Government Help to Stop Foreclosure

Making Home Affordable gEINTHNERHere is the most complete list of links to free government help to stop foreclosure anywhere on the internet.

Home Affordable Modifications

If you can no longer afford to make your monthly loan payments, you may qualify for a loan modification to make your monthly mortgage payment more affordable. Millions of borrowers who are current, but having difficulty making their payments and borrowers who have already missed one or more payments may be eligible. 

All the below links are official government websites or HUD approved non-profit housing counseling agencies. LoanWorkout.org and Moe Bedard are not affiliated with any of the below government agencies or non-profits in any way, shape or form. 

Can’t get the help you need and deserve? FIGHT BACK!

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of Justice (DOJ) 

Federal Housing Administration(FHA)

Federal Trade Commission (FTC}

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

YES, More Loan Modification Help!:

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

RENEE gUNDLACH August 2, 2009 at 8:47 am

my house was forclosed on May 4,2009. I’am a single parent and homeless now, what are my rights.

in need help August 28, 2009 at 12:01 am

How would i know if a company is real and credited in modifying a house under the Obama plan. I spend my time searching a number to verify if the company that im about to start a modification is real and not a scammer. Please help.

in need help August 28, 2009 at 12:02 am

how would i know if a modification company is real and not a scam company. Is there a phone number that i call to check if the company is real? Please help

Bonnie Merryman August 28, 2009 at 11:54 am

Nations Housing Modification Center has taken $ 2000.00 dollars of our money in July 09 and will not return our calls can you help us .We are afraid of losing our home. we need someone to help us get our money and to work our a payment plan with our mortgage co.so we can keep our home

Moe Bedard August 28, 2009 at 4:26 pm

You can get help from a certified HUD housing counselor like http://www.NACA.com or http://www.995HOPE.org 888-995-HOPE

If you need legal help, hire a real law firm with experienced lawyers. Try to seek a referral from a hapy client or neighbor. Maybe call your State Bar.

Kate Kenworthy October 12, 2009 at 9:50 am

Dear Mr. President,

I have the utmost respect and love for you and I know you’re trying to do the very best you can for this country. I think though that when in all good faith you implement a program like the “Loan Modification” program you should know just what a person has to endure to apply for this and what the end result is. I think this could be informative for you in that you’ll see that many things are wrong with this program and the banks that are behind it. So, Mr. President, I know how very busy you are with running our wonderful country but I would like you to take a minute to read the just one of the “American People’s” letter and maybe, just maybe it will change something for both of us.

