The Washington State attorney general’s office recently released three videos that explain your rights and options should you be facing a foreclosure or short sale of your home.
As an active Realtor®, I frequently receive phone calls from people that are already behind on their payments, or feel as though they will soon be in trouble with their mortgage. Sometimes, the call is from someone that is trying to get out from under a home that has lost significant value and is now worth far less than what they owe. Each of these types of calls requires a knowledgeable response and action. Sometimes the best response is to refer the person to an attorney. Most often, however, it’s a chance to help educate the caller as to the possible options based on their personal situation.
The three videos provided by Rob McKenna (Washington State Attorney General) and his staff explain some of the options available and the impact of these options on the consumer who may be facing a foreclosure or short sale of their home.
Each of the videos is moderated by Annie Fitzsimmons, the legal counsel for Washington Realtors. They are easy to understand and just a few minutes long. If you are facing a foreclosure or short sale, I urge you to take the time to view these videos, then give me a call if you have any questions or if you would like to discuss them.
In Part One, Mr. McKenna provides an overview of the options that are available:
In Part Two, Marc Cote, a Certified HUD Housing Counselor, discussses what will happen when you meet with a HUD Housing Counselor, what you need to be prepared for the meeting, and the options available when working with a HUD Counselor:
Part Three, presented by Rob Dickson, Lawyer and Short Sale Negotiator, discusses the short sale process, along with some of the difficulties that are faced when negotiating a short sale.
Obviously, at this moment many of us that are homeowners are facing significant loss of value in our homes and sometimes it takes just the smallest event to trigger an inability to make mortgage payments. Should that happen to you, please contact me at 206.300.8421 or gabrielle@gabriellenemes.com just to talk … and take advantage of the resources outlined in these videos.
I like that you try to help educate people who are facing foreclosures or short sales instead of just passing them off. While recommending people in that situation a lawyer will often be helpful, it’s always good to teach people more about their situation than sending them in blind. Many people facing foreclosure or short sale are already in over their head, so teaching them how to get out and discussing their options is a great way to help them feel more comfortable. Thanks for the article and the videos!
We offer Foreclosure Defense Chicago, Strategic Foreclosure, Loan Modification etc. Whether or not a person qualifies for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is determined by using the “means” test. In basic terms, the means test looks at an individual’s income and expenses and allows the Bankruptcy to proceed if the numbers fit within a set of guidelines. Deed in lieu of foreclosure Thank you.