Home Sellers Cautioned to Be Wary About Foreclosure Gurus

photo credit cogdogblog

We usually try to keep our blog posts confined to local market conditions, advice and information specific to Fallbrook, Bonsall, Carlsbad and nearby North County San Diego communities, but increasingly we are hearing from clients about a variety of questionable “solutions” for re-structuring mortgages, lowering interest rates, and decreasing mortgage debt. There is so much chatter on the subject, that we felt it warranted this blog post.

On the surface, many “foreclosure avoidance” offers and deals sound great, but all too often homeowners end up getting fleeced, paying for services not provided — or worse. That’s why it pays to become an informed consumer. Don’t rely simply on the advice of an attorney, housing counselor, or realtor without first understanding all the facts. Get educated before you decide to short-sell your home, enter foreclosure, or restructure your mortgage. Knowledge is especially important if you are facing foreclosure. So with these thoughts in mind, here are some sites worth visiting:

1. California State Attorney General’s Office – 5 Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

2. United States Department of House and Urban Development – Talk To A Housing Counselor

3. Information on HUD’s Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program – Information On Short Selling Your Home

4. MakingHomeAffordable.gov – An official program of the U.S. Treasury and HUD

5. Oceanside Branch of Money Management International – HUD Approved Mortgage Counselor

6. KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org – Interactive website administered by the California Housing Finance Agency. This interactive website  helps users determine if they are a good candidate for the free mortgage assistance program, and, if so, which program works best for them.

Published on Thursday, August 18, 2011