Neighborworks offers Foreclosure Prevention Workshops every Thursday, during the day and the evening, delivered in Russian, Spanish and in English, with Asian languages if requested.  Attendees have the option of returning to meet with one of Neighborwork's certified housing counselors to go over their individual loan and housing concerns. For more information, visit www.nwsac.org or call (916) 452-5356 ext. 229.

NeighborWorks has also recently partnered with the Institute for Administrative Justice, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law to provide legal assistance to homeowners following foreclosure prevention counseling at no cost to the homeowner.

Tips on Avoiding Foreclosure:

1. Don't ignore the problem
2. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem
3. Open and respond to all mail from your lender
4. Know your mortgage rights
5. Understand foreclosure prevention options
6. Contact a Neighborworks HUD-approved housing counselor (916) 452-5356 ext. 229
7. Prioritize your spending
8. Use your assets
9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies
10. Don't lose your house to foreclosure recovery scams!

Don't be a victim of fraud!
Scam artists follow the headlines and are taking advantage of homeowners who are falling behind on their mortgage payments.  Their pitches may sound like a solution to your problem, but their intentions are less than honorable.  In general, always make sure you are dealing with a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency.  Be suspicious of someone who:

• Calls or comes to your home offering to help.  If you are contacted by a "Foreclosure Prevention Specialist" they are often phony counselors who charge unreasonable fees for making a few phone calls or completing some paperwork that the homeowner could easily do for him or herself.  None of these actions result in saving the home.  This scam gives homeowners a false sense of hope, delays them from seeking qualified help, and exposes their personal financial information.
• Offers to help you stay in the home if you pay rent.  Homeowners are deceived into signing over the deed to their home to a scam artist who tells them they will be able to remain in the house as a renter and eventually buy it back.  Usually the terms of this scheme are so demanding that the buy-back becomes impossible, the homeowner gets evicted, and the "rescuer" walks off with most or all of the equity.
• Asks for a security deposit and first month's rent in cash for a rental home.  Refer to the "Tips for Renters" section below.

To report a fraud, call:
Federal Fraud Hotline at 1 (800) 437-2838
California Attorney General's Office at 1 (866) 275-2677
Federal Reserve's Tips on Avoiding Fraud

Tips for Renters:

Renters in Foreclosure: What are Your Rights?
What to do When Your Landlord Goes Bust                                                                       Tenants in foreclosure-May 20, 2009 Press Release 90-Day Notice

What are your rights, as a renter, when the owner of your home is facing foreclosure?  The Human Rights Fair Housing Commission has created a helpful brochure to give tips to renters on how to navigate the foreclosure process and ensure your rights are protected.

Foreclosure Resources and Information:

Are you having trouble making your mortgage payment or is your loan payment about to increase?  Nothing is worse than doing nothing.  Get help now, while there's still hope.  The most important thing for you to do is to contact your lender as soon as possible.  Your lender may be willing to work with you to avoid foreclosure.  Below is a list of agencies and resources available to you.

Neighborworks Homeownership Center - (916) 452-5356, ext. 229

The Greater Sacramento Urban League - Having trouble making your mortgage payments, need to cut your payments to an affordable amount, do you need to relocate into a new housing situation?  Call The Greater Sacramento Urban League's Housing Department at      (916) 487-1200 or go to www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org for more information.

Home Loan Counseling Center Sacramento - (916) 646-2005

ByDesign Financial Solutions - (800) 750-2227  Free webinars and workshops on alternatives to foreclosure

ForeclosureInfoCa.org  This website is hosted by the State Bar of California and the Public Interest Clearinghouse.

Senior Legal Hotline/Legal Services of Northern Ca - (916) 551-2140

Acorn Housing Corp. - (916) 451-9659

Sacramento Mutual Housing Assn - (916) 453-8400, ext. 43

HOPE Now 24 Hour Hotline - 1 (888) 995-HOPE

FDIC Foreclosure Resources

Is Foreclosure Knocking at Your Door?

Loan Servicer Hotline Numbers

State of California Consumer Home Mortgage Information

U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development Foreclosure Information  --Confirm your Housing Counseling Agency is HUD Approved

Veterans Administration  The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering counseling services to help veterans and active-duty personnel avoid defaulting on home loans obtained under the government's home-loan guaranty program.

Freddie Mac Tips on Avoiding Foreclosure

Pets in Foreclosure Flier

Community Resources

Avoiding Scams  U.S. Comptroller of the Currency provides tips to help consumers recognize and avoid foreclose prevention scams.

Foreclosure Counselors Contact information for HUD-partnered foreclosure counselors and information on how to recognize and avoid scams.

Foreclosure Prevention Options  Fannie Mae offers information and guidance to struggling homeowners and provides information on foreclosure prevention events around the country.