Don't Wait to Get Foreclosure Help

By: Ellen Frick, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

If you are falling behind on your mortgage payments, or anticipate that you will, consider discussing a loan modification with your lender or at least getting advice from a HUD certified counselor. Taking this route is much easier than waiting until it’s too late. Unfortunately, in America, some people equate foreclosure with personal failure and thus are ashamed of getting help.

Recently, I spoke with a Realtor who interacts with homeowners and potential homeowners, who felt the reason that homeowners often wait until its too late is an issue of pride. Yet we are in a time where the mortgage and foreclosure crisis is widespread and affecting so many people. Moreover, many experts anticipate that the rate of foreclosure is only going to get worse in the coming months.

NHS of Baltimore gets a staggering number of calls from individuals who have waited until the last minute to ask for help. Our Program Assistants receive phone calls from people nearly every day who are facing foreclosure and already have a sale date for their homes. Yet, if you have received a notice of foreclosure by certified mail, our HUD approved counselors still may be able to help you. In the state of Maryland, lenders are now required by law to afford homeowners 90 days from the official notice of foreclosure to rectify their mortgage before the sale takes place. However, once you have received a sale date for your home, it is less likely our counselors can help you. Rather, in this situation, a lawyer would be the preferred person to contact.

NHS of Baltimore refers people who need legal aid to the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services (MVLS). They can be reached at 410-547-6537. Another resource to check out is the Legal Grind where you can get legal advice for a small donation. Whether you are in a position where you need legal aid or just starting to fall behind on mortgage payments, do not be ashamed or scared to ask for help. For more resources on foreclosure prevention, check out the Baltimore Homeownership Preservation Coalition (BHPC) or the Maryland Hope Initiative.