Housing Counseling Services Washington DC; Top Tips To Avoid Mortgage Mishaps

By Deborah Morris


For most people, a home is the most expensive asset they own. If it is necessary for you to apply for a mortgage in order to get a seat at the table of homeowners, it is vital to seek counseling before you make the first move. After all, shifty job markets can make you comfortable with a home purchase today and uncomfortable with the entire arrangement on the days that follow. If you require dependable housing counseling services Washington DC has a decent number of highly regarded counselors to offer.

A basic way to prevent mortgage mishaps is to set aside an emergency fund. Unforeseen financial obstacles are not alien and while it is good to hope for the best, you owe yourself the favor of preparing for the worst. Ensure that your rainy day fund is not lesser than $1,000. This way, financial emergencies will not mess with your ability to diligently repay your loan.

It is best to avoid taking a mortgage if you live paycheck to paycheck. It is always best to have somewhere else where you can cut your expenses for you to cover the home purchase loan without much strain. The majorities of people find it best to get part-time work because this allows them to increase the cash the pay for their mortgage and it also makes their everyday expenses easier to manage.

It is of paramount importance for you to manage your debt to avoid unforeseen financial problems. This means that you could even decide to cash out your assets such as stocks in order to reduce your mortgage debt to the best of your ability. In case you are not sure how to go about this, your counselor should be in a position to provide invaluable guidance.

During research for the best housing counselor, make sure the professional you choose is FHA approved. Such a specialist will have what it takes to offer you dependable guidance, irrespective of what is making you a distressed borrower. There are tips and resources that can make it less challenging for you to conquer the woes of distressed home ownership.

Each borrower will have a very unique story to share. This makes it crucial for you to seek personalized guidance on how to deal with your specific situation. Based on the details of your current position, it may be ideal to apply for refinancing. The idea is to be able to reduce the monthly payments and the interest rates at the same time.

In some instances, the best way out is to talk to your lender. Some lenders can agree to work with you even when you go through hard times. This may involve getting your payments suspended for a few months or even lowering the amount of cash you should pay on a month to month basis. You could also talk about getting a loan reinstatement which involves making one payment to clear mortgage arrears after which payments resume as usual.

Choosing to get a loan modified is a serious decision. Again, it pays to seek guidance from a skilled specialist before approaching your lender. In some instances, the most ideal way to avoid foreclosure or even bankruptcy is to talk to the bank about a short sale.




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