Hire A Foreclosure Lawyer Early To Save Your Home

Don't wait until your house is up for auction before you consult with a foreclosure lawyer. Homeowners have more options than they might have been led to believe, but it does take quick action and some foresight to take advantage of them. The best time to hire an attorney is the moment you realize you can no longer afford payments or that you're about to miss one. Waiting until after a disaster is just damage control, whereas early intervention provides opportunity.

So what can a foreclosure lawyer do to save your finances or property? The first step is to minimize the loss for both parties, which means renegotiating the terms of the loan. This only works if no payments or only a few have been missed or late, and the homeowner has remained in contact with the lender. This situation can have a potentially positive outcome for resident and lender. By adjusting the interest rate and payments, neither party faces a huge loss, nor future financial problems can be reduced or eliminated altogether. Lenders would much rather work with you than go through a lengthy legal process, so don't underestimate the power of communication and honesty.

If you are several payments behind and catching up is not an option, it might be beneficial to sell the house. Since the market is flooded with sellers, most people try for a short sale to prevent their home from being foreclosed upon. In a short sale, the home is sold for less than its estimated value when the lender agrees. You may or may not still be legally obligated to pay any difference, which is why it's crucial to hire a foreclosure lawyer for assistance. A short sale will still have a negative effect on your credit rating, but it isn't nearly as brutal as the alternative.

If neither of these options work and you're in deep financial difficulties, an attorney can help delay proceedings for several months (and in some cases up to a year). There are many ways to do this, but the first thing you should do is stay put. It can take several months to even receive contact from a lender let alone a default payment notice, and until that is received the clock hasn't started ticking yet. Once the ball does get rolling, the first step is to ask the lender to produce the note. That means they must supply you with the original loan documents. If you're fortunate, this can buy you a few extra months, but an organized lender can surprise you and produce it in just a matter of days or weeks.

A foreclosure lawyer may also recommend that you file for bankruptcy if you're in dire straits across the board. By discharging other debts, you may be able to handle the mortgage payment, especially since it will be renegotiated during the process. If you're willing to make some major sacrifices and completely adjust your lifestyle in order to remain in your home, this method might work best for you.