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:

    USA TODAY

    Pros and Cons of a Mortgage Refinance
    FreeRateUpdate.com
    Many homeowners are jumping on the opportunity to save money with a mortgage refinance at the current low mortgage rates. With mortgage rates at historically low levels, some homeowners have refinanced more than once in the past several years which is ...
    Who Qualifies for the $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement?TIME
    What $25 billion mortgage settlement will and won't do for homeownersThe Seattle Times

    all 3,580 news articles »


    Lenders say mortgage refinance deal will bolster Manatee market
    Bradenton Herald
    By JOSH SALMAN - jsalman@bradenton.com MANATEE -- A new refinance program to help underwater homeowners will uplift the local economy by putting extra cash into the pockets of those who will spend it, area lenders predict. The deal struck with five of ...

    and more »


    Mortgage-refinance bill a dangerous deal
    Arizona Republic
    by Robert Robb, columnist - Feb. 10, 2012 12:00 AM State Sen. Michele Reagan wants to help out underwater homeowners in the worst way. And she has succeeded with SB 1451 -- it's hard to imagine a worse bill. Reagan proposes to establish a state agency ...

    and more »


    Housing Wire

    Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
    Fox News
    WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
    President Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Just a Bid for VotesYahoo! Contributors Network
    Obama Unveils Mortgage Refinance EndeavorsMortgageorb
    New Obama mortgage refinance plan to near $10 billionHousing Wire
    Go Banking Rates -CBS Moneywatch -MNI News
    all 1,239 news articles »


    MonitorBankRates.com

    Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
    MonitorBankRates.com
    Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

    and more »


    Harney: Reviewing Obama's mortgage refinance plan
    The Seattle Times
    Though it was pronounced dead-before-arrival by opponents on Capitol Hill, President Obama's new mortgage-refinancing package contained... By Kenneth R. Harney Mortgage refinancing is an outstanding plan particularly as the home mortgage rates are.

    and more »


    Fox News

    Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
    Wall Street Journal
    By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
    Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
    Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
    Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
    Daily Caller
    all 314 news articles »


    International Business Times

    FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
    MyFox Los Angeles
    And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
    Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
    Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

    all 12,250 news articles »


    CBS Local

    Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
    Wall Street Journal (blog)
    By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
    Obama plan could help refinance Bay Area mortgagesSan Francisco Chronicle

    all 19 news articles »


    Bloomberg

    HARP Refi May Delay PMI Cancellation
    NASDAQ
    The federal HARP mortgage refinance program can be a huge boon for underwater homeowners. But if you have PMI, there's a little hitch you should know about. While refinancing a mortgage through HARP can cut your interest rate and save you money, ...
    New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 MillionMortgageLoan.com

    all 56 news articles »

    Google News

    home | site map
    © 2007