Facing Foreclosure: Do Something Now! Washington DC and Maryland Contacts

The Numbers are staggering, According to the Mortgage Bankers association every month 250,000 families enter into foreclosure. Unfortunately many homes are foreclosed on needlessly. Many homeowners  who fall behind in their mortgage simply do the ostrich thing. The worst thing to do. And especially so for today when there are organizations that can and have helped millions of homeowners.  

I've seen enough already.  I don't want to see another family loose their home needlessly. If you need help, help is available.  If you know someone you think needs help please see to it that they have the following info... 

There are options:

Contact your lender... Ask for the loss-mitigation department.  Your Lender does not want your home. They want your money. (mortgage payments) In many cases they will work with you.

Contact the National Foreclosure HOTline...  888-995-HOPE     website:  http://www.995hope.org/

Contact a Housing Counseling Service...  HUD Approved Counseling Centers (The list below is in no particular order.)   For the full list of HUD approved Counseling Center visit HUD's website http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm

For DC:

District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency:    815 Florida Ave NW Washington DC 20001   202/777-1635    website  www.dchfa.org 

Greater Washington Urban League:  2901 14th St NW Washington DC 20009   202/265-8200   website    n/a

Lydia's House:   3939 S Capitol St SW Washington DC 20032   /202/373-1050    website   n/a

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization:  3939 Benning Rd NE Washington DC 20019   202/396-1201    website   www.mhcdo.org

University Legal Services;   220 I St NE #130 Washington DC 20002  202/547-4747   website  n/a

University Legal Services:  3220 Pennsylvania Ave SE Washington DC 20020  202/547-4747   website n/a

For Maryland:

Unity Economic Development Corporation:  6810 Floral Park Rd  Brandywine Maryland  20613   301/372-6036   website  n/a

Kairos Development Corporation Inc.:  5601 Old Branch Ave Camp Springs Maryland 20748   301/899-1180

United Communities Against Poverty:  1400 Doewood Lane  PO Box 31356  Capital Heights Maryland   301/322-5700

The Greater Washington Urban League:   5012 Rhode Island Ave Hyattsville Maryland  20781   301/985-3519   website   www.gwul.org

CCCS of Greater Washington, A division of MMI: 15847 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville MD 20855   800/747-4222    website   www.moneymanagement.org

CCCS  Silver Spring address:  8613 Piney Branch Rd Silver Spring Maryland 20901 website: www.moneymanagement.org

National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Inc    801 Reoder Rd #900  Silver Spring Maryland 20910   800/388-2227   website   www.nfcc.org 

Contact a Realtor...  If you know that you are not going to be able to continue mortgage payments, the best option my be to sale.  A Short Sale may also be an option.  Homeowners  two months late on their mortgage and can demonstrate the inability to pay their mortgage are good candidates for a short sale. In a short sale the home is sold by the homeowner before foreclosure takes place. In a short sale the lender agrees to accept less than a lender actually owes on the property.  Foreclosures reduce a credit score by and average of 300 points. Short Sale reduces a credit score by an average of 80 to 90 points. 

But Do Something, Please. And do it before it's to late... 

courtesy Al Matlock   Washington DC/Maryland Realtor