Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Home Loans and Mortgages - Tips to Avoid Foreclosure


Today's real estate market is a volatile one; prices are at record levels and Interest rates are favorable, but foreclosures are increasing. Wages haven't kept up with home prices and some buyers who had to stretch to find a way to obtain a mortgage in the first place are having trouble making their payments. Usually, if a buyer cannot meet his or her mortgage obligation, the lender forecloses, taking the home and leaving the buyer without a place to live and a tarnished credit record. If you are having problems paying your mortgage, can you avoid this scenario?

Depending on your type of mortgage and your lender, you may have other options. Most lenders, wary of rising foreclosure rates, would rather work out some sort of solution than take your home. Lenders are in the business of lending money, not selling houses, and the process of foreclosure is a tedious one that most institutions would rather avoid. The first thing you should do if you find yourself with a problem making your payments is to call your lender and discuss the matter with them. The sooner you contact them, the more likely you are to work out a solution that's agreeable to both of you.

Here are a few possible options for buyers who are having temporary cash flow problems:

  • Your lender may agree to temporarily suspend payments until you are able to resume paying them. Alternatively, your lender may be willing to restructure or refinance your loan.
  • If your loan is insured by the department Housing and Urban Development or the FHA, you may be eligible for a one-time payment to bring your mortgage payments up to date. For details, contact the HUD or FHA directly.
  • You may be able to sell your home to pay off your loan. This is clearly not the first choice for many homeowners, but it is a better option than losing your home outright. Rising real estate prices during the last few years have left many homeowners with a lot of equity. You may be able to sell your home for more than you owe, which will relieve your debt and leave you with some cash left over.
  • Your lender may be willing to simply take the home back, rather than force you out of it. You lose the house, but your credit rating will not likely suffer.
  • These are just a few choices that may be available to you. Your lender may offer other solutions, as well, so don't' hesitate to call them if you find yourself in financial trouble. It is far better to contact the lender and tell them of your problems than to have them call you and ask, "Where is our money?" Be forthright and tell them that you want to work something out, and you may find a solution that allows you to keep your home. It never hurts to ask.

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Cake Financial Launches Investor Quick Check; Free Report Offers ...
    MarketWatch - 37 minutes ago
    How do I compare to investing benchmarks? Can I do more with my investments? by providing the following information: -- What kind of investor am I? ...


    State puts restrictions on Sunwest investing
    Statesman Journal, OR - 2 hours ago
    By Michael Rose • Statesman Journal Sunwest Management will have to make changes in how it raises money from Oregon investors under a state consent order. ...


    Health Evolution Partners Expands Growth Fund Investing
    MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
    "Our investment team covers the key sectors, stages and geographies of the health care industry," said Brailer. "They have lived the challenges and ...


    Ireland Mulls Investing in Banks
    Briefing.com, CA - 14 minutes ago
    Like many developing economies, Ireland attracted substantial foreign investment in previous years. With capital entering the markets, banks had plenty to ...


    G-Force Investing Focus: The Time for Gold
    Oxbury Publishing, MD - 13 hours ago
    Several weeks ago we began to highlight our G-Force investment crisis portfolio. The goal was to provide real, usable information for subscribers who want ...


    BBC News

    Global Investing Roundups
    Money Morning - 6 hours ago
    Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), the world’s largest maker of personal computers, offered a preview of its fiscal fourth-quarter profits – reporting that it will ...
    This Bud is gone for $52 million Virginia Gazette
    all 579 news articles


    Commercial Real Estate Investing Is About the Bust, Not the Boom ...
    PR Web (press release), WA - 5 hours ago
    In his new Trump University book, "Commercial Real Estate Investing 101", he explains why most beginning investors fail. New York, NY (PRWEB) November 19, ...


    Where Greek Mythology Meets Modern Investing
    Motley Fool - 16 hours ago
    By Christopher Barker Upon Ulysses' epic return to Ithaca from the Trojan War, he found that the journey had meant more to him than the destination. ...


    Baskin paints brighter investing picture
    TheChronicleHerald.ca, Canada - 3 hours ago
    PEOPLE don’t want to own stocks at the moment, says investment expert David Baskin. They’re scared and they don’t know what’s going to happen next. ...


    Investing in Africa media is profitable
    Joy Online, Ghana - 1 hour ago
    ... banks and national, regional and international organizations to recognize the African media industries as profitable investment opportunities. ...

    Investing - Google News

    home | site map
    © 2006