Get The Foreclosure Help You Need Sooner Rather Than Later

By Adam Whazzer

Time is not on your side when facing potential 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.

With loss mitigation, attempts are made to negotiate the mortgage terms in the hopes of preventing foreclosure. Loan modifications are normally required with the new terms. Forms of loan modification include: short sale or short refinance negotiation, deed in lieu of cash, cash-for-keys, or a partial claim loan or other loans. All of these options are meant to lessen the risk of loss to the lender.

Types of loss mitigation include:

When a homeowner and a bank come to an agreement on new terms for the mortgage, a loan modification is done. This loan can result in decreased interest rates and principal balances, adjustable rates being turned into fixed rates, longer repayment period, forbearance or combinations of several of these.

When the value of a home is not worth the amount that is owed on it, a short sale loan may be available. With a short sale loan, the principal is decreased so that the homeowner can sell it for the actual value.

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.

Being released from every obligation of a mortgage is what a deed in lieu of does for the homeowner. Collateral is presented to the bank in return for being released.

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 granted that will allow for no payments or reduced payments for a specified amount of time. When the period ends, a repayment plan to pay the missed payments may be setup. Sometimes the loan will just be modified.

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.

With loss mitigation, the biggest benefit is avoiding foreclosure. This form of help is meant to make it easier for the homeowner to make their payments or to release them from their obligations under the loan. Foreclosures not only affect the homeowner but the lender as well. - 29866

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