Help, I’m Behind in My Mortgage Payments in West Michigan
“A City Lights Rentals flyer advertising cash offers for quick home sales in West Michigan, emphasizing the ease of selling as-is with no repairs needed.”
When you fall behind on your mortgage payments on your Grand Rapids MI home, it can feel like you’re drowning in debt.
Even if you’re able to make your monthly payment, catching up on a past due balance can be an overwhelming challenge.
There are a few options that can help you to avoid foreclosure in Grand Rapids and maybe even keep your house, even if you’re seriously behind in payments. Lots of properties in West Michigan have been lost to foreclosure, but there are many ways to avoid it.
First, it is important to understand where you are at in the foreclosure proccess. For that, checkout this link from Michigan.gov that breaks down each statage of foreclosure: Stages Of Foreclosure
Help, I’m Behind in My Mortgage Payments in Grand Rapid! 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Situation
1. Bankruptcy:
This is usually the tool of last resort. If you’re being crushed by lots of debt, bankruptcy can be a good way to negotiate with lots of lenders at once. It’s a lot of work, and it won’t help you avoid your mortgage. Different lenders will treat your circumstances in unique ways. You’d benefit from serious professional help – the best you can afford.
“A ‘Foreclosure Home for Sale’ sign, combined with a graphic representing financial troubles and a background of money, highlighting the challenges homeowners face during foreclosure.”
2. Reaffirm: You will not stay behind on your mortgage payments
This can be a good card to play if you are trying to get more time to get from behind your mortage payments, but it may come with some unseen penalties. Basically, reaffirming the loan is an additional commitment to pay. In some states where it’s allowed, an affirmation can create additional liabilities if your property is auctioned.
3. Making Home Affordable (MFA):
If your mortgage qualifies, you might be able to participate in MHA. Any loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac must be considered for MHA, and other lenders choose to participate in MFA.
With MFA, your payments and/or interest rates might be lowered – even the principal balance (if your home is worth less than you owe). If you’re unemployed, you might be able to get your payments temporarily suspended or reduced.
MFA is a government program, so be prepared to deal with lots of paperwork. It ain’t free money – you gotta work for it. This will make help you if you are behind on your mortage payments.
4. Negotiate with your bank: If You Are Behind on Mortgage Payments
Lots of lenders routinely offer some level of assistance. You have to work hard at it, but you might be able to get your interest rate reduced or a temporary reduction in your payment.
Most of the time, lenders will want to steer you to refinance your loan – but by the time you’re a few payments behind, you probably don’t qualify for a reduction in interest rate.
You have to work really hard to negotiate with a bank. Usually, it takes lots of calls and the patience of a saint to get through the bureaucracy. Never, ever act rude. Ask for help from everyone you speak with, but don’t sound desperate. Explain to them that you just got a bit behind in your mortgage payments, but you are getting caught up now. Explain your situation, offer supporting documents, and reassure the bank that you want to live in your home for the long term.
If you’re in need of a temporary fix and want to stay in your home, most banks can be forgiving. Sometimes they’ll be willing to add a few months of payments back onto the primary balance of your loan. It’s all dollars and cents to them, so remind them that you need their help to give them a lot more money in the long run. If they have to sell your house at a foreclosure auction, they’ll take a huge loss – however, sometimes selling your home for cash quick beforehand is the best option.
That sounds obvious, but for some reason, bankers seem to forget it when saying no to someone in need of help.
5. Borrow money from a private investor:
If you’re behind on your payments and need to sell fast, we can help.
In certain circumstances, we may even be able to help you stay in your home.
We work with homeowners in Grand Rapid, Muskegon, Battle Creek or anywhere in West Michigan to find solutions to foreclosure problems.
We’ll let you know how we can help.
Give us a call now at 616-723-8007 or
fill out the form on this website to get started.
