Can I prevent a foreclosure on my home?

The best defense in a foreclosure is to prevent it. Whatever the reason – be it lack of employment, medical bills - thousands of people are discovering that they can no longer make their loan / mortgage payments.

This is not the time to fall into a daze of denial. You must remain in a pro-active position. Act while you are still in the bank’s good graces!

You can stop a foreclosure.

First:

• Contact your lender – ask for the loss mitigation department. You will need your loan number. Tell them your situation and what steps you are taking.
• Do not ignore any notices.
• Keep all records of your contacts with the lender – who you spoke to, what day and time, what was the result of your conversation. Even if no one will speak with you – record that note.
• If you need to send anything in writing, send it by certified mail return receipt.
  

A foreclosure defense attorney can intercede on your behalf. I have found that too many people are in such denial that they ignore the proceedings until the auction is scheduled and then that week they call my office for help – and there are few options at that point!

Remain pro-active – many laws have been passed to protect homeowners and you can benefit from them.

Open Letter to our Legislators

As my elected official, you should know that I strongly support President Obama's initiatives to help millions of American homeowners and reduce the massive wave of home foreclosures that are fueling today's national economic crisis. I urge you to adopt the President's plan to prevent home foreclosures that do not need to happen. A key part of the Obama plan would permit distressed homeowners to seek home loan modifications in bankruptcy court.

I do not think that what has been tried so far to stop the foreclosure crisis is working. If families are going to stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure, it seems clear that court-supervised mortgage modifications are necessary. We have wasted too much time already on half measures and other dead-end efforts that have done nothing to slow down the runaway foreclosure crisis.

I particularly like the judicial modification approach because it can prevent hundreds of thousands of foreclosures without spending one penny of taxpayer money. Is it too much to ask that you take this no-cost action for homeowners? After all, you have seen fit to spend billions of dollars on bailing out banks, car companies, brokerage firms and other corporate giants. It's time that we face facts: We can't end the financial crisis without ending the rising tide of foreclosures.

At a time when an estimated 6,600 families are losing their home to foreclosure each and every day, there is no time for delay. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to support this urgently needed legislation.

American families are reeling under the weight of the recession today. At a point where you can help lighten that load and save the homes of many Americans, I am asking you to support judicial modification of mortgages. This nation needs to put the housing crisis behind it.

As my elected official, you can be assured that I will be watching with great interest to see how you come down on this issue of great importance to my family, my neighborhood and my community.

Please keep me informed about how you vote on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Michele A. Peters, Esq.