Acquire The Foreclosure Help You Need Before It Is Too Late

By Adam Whazzer

Time is not on your friend when it comes to foreclosure. Talk with a housing counselor for foreclosure help.

Loss mitigation is a phrase that describes a third party aiding a homeowner by attempting to prevent foreclosure. Normally it is a department within the bank itself or can be a separate firm.

While loss mitigation is mainly used to lessen the losses suffered by the lender, homeowners can benefit from it also. In an effort to avoid foreclosure, mortgage terms are renegotiated through this process. If a new agreement can be made, the loan will have to be modified to reflect the new terms. Modifications such as: Partial claim loans, deed in lieu of, cash for keys, short sale negotiation, short refinance or other loan options are explored.

Types of loss mitigation include:

Obtaining lower interest rates and principal balance, adjustable rates turning into fixed rates, forbearance, loan terms being lengthened or any of these done in combination results in a loan modification.

For a homeowner to sell a home that is worth less than what is owed, a short sale loan may be obtained. With a short sale loan, the principal is decreased so that the homeowner can sell it for what it is actually worth.

To qualify for refinancing through another lender, a short refinance offer can help. This decreases the principal on the loan in an effort to meet the new lenders requirements.

A Deed in lieu of foreclosure is an option where the homeowner voluntarily deeds collateral property in return for being released from all obligations under the loan.

To try to avoid the costs of foreclosure, a bank may offer money to a homeowner if the homeowner agrees to leave the home intact. It is called cash for keys.

Forbearance may be an option as well. During the forbearance time, lowered or no payments will be made. When the time ends, a repayment schedule will be in place or the loan will simply be rewritten.

HUD offers a program known as partial claim in which money is loaned to bring the mortgage up to date. The homeowner is not responsible for repaying the partial claim loan until the home is paid in full or they no longer own it. Interest rates do not apply on the partial claim loan and a promissory note has to be signed.

Avoiding foreclosure is the biggest advantage of loss mitigation. The programs aim to make it possible for homeowners to stay in their home or be completely released from the responsibilities of the loan. Foreclosures affect homeowners and lenders. - 31387

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