(StatePoint)—Life’s unexpected challenges can make meeting monthly mortgage payments difficult. The good news? Help is available to avoid foreclosure.
Indeed, Freddie Mac has completed more than 255,000 foreclosure prevention actions in 2021, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Whether you’re currently behind on payments or foresee trouble ahead, Freddie Mac advises taking the following steps as quickly as possible to get back on track:
Assess Your Situation
Whether it’s due to unemployment, illness, natural disaster or other reasons, identifying the cause of your financial hardship and anticipating its duration are important. These factors can help determine the best solution for you. (A short-term hardship is over within 12 months. A long-term hardship extends beyond 12 months.)
Contact Your Servicer
Your servicer—the company where you send mortgage payments—is your best resource throughout the process. They will provide you with the available mortgage relief options based on your particular situation, which typically begins with being placed in a temporary forbearance program. Remember, your servicer is there to help. If you think you’re going to have trouble paying your mortgage, don’t wait. Call them immediately! And if you’re already behind on your mortgage or currently in a workout option, respond to their outreach efforts to keep an open dialogue going throughout the process.
Know Your Options
No matter where you stand, there are solutions. Here are some to consider:
- Forbearance is an agreement between you and your loan servicer that either pauses or reduces monthly mortgage payments for a limited time. Consider forbearance if you’re currently unable to make payments but think you’ll be able to resume soon.
- With payment deferral, missed mortgage payments move to the end of your loan term, but your monthly mortgage payment amount stays the same. Consider payment deferral if your hardship is resolved but you’re unable to repay missed mortgage payments as a lump sum or by increasing monthly payments. Freddie Mac Flex Modification, for example, provides up to a 20 percent mortgage payment reduction that permanently changes one or more of the original terms of your mortgage, such as the interest rate and mortgage term. Ask your loan servicer whether this may be an option for you.
- With partial reinstatement, you pay a portion of missed mortgage payments as a lump sum. To pay off the rest, your loan servicer works with you to create a repayment plan.
- With full reinstatement, you pay the total owed mortgage payments as a lump sum, making your mortgage current. This a good choice if you can afford it.
- Refinancing your mortgage lowers your interest rate or replaces an adjustable-rate mortgage with a more affordable fixed-rate mortgage. This is a good choice if you’re current on payments but would benefit from reduced payments in the future. This year, more than 600,000 homeowners with a Freddie Mac-backed mortgage refinanced into a more affordable loan.
- COVID-19 relief is offered by many loan servicers to those struggling due to the pandemic.
- Of course, if homeownership is no longer affordable or desirable, there are options too. Short sale and deed-in-lieu, for example, can help you exit your home without facing the costs associated with foreclosure.
For more homeowner resources, visit My Home by Freddie Mac at myhome.freddiemac.com.
If you’re struggling to make mortgage payments, take action quickly. Doing so can help you prevent foreclosure and stay in your home.