The Homeownership Preservation Foundation, a Minneapolis-base nonprofit organization dedicated to homeownership preservation and foreclosure prevention, has launched a toll-free, confidential hotline to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. When homeowners call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673), they are instantly connected to experts who work for counseling agencies certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counselors are specially trained to help homeowners resolve financial concerns, discuss available options based on their financial circumstances, and establish a dialogue between the homeowner and the homeowner's mortgage company.
Based on the foundation's research, slightly more than 50 percent of homeowners are uncomfortable contacting their mortgage company for help. The hotline was created to provide an alternative resource for homeowners and to encourage them to seek assistance before losing their home.
Foreclosures are costly. "Besides the obvious loss to the homeowner, the values of homes near foreclosed properties drop. A typical city may lose up to $33,000 per foreclosed home, and an average foreclosure may cost a mortgage company $50,000 or more per home," said Walt Fricke, president and executive director of the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, in a news release.
Over the last five years, nearly 2.9 million U.S. households have foreclosed, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. "With the rising number of foreclosures that have occurred over the past five years, providing a hotline for homeowners is long overdue," Fricke said. "We believe we can make a difference 79 on behalf of the mortgage industry."
For more information, call the hotline at I-888-995-HOPE, or visit www.995HOPE.org or the foundation's Web site, www.hpfonline.org. San Diego County real estate for sale by owner
I think this is so great! We need to help people with homeownership preservation and foreclosure prevention. I’m going to tell all my friends.
Stephanie
San Francisco Law
With the way bush’s government is screwing up the market should we really be listening to his counseling agencies? Certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development you say? Pish Posh.
Rebecca
San Diego California Laser
This is so cool! It’s just like the commercials that help people get out of debt, only it’s just for keeping your home payments and such under control. I think this needs to be publicized just like the debt commercials. Maybe this is what our country needs to get out of the recession! more help please!
Paula
San Diego County Cosmetic Surgery
I can’t believe half of homeowners aren’t even comfortable to discuss important questions with their own mortgage company. I hope people are way more comfortable with this hotline. I know i’m going to recommend it to my daughters. I don’t know much about it and I bet they’ll feel comfortable calling this number.
Jake
San Diego County Medical Research
I think this will really help lower foreclosure numbers. They are really getting ridiculous.
Ollie
Los Angeles California Bail Services
If homes take 18 months on average to work through the foreclosure process.. Imagine what foreclosures will look like 18 months from now! CALL THIS NUMBER PEOPLE. SEEK HELP!!
Ethan
Medicine for Acne