When you fall behind on your mortgage payments on your Cleveland and Surrounding Areas 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.
Behind on your mortgage? Read this article for a few tips on what you can do to prevent and avoid foreclosure.
There are a few options that can help you to avoid foreclosure in Cleveland and Surrounding Areas and maybe even keep your house, even if you’re seriously behind in payments. Lots of properties in Cleveland and Surrounding Areas have been lost to foreclosure, but there are many ways to avoid it.
Are You Behind on Your Mortgage Payments in Cleveland and Surrounding Areas? 6 Things You Can Do To Help Your Situation
Are You Behind on Your Mortgage Payments? We can help!
1. Refinancing:
Are you behind on mortgage payments because your adjustable-rate mortgage is causing your interest rate to change periodically? Refinancing into a fixed-rate loan can help stabilize your payments. Before moving forward with a refinance, however, you should also consider how long it will take to recoup upfront costs, which average $5,000 on refinance loans.
For example: If refinancing saves you $100 a month and you pay $5,000 on closing costs, then you’ll break even in about four years. In that case, this option is practical only if you are planning to stay in the house for some time.
2. Reaffirm:
This can be a good card to play, but it may come with some unseen penalties. Basically, 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.
3. Making Home Affordable (MFA):
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 ain’t free money – you gotta work for it.
4. Negotiate with your bank:
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 really 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’re in need of 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 in need of help.
5. Bankruptcy:
This is usually the tool of last resort. If you’re being crushed by lots of debt, bankruptcy can be a good 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.
6. Borrow money from a private investor:
If you are behind on your payments and need to sell fast, we can help.
In certain circumstances, we may even be able to help you stay in your home.
We are local and work with homeowners in Cleveland and Surrounding Areas to find solutions to foreclosure problems.
We’ll let you know how we can help.
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