Take Root South Florida

How can I get Help?

If you are having financial difficulty or facing foreclosure, there are many reputable organizations that can provide you with assistance.

Foreclosure Partner Assistance

Participants of Take Root South Florida are working hard to connect borrowers with non-profit housing counselors that can provide information on a borrower's options when facing foreclosure. Counselors can also act as facilitators for communication between lenders and borrowers. All assistance is confidential and provided to you free of charge.  We encourage you to call the hotline if:

• You have not yet missed a mortgage payment but are concerned that you may miss future payments.
• You are already behind on the payments.
• You have received a notice of foreclosure.
• You are having trouble communicating with your mortgage lender.

Also, be sure to check our Calendar of Events for workshops that are open to the public where you can get free, professional help on-site.

Protect your future! Let us help you plan carefully before you make any decisions. Call the Take Root South Florida Information Line now at 211.

Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center

If you are a homeowner with a Freddie Mac-owned mortgage and you are behind on your monthly bills (including your mortgage), free, confidential financial counseling assistance is available. Choose either in-person assistance through a local Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center in your area, or call the national Borrower Help Network participant.

HUD-approved counselors will work with you to:

• Provide free, confidential financial counseling;
• Review your current income and expenses and provide options to your financial challenges; and
• Assess your options for avoiding foreclosure.

There is no obligation for you to take any action after your financial counseling session.

 Click Here for more information about Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center

Does Freddie Mac own your loan? Click here to find out.

Free, in-person help is available at the following Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center locations: 

Southeast

Cuban-American National Council
1223 SW 4th Street
Miami, Florida 33135
888-669-0379 – phone
www.cnc.org  

Urban League of Broward County
3521 West Broward Boulevard
Suite 201
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312
888-884-9386 – phone
www.ulbroward.org 

Your Lender
Your first line of defense should always be your lender. Your lender may have options to help you avoid foreclosure and can be your biggest ally if you are having difficulty paying your mortgage. When you speak to your lender or servicer, take notes, including the date of the call and the name or employee number of the person you speak with and write down what they say.

Housing and Credit Counseling Organizations
Housing and credit counseling organizations provide many resources and may be able to help you with confidential budget and debt counseling options.

• Contact a South Florida foreclosure agency. For a complete list, click here.
• Sign up for a foreclosure prevention workshop for homeowners sponsored by a non-profit community-based organization in the South Florida area,click here.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide free or low-cost assistance at 800-569-4287 or click here for more information.
• Call the Take Root South Florida information line  at 211.

Independent Foreclosure Review Available for Homeowners (Must have been involved is a foreclosure between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 to be eligible)

If your primary residence was involved in a foreclosure process between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, you may qualify for a free Independent Foreclosure Review.

The Independent Foreclosure Review will determine whether individual borrowers suffered financial injury and should receive compensation or other remedy because of errors or other problems during their home foreclosure process.  If you believe you are eligible to participate in the program, you may complete and submit a Request for Review Form.

All Requests for Review Forms must be submitted online or postmarked no later than July 31, 2012.

All the information can be found on the Independent Foreclosure website listed below. 

https://independentforeclosurereview.com/

The Making Home Affordable Program
Find out if you’re eligible for the Making Home Affordable Program’s Home Affordable Refinance or Home Affordable Modification options. For more information, please click here.

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
For more information about this group, click here, or call 561-655-8944.

Florida Hardest Hit Program

The federal government has allocated funding to help pay the mortgages of qualified homeowners who are unemployed or underemployed through no fault of their own. Troubled homeowners in all 67 counties who want to apply for HHF financial assistance will be able to do so via this website.

Homeowners who qualify for financial assistance may receive up to twelve (12) months of monthly mortgage payments (including escrowed mortgage-related payments) and/or funds to pay past due mortgage payments to bring the mortgage current; these funds are paid directly to the loan servicer/lender. www.flhardesthithelp.org/

FHFA Announces Short Sale Assistance for Military Homeowners with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Loans

Last week Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco announced changes to short sale policies that will make it easier for military homeowners with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to honor their financial commitments when they are required to move as part of their duty. Under the new policy, military homeowners who receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders will be eligible to sell their homes in a short sale even if they are current on their mortgage. PCS orders often require quick moves and can create hardship for military homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages and therefore cannot sell their home without taking a loss. Previously, many service members felt their only option was either to maintain financial obligations on two residences or to default on their mortgage. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not pursue a deficiency judgment or any cash contribution or promissory note from members of the military with a change in duty station for any property purchased on or before June 30, 2012. Service members must have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan to be eligible.

Stay Updated!!

Home Preservation  information is always changing.  To receive updates on new or current programs CLICK HERE and fill out the email form.