FINDING HELP

Troubled homeowners know they should call their lender if they hit a bad patch and have trouble paying their mortgage. However, a call to a financial counselor willing to look at a family’s finances and offer a plan toward stability is just as important – but who do you trust with all the scam foreclosure schemes out there? There are several legit programs, most of them government-backed. HUD’s Housing Counseling Program hosts a list of approved counselors online at: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc and click on “Florida.” Counselors can guide homeowners to appropriate aid programs. Those include: Hope for Homeowners (www.hud.gov/hopeforhomeowners or 800-225-5342) and Hope Now (www.hopenow.com or 888-995-4673).

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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