I met with a couple the other night and they were facing some tough choices
Question: Should We Walk Away From Our Home?
They bought a home at the height of the market and now it is worth less than they paid for it. Not only has their value dropped, but they owe more to the mortgage company than the home is presently worth.
They both have good jobs and are not behind in our mortgage payments. But some family members are saying they should walk away. That it’s not a big deal, and they could start over. Is it really that easy? Should they walk away from their home?
Answer: You need a place to live. There are plenty of good reasons to own a home. For another, you made a promise to repay a loan, and most people feel an ethical, if not legal, obligation to follow through on their word. It’s a matter of personal integrity.
And yet another reason is markets move in cycles. You can’t time the real estate market. Eventually, what goes down comes back up. Historically, real estate values appreciate over time.
You have better alternatives to Buy and Bail.
Internet Sites for Walking Away From Your Home
For some people, walking away is the only solution because they can no longer afford to make an increased mortgage payment due to an adjustable-rate mortgage loan. So, they look online for a solution.
There are no honest solutions online from these walkaway profiteers. These are companies that prey on troubled borrowers’ misfortune and perpetrate the myth that walking away and going into foreclosure is a logical, foregone alternative.
You don’t need the help of an online company to help you do what you can do for yourself. Don’t line the pockets of opportunists. There are plenty of nonprofit organizations that can help you negotiate with your lender or offer up other viable options, and they don’t charge you:
You don’t need the help of an online company to help you do what you can do for yourself. Don’t line the pockets of opportunists. There are plenty of nonprofit organizations that can help you negotiate with your lender or offer up other viable options, and they don’t charge you:
You can also find local nonprofit agencies that will give you free advice regarding foreclosure. Call your local council member’s office to get this information.
Foreclosure Scammers – If you fall behind on your payments, suddenly, plenty of foreclosure scams will find you. These companies will strip title from you faster than you can say, “What’s a quitclaim deed?” Don’t do business with them. Call a trusted friend or a real estate lawyer before agreeing to accept “help” from a company who wants to steal your home by making promises it can’t fulfill.
Stopping Foreclosure – If you’ve reached the point where a Notice of Default has been filed and you are headed into foreclosure, there are ways to stop foreclosure. Again, deal with reputable companies that don’t have a dog in race. Ask yourself, if the company stands to profit from helping me, how much help is it likely to offer?
Bottom Line on Foreclosures – Foreclosures will ruin your credit. That derogatory credit will stay on your credit report for 10 years. Short sales affect credit in an identical manner. Doing a short sale won’t save your credit report.
You may qualify to buy another home in two to three years, but the interest rate offered to you will be higher. If you are facing a situation like this and have questions, don’t hesitate to call me. We have been helping people in this area for many years and we can help you too.
MyNorthwestHomes.com 