Stop The Foreclosure Process

Learn About Foreclosures in St. Augustine and Surrounding Areas

There are a myriad of ways that unforeseen hardships can change the joy of owning a home into an incredible burden. Maybe you've lost your job, or have unexpected medical bills beginning to pile up, or your monthly mortgage payments have increased beyond your current budget. No matter what the cause of your troubles, ignoring the problem won't help--it will only make it worse. You must act quickly to resolve the issue. 

The following are a few examples of how to stop a foreclosure on your home: Look For Other Sources - Most homeowners don't realize they have a variety of resources that can aid in making mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure. Consider the income created by unemployment or disability insurance and your savings as possible cash-flow resources. Other examples include slashing the household budget by trading in expensive items like cars, boats, and motorcycles for cash. Even retirement funds can be used, but beware that many people with access to their retirement funds can be penalized for early withdraw and face increased income taxes. Rent your Property -  If you have low mortgage payments to allow you to rent your property while keeping up on the mortgage payments - this could be a short term solution.  Please keep in mind that your renter will be assisting with you making your mortgage payment, but they too could fall short of making rent which may jeopardize you making your mortgage payment.

Contact Your Lender - If you have reviewed all possibilities of creating cash-flow to pay your mortgage, then it's time to reach out to your lender. Do this as soon as possible! Your ultimate goal in contacting your lender is to create an agreement that will alter your mortgage so that foreclosure proceedings can be stopped before they are finalized

Review The Options - After contacting your lender, or in some cases the servicing company that handles the loan for an investor, you may have other options available. Typically lenders are not required to make adjustments to your loan, but many will consider it a viable option one that benefits the lender and you and can include refinancing.

Possible options to discuss with your lender include:

• Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure - In this option, your lender may accept the return of the title to your home, but beware that the lender may still sue for loss and report any uncollected funds due to loss to the IRS as taxable income to you. This option may have negative effects on your credit report.
• Mortgage Modification - If you have the means to afford your mortgage payment or close to it, your mortgage company may allow for a modification: basically lowering your interest rate and/or changing your loan product to a stable term that would lower your monthly mortgage payment. 
• Forbearance - special agreement with the lender and borrower in order to delay a foreclosure
  
• Re-Amortization - In this option the payments you have missed are added to the balance of the loan, making your account current. Your debt will increase and your monthly payments will be higher unless the lender also agrees to extend the term of the loan.
• Bankruptcy-   A bankruptcy may stop a foreclosure and allow a homeowner to reorganize his debt and keep his property.  If you are not able to make the payments after bankruptcy - the house may foreclose anyway.  EFFECTS OF FORCLOSURE