When you fall behind in your mortgage payments on your Northport 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 to avoid foreclosure in Northport and maybe even keep your house, even if you’re seriously behind in payments. Lots of properties in Northport have been lost to foreclosure, but there are many ways to avoid it.
1. 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.
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 (MHA)
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 MHA.
With MHA, 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.
MHA 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 house for the long term.
If you’re in need of a temporary fix and want to stay in your house, 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. Many banks in Northport especially your local banks maybe willing to help restructure your loan or offer additional houses to help you stay in home.
That sounds obvious, but for some reason bankers seem to forget it when saying no to someone in need of help.
5. Borrow money from a private investor
If you’re behind in your payments and need to sell your house fast in Northport then, we can help.
In certain circumstances, we may even be able to help you stay in your house. If you’re saying, “Help, I’m behind on mortgage payments in Northport,” we maybe able to help you.
We work with homeowners in Northport to find solutions to foreclosure problems.