Foreclosure Prevention

California has been hard hit by our nation’s foreclosure crisis. Foreclosures are hurting families and whole communities and it is impacting our country’s economic stability as a whole. This page provides you with federal and local resources to help you modify your home loan, including links to a database of HUD-approved loan modification counselors trained in foreclosure prevention assistance.

If you are a homeowner who is struggling to make regular mortgage payments or fear you are in danger of losing your home, it is important to immediately contact your lender and/or a Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved counselor.  You may be eligible to receive more affordable terms on your mortgage and stay in your home. 

Important:  There many companies claiming to be government-approved and charging for services that should be free.  Some of these companies may continue to offer consumers extremely risky loans or tricking them out of their homes.  Do not use these services.

Contacting Your Lenders, Finding Housing Counselors, and Other Resources
Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling Organizations
Federal Mortgage Refinancing Programs
To File a Complaint about Your Lender

 

Contacting Your Lenders, Finding Housing Counselors, and Other Resources

  •  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  HUD is a federal agency that provides information on how to avoid foreclosure, including HUD-approved counselors, refinancing programs, and resources for if you do lose your home.

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Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling Organizations:   

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Federal Mortgage Refinancing Programs

To see if you qualify for federal programs assisting homeowners with refinancing mortgages, visit the following sites.

The website also provides contact for free HUD-approved counseling organizations, events in your area, and application forms for download. http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/

You can also call the Homeowners HOPE Hotline: 1 (888) 995- 4673 or visithttp://www.hopenow.com/

  •  Making Home Affordable Program.  The Making Home Affordable Program is a set of four federal programs: (1) refinancing mortgages through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), (2) modifying first and second mortgages through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the Second Lien Modification Program (2MP), (3) providing temporary assistance to unemployed homeowners through the Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP), and (4) offering other alternatives to foreclosure through the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA).

  •  Keep Your Home California Program.  Keep Your Home California assists low and moderate income California families retain their homes if they either have suffered a financial hardship such as unemployment, experienced a change in household circumstance such as death or disability, or are subject to an upcoming increase in their monthly mortgage payment and are at risk of default when coupled with a decline in their home's value.  

For eligibility details, visit www.KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org or call 888.954.KEEP(5337).

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To File a Complaint about Your Lender

If you have a problem with your lender or mortgage servicers, you should talk with your HUD-approved housing counselor and file a complaint with one of these entities. 

  • Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  For loans that are FHA-insured:  Call FHA's National Servicing Center toll free at (877) 622-8525,or via email. Whether by phone or email, be prepared to provide the full name(s) of all persons listed on the mortgage loan and the full address of the property including city, state and zip.

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