When you fall behind on your mortgage payments on your USA home, it can feel like you’re drowning in debt.
Even if you’re able to make your monthly payment, catching up on a past-due balance can be an overwhelming challenge.
There are a few options that can help you avoid foreclosure in The USA and maybe even keep your house, even if you’re seriously behind in payments. Many properties in The USA have been lost to foreclosure, but a lot of ways exist to avoid it.
This is usually the tool of last resort. If lots of debt are crushing you, bankruptcy can be an excellent way to negotiate with lots of lenders at once. It’s a lot of work, and it won’t help you avoid your mortgage. Different lenders will treat your circumstances in unique ways. You’d benefit from serious professional help – the best you can afford.
This can be a good card to play, but it may come with some unseen penalties. Reaffirming the loan is an additional commitment to pay. In some states where it’s allowed, an affirmation can create additional liabilities if your property is auctioned.
If your mortgage qualifies, you might be able to participate in MHA. Any loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac must be considered for MHA, and other lenders choose to participate in MFA.
With MFA, your payments and/or interest rates might be lowered – even the principal balance (if your home is worth less than you owe). If you’re unemployed, you might be able to get your payments temporarily suspended or reduced.
MFA is a government program, so be prepared to deal with lots of paperwork. It isn’t free money – you have to work for it.
Lots of lenders routinely offer some level of assistance. You have to work hard at it, but you might be able to get your interest rate reduced or a temporary reduction in your payment.
Most of the time, lenders will want to steer you to refinance your loan – but by the time you’re a few payments behind, you probably don’t qualify for a reduction in interest rate.
You have to work hard to negotiate with a bank. Usually, it takes lots of calls and the patience of a saint to get through the bureaucracy. Never, ever act rude. Ask for help from everyone you speak with, but don’t sound desperate. Explain your situation, offer supporting documents, and reassure the bank that you want to live in your home for the long term.
If you need a temporary fix and want to stay in your home, most banks can be forgiving. Sometimes, they’ll be willing to add a few months of payments back onto the primary balance of your loan. It’s all dollars and cents to them, so remind them that you need their help to give them a lot more money in the long run. If they have to sell your house at a foreclosure auction, they’ll take a huge loss.
That sounds obvious, but for some reason, bankers seem to forget it when saying no to someone needing help.
If you’re behind on your payments and need to sell your house fast, we can help.
In certain circumstances, we may even be able to help you stay in your home.
Our real estate investors work with homeowners in The USA to find solutions to foreclosure problems.
We’ll let you know how we can help.
