Now there is an alternative and a way to avoid scammers. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making available to homeowners that anyone at risk of foreclosure free counseling from HUD’s nationwide network of approved counseling agencies.
Available services
Although each agency offers specific services, each generally offers the following types of help:
• General counseling in matters related to housing
• An evaluation of a homeowner’s specific situation
• Counseling on ways to avoid foreclosure
• Help with refinancing through HUD’s various programs or with lender negotiations
HUD-approved agencies cannot charge for their foreclosure counseling services. However, they can charge a reasonable fee for other services, such as general housing education, pre- and post-sale counseling, and other services.
Preparing for a first meeting. You do not have to be in the foreclosure process to seek counseling. In fact, HUD advises anyone who thinks they might have problems in the future to contact a mortgage counselor sooner rather than later.
Available services
Although each agency offers specific services, each generally offers the following types of help:
• General counseling in matters related to housing
• An evaluation of a homeowner’s specific situation
• Counseling on ways to avoid foreclosure
• Help with refinancing through HUD’s various programs or with lender negotiations
HUD-approved agencies cannot charge for their foreclosure counseling services. However, they can charge a reasonable fee for other services, such as general housing education, pre- and post-sale counseling, and other services.
Preparing for a first meeting. You do not have to be in the foreclosure process to seek counseling. In fact, HUD advises anyone who thinks they might have problems in the future to contact a mortgage counselor sooner rather than later.
And it is a good idea to have a sense of what you want to accomplish with the help- keeping your home, selling it, refinancing, before you set up your first meeting with a counseling service.
Before a first meeting, have the following information ready:
• Household monthly income and expenses
• Current monthly mortgage payment amount
• Latest mortgage account statement
• Any relevant communication with your lender regarding late mortgage payments
Working with a non-approved agency-To avoid a scam, HUD advises homeowners to take the following steps if working with an agency no approved by HUD:
• Avoid paying for foreclosure counseling services. HUD-approved agencies provide these services at no cost.
• Resist any tactics that pressure you into signing documents without enough time to go over them carefully.
• Do not sign over the deed of your house to any other person or organization.
• Make your mortgage payments only to your lender or an institution approved by your lender.
To find a HUD-approved agency in Florida, visitHUD’s website.
• Household monthly income and expenses
• Current monthly mortgage payment amount
• Latest mortgage account statement
• Any relevant communication with your lender regarding late mortgage payments
Working with a non-approved agency-To avoid a scam, HUD advises homeowners to take the following steps if working with an agency no approved by HUD:
• Avoid paying for foreclosure counseling services. HUD-approved agencies provide these services at no cost.
• Resist any tactics that pressure you into signing documents without enough time to go over them carefully.
• Do not sign over the deed of your house to any other person or organization.
• Make your mortgage payments only to your lender or an institution approved by your lender.
To find a HUD-approved agency in Florida, visitHUD’s website.
