• Do not pay doctor bills or credit card debt ahead of the mortgage.  Keep mortgage payments current if possible.
• Negotiate with the lender to restructure your mortgage.  If the loan is guaranteed by a federal or state agency, the lender may be required to grant assistance, or provide other options, to avoid foreclosure.
• Sell the house before it goes into foreclosure.  If your mortgage is higher than the home's market value, you may be able to persuade the lender to allow you to sell it for less and forgive the rest of the debt.
• If you're about to lose your home, filing for bankruptcy can stop the foreclosure process and allow you more time to work out a plan to keep the home.  Get legal advice from an attorney specializing in bankruptcy.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

• Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance offers links to newly funded legal services programs, including AARP's Legal Counselfor the Elderly.  www.foreclosurelegalassistance.org
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a list of HUD-approved national and regional housing counseling agencies.  To contact a housing counseling agency, call 1-800-569-4287.  www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/nrhci.cfm
• NeighborWorksAmerica is a nonprofit community-based revitalization program that offer foreclosure counseling programs listed by state or Zip Code.  202-220-2300  www.nw.org
• National Community Reinvestment Coalition is a nonprofit membership organization that helpsunderserved communities.  www.ncrc.org  202-628-8866
• Mortgage Bankers Association new website offers consumer information and links to resources.  Go to www.homeloanlearningcenter.com , then click on "Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center."

AARP Bulletin April 2008 Page 14 "Fear of Foreclosure" by Carole Fleck