I applied for a loan modification in April of 2009. I met the requirements at the time. I was eligible and I felt that it was only a matter of time before my mortgage payment would be reduced and I could stay in my little house in the woods. Whew, was that a load off my mind and shoulders. I could breathe again. There was hope, genuine full blown hope. It stated that you had to have had a drastic drop in finances, I had. I am a real estate agent and as we all know that market took down with it not only the agents but the builders, appraisers, loan officers, mortgage people and the list goes on. So, yes this was bad, this was a hardship for me and I was petrified I would lose my little house in the woods.
Nowhere in the application did it tell you anything in detail. It just listed the things you had to comply with, a drastic drop in finances, you had to be current with your mortgage etc. It mentioned nothing as to income, or job status. I am not a lazy person, I am not a quitter and I am not a taker. I have never been handed anything I didn’t earn. I have never used food stamps; I have never been on welfare. This was legitimate and it was good so I went about collecting the many, many documents I needed. Two years of tax returns, a year of bank statements, Utility bills, profit and loss statements, tax forms, financial information forms, borrower hardship forms, 4506-T Request for Transcript of Tax Return forms (3 times for that one)and the list goes on and on. Every single piece of paper had to have my loan number and name on it. I did everything by the book. I called every two weeks and every two weeks I would get conflicting stories. There were things missing, I had to fax the documents again. A month later they noticed that I hadn’t signed something that I had sent in weeks before so that had to be done over. Each person telling me that they looked my file over very carefully and it was all right and present and then the next week more things would be missing or not filled out properly. At one point I was told they were starting an “Imminent Default” department and I should take the inches and piles of papers and documents and FedEx them to this new dept. This cost me $40 that I didn’t have but I was so sure this was going to go through. How could it not? Meanwhile while the weeks flew by and everytime I had to call by the time the call ended I would be in tears. In the meantime I applied to become a registered nurse’s assistant at and went through rigorous training. I’m 61 for God’s sake; I will be in one of those god forsaken homes soon, sooner after this fiasco because it’s aged me beyond belief. They should pay for a face lift at this point. I digress. So here I am, doing my clinicals in a nursing home. I think all these poor people should be dead because there sure isn’t much living going on in these places. It sickened me, it deeply depressed me. Finally I graduated and after more tests, paperwork and background checks I got a job as a home aid. Not too good either. I absolutely hated, with a passion, doing this work. It didn’t give me a feeling of love towards these people. The clients were mean, nasty and disrespectful. I endured because now I was told by the Imminent Default people that if I hadn’t had a job they would have tossed my many pages and documents right into the old garbage and that would have finished me off. So now, I’m behind with things because its months later and I start sending my paystubs with current utility bills, bank statements etc. The list goes on and on and on and no matter when you think you’re finally done you are not. You are never done. Every two weeks I would dread calling. I would have to practically take a zanax with a bottle of wine just to get enough courage to call these people again. So call I did. I was told that everything was in order; it went to underwriting and would be over in a matter of weeks. I wept I was so happy. Two weeks later they needed more documentation, it had never gone to underwriting and I hope the person that erroneously told me that loses his home. So, from April 23, to October 9, 2009 I waited, I suffered and I managed to keep paying my loan off. On October 9th I received a letter from Chase (Wamu is now Chase) saying that my hardship isn’t permanent and that I don’t make enough money. No where way back in the beginning of time when I first started did it say anything about a hardship being permanent. It said you had to have had suffered a big loss in income which I did. They never told me exactly how much I had to be making to be eligible. My father even wrote them a letter saying he would supplement my income so it would be up to whatever it is they wanted. If I was paying a higher mortgage on my lower income what would make them think I couldn’t pay a lower mortgage on the same income? And we all have hardships but who says they are permanent. Hardship is something that causes suffering or privation. It doesn’t say hardship is a permanent event. Maybe I should cut off a limb or gouge out an eye maybe that would be permanent enough. I’m sure President Obama you didn’t have this kind of thing in mind when you set this up and I think you ought to go back and see what’s happening to these programs that are supposed to be there to help people like me that are trying everything they can to make it work. This was a travesty, it was a sham and it cost me not only money I didn’t have but angst beyond belief, depression, anger and tons of frustration dealing with people that were learning on me as we went along and so much precious time that was spread so thin I though I would fall through it. I should receive compensation for being your guinea pig. I should have gotten my loan modification. There is no justice. You gave me hope and now I’m despondent. I sometimes wish I never believed in this so much because I wouldn’t be so disappointed now.
So now I have my little house in the woods that I’m soon going to be in real danger of losing. It will go back to the bank; the bank will have to take a huge loss because they’ll never get near the money out that is owed.
My stepdad is willing to supplement my income so I won’t lose my house but only if it’s reduced in payments because he can’t afford to help me pay the full mortgage amount.
So, is there anyone out there that can help me? It’s just a little 2 bedroom, one bathroom home that is in the woods and is my magical little place. I have the trees surrounding me, the bears come by every now and then, the raccoons are here and the plants that my sister and I put in the ground are all around me even though she isn’t. She succumbed to breast cancer at age 49 last year, then I lost my best friend of 48 years in April, I’ve had a knee replacement last August and I totaled my car Friday. But, I keep going. I keep working and trying and pushing because that’s all I know. I feel if you’re a good person and you do what you’ve got to do and keep on going the Universe will look down and say “Hey, let’s give her just one break.” That’s all I want. A break and I swear, I will keep my little house in the woods forever and ever and live happily ever after.

I voted for you and I believe in what you are doing but sometimes you have to look back over your shoulder and make sure the programs you put into place really are helping those who need and deserve it. I need my case to be reopened and approved.

Thank you for whatever you can do if anything. It will be a miracle if you even read this letter.

Respectfully,

Kate Kenworthy
An American Person

Lynne October 13, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Kate….I am so sorry this is happening to you. If it will make you feel any better…..or at least a little saner….I am going through exactly the same thing you are. I have been going through this for a year and half….in the trial modification program for almost 6 months. It’s pathetic and very sad. We have sent the same paper work in 4 times. Twice this last month. Every time we call Chase we get a new person who doesn’t know anything. They can’t, or won’t even get you to a person who can help you. On the Chase.com web site they tell you that you will be assigned a modification assistant who will be helping you all through the process of approval. What a lie!!! Pres. Obama either has no idea that this plan is not working…..or just doesn’t care. I feel so sorry for old people, or people without a computer to research all this crap. They are destined to have their homes foreclosed upon. And all the while the Banks…Wall Street….and anyone else that wants money just gets it from the government. Even foreign countries. There have never been so many families that are homeless. They are living in campgrounds. Winter is coming and they are all going to freeze!! Congress doesn’t care either. If they did they would have let the bankruptcy attorneys help out with these mortgages. The judges are certainly smarter than the bank employees.

