Why work with a counselor?
A HUD-approved housing counselor will talk to you about your situation and help you decide what mortgage options are best for you. A counselor will explain what documents you will need to provide to your mortgage company and may be able to contact the mortgage company on your behalf.
If you work with a housing counselor, the odds are 1.7 times larger that you will avoid foreclosure.
A housing counselor can also help you make a budget so that you can meet your monthly mortgage payment and other expenses. The counselor will have information about local resources that may be helpful to you.
There is no charge to work with a HUD-approved counseling agency.
Where can I get help?
HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.
Find a HUD-approved housing counselor
You can also call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to speak to an expert advisor immediately, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in over 170 languages. They answer 98% of their calls within 30 seconds. This valuable, around-the-clock service is available completely free.
Before you call
Use the checklist below to make sure that you have all of the information you need to work with a HUD-approved housing counselor. These documents are helpful to make sure that you have all of the information you need to correctly fill out your paperwork and make a budget.
Checklist
- Information about your first mortgage, such as your monthly mortgage statement.
- Information about any second mortgage or home equity line of credit on the house.
- Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on all of your credit cards.
- Account balances and monthly payments on all your other debts such as student loans and car loans.
- Your most recent income tax return.
- Information about your savings and other assets
- Information about the monthly gross (before tax) income of your household, including recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources.
- It may also be helpful to have: A letter describing any circumstances that caused your income to be reduced or expenses to be increased (job loss, divorce, illness, etc.) if applicable.