Take Action Now!

Contact Your Lender

Lenders do not want to take your home! Contact your lender as soon as you realize you have a financial challenge that might delay your mortgage payment. Open and respond quickly to all mail from your lender or their agents. Delay will reduce the options lenders may make available to you. Learn about the approaches lenders use to help borrowers.

Meet with a Nonprofit Housing Counselor

Come to your housing counseling appointment prepared for progress! If you cannot get a timely appointment or cannot travel to a counselor’s office, a free telephone nonprofit counseling option is available 24/7 from the national HOPE hotline, 1-888-995-HOPE.

Avoid foreclosure “rescue” scams

FREE and objective assistance from a nonprofit housing counselor and your lender is available! Don’t sign any legal documents without first getting objective legal advice. Learn about common predatory real estate practices so that you can avoid them. If you feel you have been the victim of a scam or a predatory practice, report this to the Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation, 1-888-784-0136.

Prioritize your spending and SAVE money

Review your finances and cut spending where you can. Look especially at variable expenses like entertainment, clothing, and memberships. Do you have assets you can sell? Can anyone in your household work more hours for additional income? Efforts such as these are important to demonstrate to your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home. Learn more about budgeting and savings strategies.

If foreclosure is unavoidable

There are other supportive services in your area, such as the United Way’s 211 / First Call for Help which can be reached by calling 1-800-492-0618, or, in most regions, 211.

If you need to locate rental housing, see our housing locator service or call 1-877-428-8844.