Anyway….I hope Pres. Obama gets your message and someone helps you with your little house in the woods.

cjl October 17, 2009 at 4:43 pm

I think that the President mistakenly assumed that the lending institutions would have the integrity to cooperate voluntarily. He underestimated the greed involved in the situation.
Greed on both of the fence too. I have seen people who could afford the mortgage{s} trying to get their loan modified just because they can. These are the Imminent DefaultPeople. They get put on the back burner, they aren’t losing money on them yet so they let them hang by the fingernails on the cliff for awhile. Sometimes these are the people who want more than they need. They don’t want to give up the Condo in Vegas, the Lexus or the BMW. They often have alot of unsecured debt.
If your hardship is something that was short term, something beyond your control such as divorce, loss of income, medical issues, or death, you have a chance. Don’t give up yet. But be aware the closer you get to 12 months down on your loan, the harder its going to be for you to get an offer. If you can’t make your payments because you are in foreclosure you better be saving as much as you can.The lender is going to want 30-50% down to start the deal. And they are going to give you 5 business days to get it to them if they even offer you a Plan. Some only allow you 18 months to cure the entire delinquency, which could raise your payment by 30-50% Think about these numbers and get a plan. No matter how it goes, it will do nothing but benefit you to be saving money. It could be used as your down payment toward a plan. Or the first months rent and security deposit on another place to live.
Do your own research. Most lenders have Borrowers Assistance Forms on their websites along with a list of required case support documents, phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mails etc…
The hardship affidavit and 4506-T can be found at MakingHomeAffordable.com. These forms are for the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA loans only. The same website has links to the Fannie and Freddie look up tools so you can see if you will qualify for a government program as well as a calculator to estimate what 31% DTI means to you.
If you have a private investor that has opted out of participating in the government programs, this is problematic, but it may still be worth a try, again depending on your DTI.
I do believe that after Dec 31/09 all lenders will be government mandated to participate in the program. Do your research, get all your ducks in a row, all the forms, all the case support documents, phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mails etc…don’t give up yet.

Ken October 30, 2009 at 4:05 pm

I have been in the same boat to. I called Wells Fargo in January to let them know I was going to have problems because of a divorce and los of income a commercial broker lending money. There is no money to lend ! So the divorce I had to settle along with attorneys fees and now I am 7 to 8 month sdown. They sent a letter to me signed by there Senior Vice President for a trial modification and they have no record of it being sent. But when I received the letter I called and set up the bank draft for my mortgage. I called to see were the packet of info they were to send me that I never did get and they said they sent it ya sure they did, So they said they would send it again. So today I called there corporate office and they show nothing about me being pre qualified for the HAMP program. They even told me what my payment would be. I cannot do this anymore its killing me. I need a Missouri attorney that I can go speak to in person that really cares about people and not his wallet. Any Sugestions for an attorney St Charles Missouri Area

Suzanne Oxford November 9, 2009 at 12:22 pm

I too am very frustrated wtih poor response I am getting from my mortgage company. I have sent and re-sent my Mortgage Assistance package of documents with no response from Citimortgage. They do keep asking me why I am not making my payments. It does not matter who you talk to, nothing ever gets done down there. It really is very frustrating and I really not sure if there is an answer .

All you who posted above, you have my complete sympathy. Yes I believe it is complete incompetence and greed on the banks part. They got their share of the tax payers’ money and do not seem to care if they help the people out or not.

Sharon Lambert November 26, 2009 at 2:33 pm

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH WRITING THE PRESIDENT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE WHITEHOUSE AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT IN RESPONSE. SEE BELOW.

Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing. I have heard from many families
unable to refinance mortgages or obtain loan modifications. I
appreciate hearing your perspective as I work to help more
Americans stay in their homes.

Today, access to the American Dream is being tested by a
mortgage crisis that threatens the stability of families,
neighborhoods, and our entire economy. Even if your own home
is not at risk of foreclosure, you are still affected. Even if you have
played by the rules and fulfilled all of your obligations, a
foreclosure in your neighborhood will have an impact on the value
of your home. This crisis has not only hurt home values
nationwide, it has also had a dramatic effect on the credit
Americans need to purchase cars, pay college tuition, and grow
small businesses.

