Thursday, September 16, 2010

Facing Pasadena Foreclosures – Explore Other Options


Foreclosure Sign, Mortgage CrisisImage via WikipediaPasadena foreclosures are difficult to deal with, just like any other foreclosure. One reason that they are so hard to deal with is people wait until the last minute to face the fact that they are going through a foreclosure. If you get into financial trouble with your home loan the best thing that you can do is to deal with it right away. Finding out about your other options ahead of time improves your chances of avoiding foreclosure.

Basics of Pasadena foreclosure
Foreclosures happen when you no longer pay your mortgage. Once you stop paying your mortgage the bank has the right to take ownership of your home in order to satisfy your debt with the bank. Pasadena foreclosures are a legal process, so certain steps have to be followed in order for the lender to sell your home. No matter how long the process takes a foreclosure is difficult to face, but even harder to go through. Foreclosures not only mean you end up losing your home, but you also damage your credit, so finding a new home can be next to impossible.

Pasadena foreclosure Alternatives

1. Loan Workout: As soon as you start having problems paying your mortgage you will want to talk to either your mortgage lender or a housing counselor to see if you can work something out. In some cases, your lender can arrange to temporarily reduce your monthly payments or even suspend them so you can get back on your feet. If they can do this they will often adjust your monthly payment for a period of time to allow you to slowly pay back the amount due. Talking to a housing counselor or your lender can also give you other ideas on what other options you have.

2. Loan Modification: The loan modification is a great way to modify the terms of your loan, but can only be done through your current lender. There are different types of loan modifications that you can qualify for and the sooner you apply the sooner you can find out if you qualify. With loan modifications you can possibly get a reduced interest rate, lengthen the terms of your loan to lower your payment or even reduce the principal amount owed on the loan. Lenders offer in-house loan modifications, but they can also choose to participate in the government-subsidized Home Affordable Modification program. For more information on that program visit http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/

3. Pasadena short sale: Selling the property is another option, but if you owe more than the property is currently worth can make it hard to satisfy the debt that you owe. In cases where you owe more than the property is worth you will want to talk with your lender about doing a Pasadena short sale. If they agree to this will be willing to accept less than what is owed on the current loan in terms of a payoff. Even though a short sale can be harmful to your credit, it doesn’t look as bad as a Pasadena foreclosure. If you are interested in a Pasadena short sale, contact your Realtor to find out how to list your property and determine the asking price.

4. Refinance: If you cannot qualify for a loan modification or loan workout through your lender you might be able to refinance your current home loan for a lower interest rate. Although qualifying for a refinance can be difficult when faced with foreclosure because of the low property value, low FICO scores, and the reduced income levels. Even faced with a low FICO score don’t rule out the possibility of refinancing because each case is considered on an individual basis. If you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan you might be eligible for help under the Home Affordable Refinance program, which will work on loans up to 125% of the current value of the property. The Hope for Homeowner program for FHA-insured mortgages that offer a fixed rate you can refinance up to 96.5% of the current value of the property as long as you meet all of the other qualifications.

5. Other Alternatives: If none of the above options work for you other options to Pasadena foreclosure include borrowing money from family or friends or even supplementing your income. When faced with foreclosure renting out a room in your home or even taking on a second job is a great way to help pay your mortgage. If you own your own business and it is struggling you might qualify for an America’s Recovery Capital Loan, which is interest-free, and offers you deferred payments. In certain cases, lenders neglect to follow the proper legal procedures, which gives you the opportunity to file an injunction to halt the process. In other cases, loan documents contain discrepancies giving you the opportunity to sue your lender.

No matter what option you choose it is important to consider all of pros and cons of each method, which can include tax and credit consequences, as well as legal consequences. To find out more about each option contact a housing counselor. The housing counselor cannot only explain the options to you, but they can also work with your lender on your behalf. Visit the U.s. Department of Housing and Urban Development at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/ to obtain a list of approved housing counselors.

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