Resources · Financial Hardship
Behind on Your Mortgage: A Calm First-Steps Guide
What actually happens, in what order, who helps for free, and what to be careful of — without the panic.
Falling behind on a mortgage starts a process — not an event. The process has stages, most stages leave room to act, and acting earlier preserves more options. This guide is general information, not legal advice; the resources below can address your specific situation.
First steps, in order
- Open the mail and answer the phone. Deadlines and options are in those letters, and ignoring them only removes choices.
- Call your loan servicer and ask about loss-mitigation options — repayment plans, forbearance, and loan modification. Servicers are generally required to review alternatives.
- Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor. Their advice is free, confidential, and independent — hud.gov/findacounselor or 1-800-569-4287.
- Get legal advice for legal questions — foreclosure timelines, bankruptcy, and estate complications belong with a qualified attorney.
Be careful of
- Anyone who asks you to sign over your deed 'temporarily'
- Upfront fees for foreclosure 'rescue' — legitimate counseling is free
- Pressure to sign anything on the spot
- Promises that sound like guarantees — outcomes depend on your loan and situation
Where we fit
If keeping the home isn't workable, a sale you control is a very different outcome from a foreclosure — and there may be more ways to run one than you've been told. A private, judgment-free conversation about where things stand costs nothing and stays confidential.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (housing counselor program)