My Administration has acted quickly to address this crisis
and implemented a housing plan, which can be viewed at:
http://www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov. It helps millions of
responsible families avoid foreclosure by allowing homeowners
with mortgages from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to refinance at
lower rates to make sure their homes remain affordable. This plan
helps us end the crisis without rescuing speculators, dishonest
lenders, and those who bought homes they knew they could not
afford. For assistance with a home foreclosure or to find a local
housing counseling agency, I encourage you to call the Department
of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-569-4287 or visit:
http://www.hud.gov/foreclosure. If you have a government loan and
need assistance working with a lender, you may also call 1-888-
995-HOPE to speak with a housing specialist.

The road ahead is difficult, but if we move forward resolutely–
with a deepened appreciation for how fundamental the American
Dream is and how fragile it can be when we fail in our collective
responsibilities–then I am confident we will overcome this crisis
and once again secure that dream for ourselves and future
generations. Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Maniraj Gandham December 4, 2009 at 7:57 am

Could some one help me with any Govt agency’s contact, to whom I can complain about my Loan modification which is being continuously being dragged with out any apparent reason.
They are just purposely delaying the whole process since April of 2009. I really want some one from the administration to know about this and at least point us to complain to some one.
This is very painful, hoping that you would be able to save your home if the payment is reduced by a couple of hundred dollars. The Bank is Wamu, which is now become JP Morgan Chase.

cindy fortin December 7, 2009 at 6:36 am

I have select portfolio services.. They are without a doubt the most heartless company I have ever had to deal with… I did everything that everyone else has done so far to try to get a modification from these people…The bottom line of where I am at right now after resubmitting all my finances etc.et. is that ohh they are sorry that someone didnt tell me that my investor with select portfolio doesnt participate in the loan modification program..sps does but NOT MY LENDER…I cryed and hung up the phone..I will lose my house..They went up on my mortgage 500.00 a month…Please help..

charles Ball December 17, 2009 at 3:24 pm

I am disabled from blood clots in my legs and I am trying to keep my legs , medical bills and medications are expensive my house pmt is 51% of my income , chase denied my loan modifacation today for the reason that I recieved a cost of living raise on my social security last year. I wish all of you luck , but I do not think many will get help

Cindy S December 31, 2009 at 11:17 am

I just got off the phone with my lender today. After 9 months of the run around, they have said that they do not have my loan file and that it was sent to another loan processor 3 weeks ago to start all over again!!!! I just talked to them last week and they never said a word. I too had a repayment agreement which they did not bind to. They claimed I defaulted because I did not pay the balloon payment. The balloon payment was to be included in the loan modification. How convenient for them.

Does anyone know who we can talk to to make these so and so’s accountable for the grief they are causing. They have a nonchalant attitude and do not give you any recourse to complain. You are at their mercy.

jeana February 6, 2010 at 3:54 pm

After a year and 8 trial payments, I finally received a Final Loan with Chase MHA. I went thru what all you went thru and then some. If you do get a loan mod please please beware of the fees and add on fees that the banks puts into the end of loan. Ask for the Check transaction history from the bank. I am now underwater on my home which before I was not. It did lower my payment which I am thankful for but now the add on fees they make up don’t seem to add up, so Please ask for the Check transation history that is the check’;s that they said they paid on your loan , becareful the banks are out for every dollar and they can get one way or another. They are greedy, slimy snakes that they only do what makes them $$$$$$$$. Good luck . You will need it but keep at it.

Pat Reece March 7, 2010 at 1:42 pm

I wonder if you can HELP me I have a construction loan with Indymac and they cut me off I could have finished the house in 2 months They still are sending me monthly bills
The house is in a custom area of La Habra Heights Calif
I have lost so much such as the propertry I used for the down and all the monies I had to put into the project It has been a nightmare
I hope you can Help Me I am 77 years old and this has been my retirement project Now I have nothing
Pat Reece

Moe Bedard March 7, 2010 at 1:51 pm

I am so sorry to hear about this Pat. Please join my forum at http://www.LoanSafe.org/forum if you want help online. You can also try http://www.NACA.com or http://www.995hope.org. Keep the faith!

joaquin massas March 12, 2010 at 6:36 pm

I wonder if you can HELP me TO stop foreclosure of my house they want to sell the house on march 30. they denied my modification .,I really need help ., I HAVE 4 children i dont now what to do please help

joaquin massas March 12, 2010 at 6:37 pm

I wonder if you can HELP me TO stop foreclosure of my house they want to sell the house on march 30. they denied my modification .,I really need help ., I HAVE 4 children i dont now what to do please help

Wes McKibbon March 15, 2010 at 10:17 am

I run a contact loan processing company and haven’t heard any of my broker clients talking about these programs, but I was having a conversation with a real estate agent the other day who was telling me that it is a great opportunity to assist people in need of help getting their loans modified. I’m also seeing a lot of posting on various Blogs talking about doing this. If anyone can send me information on who to connect with and how to offer this service I would be very intersted in learning more about the programs.

