During the foreclosure process, many groups are in the business of contacting homeowners to help them. Even right before giving up your home after unsuccessful eviction hearings, you could hear from the likes of mortgage brokers, mortgage negotiations, Chapter 13 lawyers, private finance providers, and the proverbial scam artist. Each of them serve a unique role in trying to help (or not) you out of foreclosure. Let’s discuss how each of them operate and what services they can provide.
Hearing from mortgage brokers happens more often than you think whenever foreclosure time rolls around. If your home has accumulated enough equity, many mortgage brokers will start contacting you to refinance and stop foreclosure. Just be weary – interest rates and closing costs on these loans are sky high and may remain that way due to a poor credit status. Another group of people are Chapter 13 lawyers. If your income is steady, Chapter 13 can be used to salvage your home. If you’re contacting by these people, check their reputability first. Many lawyers are known to run operations where work is passed on the paralegals who avoid personal attention.
Investors (mostly from the private sector) also target foreclosure bound folk to fatten their portfolios and offer their services. Some arrange new home loans for clients while others want to buy your house outright. Remember, you should never sell your home unless you want to move out or if payments are getting tougher to handle with an older mortgage and refinancing with solid terms seems impossible.
All in all, there are many groups that will "call you out" come foreclosure time. Always verify the integrity of these sources by conducting a Google search for a company name, collecting information, and gauging their stance in the industry. Be weary of con artists that encourage foreclosure facing homeowners to sign false deeds and give up their homes for nothing — making Chapter 13 impossible.