay attention to lender's letters and phone calls; and most importantly, take immediate action.