Thanks to the host of this blog posting all the links. I’m going to go through them today and hope I get a lot of answers to the question I have about loan modifications.

Wes McKibbon
Broker’s Best Contract Loan Processing

Veronica March 19, 2010 at 5:21 am

I am shocked. I thought it was just me getting the run around from Chase. I just happened to do a google search and look at what I found! We applied for a loan mod from Chase in April, 2009. I have sent forms, letters, bank statements, check stubs, etc. over and over again. Once I was told that I requested the loan modifcation process to be cancelled. I never did. I was told the lender Fannie Mae doesn’t have any money and our mortgage is on hold. I’m at a loss as what to do. If we had known this was going to happen way back last year, we would have done things differently. We might have sold our house when the values were higher and we could have walked away without owing anything. Do we file bankruptcy now on our other bills to keep a roof over out heads? Or give the keys to Chase because we can’t keep making the payments.

Marsy May 20, 2010 at 11:35 am

I can’t believe it I thought I am only one who is getting such a law treat from Bank of America, and others that I asked for help. Now I see lots of other are in the same boat as I am. I received the same exact respond as Sharon Lambert did, when I tried to get help from the WHITEHOUS, as well as from the office of Va. Senator (Senator Warner). You see they want your vote when they need it. But as soon as they got it, if you need their help they do not give a “d” about you. I understand what sharon is going through because
I am 60 years old and have lost all I worked through 40 years of my working years. All I had was in real estate and CountryWild Bank (Bank of America) and Wachovia Bank took it all. Now I have nothing, and Bank of America is planning to take my primary resident and make me homless. Neither Mr. Obama Nor any other polititions do care, because no one is taking their home away.

Naz Syed July 1, 2010 at 2:39 pm

My Mortage Company Green Tree LLc. approached me in Oct.2009 and said that they will get my loan modified as I was paing about 8%PA.They asked me to sent all the paper work they required and told me it was a two step Procedure. Step 1 . Trial period for 90 days .If I successfully complete it then the Step 2 will come in action Which was @ 2% intrest rate from 1 to 60 months and than 3 % intrest rate from 60 To 72 months and so on until 5% intrest rate. During all this time they keep telling me modification was approvedand I do not have to worry. On contrary the statements from Green Tree were not showing the modified payments I was making and than came the devastating news in May 2010 by the person whom i was getting assurances that my loan was not approvedand I have to put my house for Short sell. This mortgage company played Deceptive and frdulent Trade practises by not informing the customers that they were approved and every thing was fine. Now they want to foreclose the house and there is no help!!! I have a small grand daughter and family.I also lost the job in May and my husband has to close down the business in Dec 2009. No place to go.

Glen July 2, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Naz if you are in a negative equity situation we may be able to help you. My company does mortgage principal reduction. Please visit our website.

bpifer July 7, 2010 at 12:02 am

Is National Mod Prep out of AZ a legitimate company or a scam? Has anyone had any dealings with them?? Please email me at bnpiferone8@suddenlink.net if you have any info or know how I can check on them..

RANDY July 19, 2010 at 2:27 pm

I am applying for a home modification loan through my lender, WELLS FARGO. I have read over 100 comments, and have not found even 1 that said WELLS FARGO helped. Has anyone had a good experience with WELLS FARGO ??

rose July 25, 2010 at 8:49 am

Bank of America’s home loan modification process is a joke. July 2009, I did not qualify period. December 2009, fed ex letter arrives offering a modificaton with payment terms for a tial modificaton, which was affordable. When I called and asked them they said they were going to do the modificaton and had qualified me on my net pay for a modification. I send in all the paper work in the return fed ex return envelope. Including my 2008 tax return. which they never got. I started making my trial modification payment immediatly. I spend the next 5 months doing so, meanwhile, they never got my 2008 tax return. Each time I called I was provided with a different number to fax it to. Which was not the fax number. Finnaly, I got through to the underwriters with bank of america, who are in Florida. He acknowledged that everything was received and he was sending over to corporate to have them find the best plan for me. 5 months later, I got a letter, saying I did not qualify, as my income was over 31%, the income they had on the letter, was inflated by 400.00 a month. Bank of America, is giving everyone the run a round. They are running a dog and pony show to say the least. Everyone I know, is loosing their homes, who have tried to modify. Last week a family down the street, moved out. The bank had sold her house, for 160,00o.00 she owed 330,000.00. Who’s making the money here? The bank will now flip the house for a profit. This is the way the banks are dumping “toxic assets” so they can relize assets that have home value to loan. It should be illegal

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