"WOW!...The Government Will Pay My Mortgage"

There are now programs that will make your mortgage payments for you when you get into financial trouble. For example, Pennsylvania law, 35 P.S. § 1680.401 et seq., states it will provide "mortgage assistance payments to homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes through foreclosure and through no fault of their own and who have a reasonable prospect of resuming mortgage payments within the prescribed time frame." Pennsylvania calls it the "Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program." To find out if there are programs in your area contact the local HUD approved Housing Counseling agency at 1-800-569-4287; www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm Income requirements vary.

Foreclosure Help
Contact the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation at 888-995-HOPE; www.995HOPE.org which is part of neighborhood Works Center for Foreclosure Solutions. This is a non-profit organization who have trained foreclosure prevention counselors on staff who will help homeowners with budgeting help, a written financial plan, assistance in contacting the lender, and referrals to other resources. This hotline is available 24/7 and counselors answer the phone. The Neighborhood Works program also has over 200 sites across the country where you can learn about pre-purchase counseling, home repair programs, and more. You can check them out at http://www.nw.org/network/home.asp There are no income requirements.

Refinance Made Easy
The Federal Housing Administration will help an estimated 240,000 families avoid foreclosure by enhancing its refinancing program. FHASecure will allow families with strong credit histories who had been making timely mortgage payments before their loans reset-but are now in default- to qualify for refinancing. This program is effective immediately. FHASecure is designed for families who are good credit risks but were steered into high-cost loans with teaser rates. For more information call the Federal Home Administration at 800-CALL-FHA or www.fha.gov There are no income requirements.

Pay Your Mortgage, Downpayment, or Closing Costs
Trouble in the house? HUD may be able to help. HUD provides a list of housing counseling agencies that can give you advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and working with lenders. To find a counseling agency near you contact Housing Counseling Clearinghouse at 800-569-4287; http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm There are no income requirements.

Help With Buying A Home
Never owned a home or haven’t for at least three years? Or are you recently on your own due to a divorce? You are considered a first-time homeowner and qualify for special programs offered from your state housing finance agency. Many offer low-interest, help with down payments, homeownership counseling, and more. To locate your state housing finance agency go to www.govengine.com and click on your state of go to the National Council of State Housing Agencies at: http://www.ncsha.org/section.cfm/4/39/187 There are no income requirements.

Get $1,000 From Your Bill Collectors
There is little incentive for debt collectors to follow the rules they have to follow. They can’t give false information about you to anyone. They cannot threaten you or say you will be arrested, your wages or property will be attached or you will suffer a lawsuit. They cannot call you before 8am or after 9pm and there are ways to stop them from calling. For more information contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission 1-877-FTC-HELP or go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm There are no income requirements.

Fight Your Bank, Credit Card Company, Mortgage Company
You need to know who to contact if you have issues regarding your financial situation. For banks with the work “National” in their names contact Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1301 McKinney St., Suite 3450, Houston, TX 77010; 800-613-6743; www.occ.treas.gov. FDIC-Insured Banks contact Office of Consumer Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17^th St., NW, Room F-130, Washington, DC 20429; 202-736-0000; 800-934-3342; www.fdic.gov. For Savings and Loans contact Office of Thrift Supervision, U.S. Department of Treasury, 1700 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20552; 202-906-6000; 800-842-6929; www.ots.treas.gov. Contact your State Banking Authority at http://library.hsh.com/?row_id=67 There are no income requirements.