Life is full of unpredictable situations such as losing your job, going bankrupt, getting terminally ill, becoming a victim of a natural calamity, and now this pandemic situation. Perhaps, the most unpredictable thing about life is life itself. The fact is that the fear of losing your home in a foreclosure can become real in an instant. Foreclosure is indeed an ugly byproduct of a financial crisis.
Keeping these unfortunate events in mind, this article has been written for the residents of Oregon. We have done all the research for you, so you can find the right solution by using the right resources in times of crisis. Keep reading to find out more:
Important Phone Numbers
We have listed the most important phone numbers for you:
- Toll-free Foreclosure Hotline for the residents of Oregon: 1-800-SAFENET
- National Hotline for Homeowners to reach financial counselors: 1-888-995-HOPE
- Hotline for Military Service Members: 1-800-342-9647
- gov Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 888-877-4894
- Lodge a complaint about your Mortgage Servicer: 1-877-877-9392
- Contact Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 1-855-411-2372
- If you think you have been a victim of a scam: 1-877-877-9392
- If you need a lawyer: 1-800-452-7636
Online Resources
We have listed the most reliable online resources for you:
Housing Counselor: Locate a HUD-approved Financial and Housing Counselor near you by visiting this website.
Mortgage Assistance: If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, MakingHouseAffordable is there to help you.
Financial Support: U.S. Department of the Treasury has funded a program for distressed homeowners so they can get financial support in the form of a forgivable loan that has no interest and also no payments. The loan will be considered a mortgage payment. For more details and to check whether you qualify for this program, visit their website.
Dispute-Resolution: Foreclosure Avoidance Mediation Program is a Foreclosure Avoidance Program that enables a private and face-to-face mediation session between the lender and the homeowner, in presence of a trained mediator. For more details, visit the website
Online Complaint Forms: In order to file a complaint against mortgage servicer, foreclosure rescue programs or debt relief organizations, fill out forms available online, using this link.
Lawyer Referral Service: Knowing your rights is the first step to finding a solution to your legal issues. Oregon’s lawyer referral service is there to help you with finding a lawyer for your housing finance issues. Before consulting a lawyer, it is important to make sure that the lawyer holds a valid license in Oregon. More information can be found on this website.
Following are some of the factors that you must keep in mind while consulting a Housing Counselor to avoid any inconvenience or scams:
- The counselor must be approved by HUD
- You should read all the documents thoroughly and keep a record of all the paperwork
- The services by HUD-approved counselors are generally free of charge or low-cost, do not pay huge sums and do not pay in advance
- Beware of ‘short sales’, for more information, follow this complete guide
- Make use of Consumer Complaint numbers and Online Complaint Forms provided above, in case you feel that you are being scammed.