Foreclosure Prevention Resources

Government Mortgage Modification Programs

z Making Home Affordable

 www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov

 www.FinancialStability.gov

Hope for Homeowners (H4H)

	  http://portal.HUD.gov

	  (800) CALL-FHA or (800) 225-5342

Foreclosure Mitigation Assistance/Counseling

z U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

 Development (HUD)

	  www.HUD.gov

	  www.HUD.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc

	  (800) 569-4287

Homeownership Preservation Foundation

 www.995hope.org 

	  (888) 995-HOPE or (888) 995-4673 

z NeighborWorks America

	  www.FindaForeclosureCounselor.org 

	  www.NW.org/network/home.asp

FDIC Foreclosure Prevention Website

z www.FDIC.gov/foreclosureprevention

z (877) ASK-FDIC or (877) 275-3342

Report Foreclosure Scams

z Federal Trade Commission

	  www.FTCComplaintAssistant.gov

	  www.FTC.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/

 credit/mortgage.shtm

	  (877) FTC-HELP or (877) 382-4357

z State Attorney General Contact List at 

 www.NAAG.org/attorneys_general.php

z State, County, City Consumer Protection Offices 

 at www.ConsumerAction.gov/state.shtml

Talk to a Counselor

If you are having trouble making your mortgage 

payment, talk to a counselor who can help you assess 

your financial situation and work with your lender or 

servicer to see if you can avoid foreclosure. 

Avoid Foreclosure Scams

Non-profit counseling agencies provide free or low 

cost foreclosure prevention counseling services. There 

is no need to pay a private company 

for these services. 

Call Homeowners HOPE Hotline at 

(888) 995-4673

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation provides 

non-profit HUD-approved counselors across the United 

States that are dedicated to helping homeowners. These 

counselors can work with you to avoid foreclosure.

Make a Budget, Find a Solution

Professionally trained 

and certified counselors can help you to 

evaluate your current 

financial situation. 

Counselors also will 

help you to figure out 

what options are available and help you find a solution. 

FDIC-033-2009
I

f you are having financial difficulties - due 

to a job loss, a higher mortgage payment, 

or any other reason - you are not alone.

The economic crisis has made it hard for many

responsible homeowners to make ends meet. The 

good news is that many people who were finding 

it difficult to make their mortgage payment have 

been able to save their home, and you can too. You 

could lose your home if you ignore the problem and 

do nothing. Get in touch with a counselor and your 

servicer (the company to whom you send your 

monthly mortgage payment) today.

Your Servicer Wants to Help

Your servicer wants to help you keep your home. 

Many servicers implemented new loan modification 

programs in 2009 to assist homeowners experiencing 

financial difficulties by lowering their monthly mortgage payments. Plus, many servicers are participating 

in the government’s Making Home Affordable 

Program and are working with non-profit counseling 

agencies through HOPE NOW. 

Contact Your Servicer Today

Many servicers have recently added new mortgage 

modification programs for home loans. Call your 

servicer even if your request has been turned down 

before, as you might qualify under a new program. Be 

patient and persistent if you don’t reach your servicer 

on the first try, as other homeowners are seeking help 

as well. If you don’t know who services your loan or 

how to contact them, check your mortgage statement 

or look on-line at http://HopeNOW.com/index.php. 

Apply for a Loan Modification

In a mortgage loan modification, you and your 

servicer agree to permanently change one or more 

of the mortgage’s terms to make the payments more 

manageable for you. The changes could include 

reducing the interest rate, extending the term of the 

loan, forbearing (interest free) or forgiving principal, or 

a combination of these factors. 

Save Money

A loan modification could lower your monthly 

mortgage payment by hundreds of dollars and save 

your home from foreclosure!

Check Out Making Home Affordable

The Making Home Affordable Program is part 

of the U.S. government’s plan to help families set an 

affordable mortgage payment. The program lowers borrowers’ housing-related expenses (principal, 

interest, taxes, insurance, and assessments or PITIA*) to 

31% of gross monthly income (before tax deductions). 

The program also will pay you up to $1,000 per year on 

your principal for 5 years if you make your payments 

on time. To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility 

criteria, including:

1. The home is your primary residence.

2. Amount owed on first mortgage for a single family 

 home is $729,750 or less.

3. Mortgage dated before January 1, 2009.

4. First mortgage payment* is over 31% of gross

 monthly income.

5. You are having financial difficulty making your 

 current monthly payment.

Respond to Requests for Information

You will need to provide your servicer with key documents under the program before a modification can 

be granted. Avoid missing a deadline by responding 

to requests for information and providing documents 

in a timely manner. Information you will or may need 

readily available is listed in the following Borrower 

Modification Document Checklist.

Borrower Modification 

Document Checklist

 Two most recent pay stubs

 Most recent Federal income tax return

 Form 4506-T - Request for Transcript of Tax Return 

(servicer provides)

 Most recent bank statement for 1 month (To verify 

direct deposits, e.g. social security, rental income, 

other income) 

 Profit and Loss Statement (for self-employed 

borrowers)

 Hardship Affidavit (available at: 

http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/docs/

hamphardshipaffidavit.pdf

Non-escrowed loans, Proof of Payment of:

 Most recent real estate taxes

 Homeowner’s (hazard) insurance 

Other Modification Documents

 Financial statement

 Utility bills







Stop living in fear of 

losing your home