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Home ▸ Departments ▸ Sheriff

Foreclosures

Having trouble paying your mortgage?

Worried about foreclosure?

Need to know where to get help?

Helpful information about foreclosure prevention is available at these websites:

  • U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development HUD approved housing counseling agencies offer free or very low-cost help with foreclosure prevention / mitigation, budgeting, home purchase, and predatory lending.
  • Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
  • Ohio Attorney General foreclosure resources
  • Find Help
  • 2-1-1 Lake County Dial  2-1-1 to speak with an information & referral specialist about programs that can help in your situation 24/7. The call is free and confidential.
    2-1-1 provides information about many services, including:
    • RenVMortgage
    • Legal Aid Society of Cleveland  – Lake/Geauga Office    
    • Legal Aid provides high quality free legal assistance in certain foreclosure cases.  Call Legal Aid’s office in Painesville for more information: 440-352-6200
    • Emergency Food
    • Counseling
    • Drug/Alcohol
    • Prescriptions
    • Utility Assistance
    • Budgeting
    • Job Services
  • Lake County Bar Association or call 440-350-5800 to contact the Lake County Bar Association to find legal assistance to help navigate through the difficulties of foreclosure.

Preventing Foreclosure

Review your loan documentation if you have a sub-prime, nontraditional, or adjustable rate mortgage, make sure you understand the terms of your loan. Will you be able to make the new monthly payments with a higher interest rate? Do you know how much equity you have in your home? Would there be penalties for refinancing?

If you don’t make your mortgage payments your lender may foreclose on your home. The U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) offers this advice:

  • Contact your lender as soon as there is a problem. Delays put you at risk. Most mortgage statements include a number for homeowners to call in case they have trouble making their payments. If no number is listed, call the main customer service number and ask to speak with someone in the Loss Mitigation department.
  • Open and respond to all mail from your lender. Their correspondence contains important legal information and foreclosure prevention options.
  • Stay in your home. You might not qualify for assistance if you abandon your home.
  • Know your mortgage rights. Read your loan documents. Learn how Ohio’s foreclosure laws affect you.
  • Contact a HUD approved housing counseling agency. Counselors can help you understand your options under the law, organize your finances, and represent you in negotiations with your lender.
  • Avoid for-profit foreclosure prevention companies. They charge for services that a HUD approved housing counselor or your lender could provide free of charge.
  • Understand foreclosure alternatives (also called loss mitigation).
  • Ask your lender or housing counselor about options. Some examples:
    1. Temporary reduction or suspension of payments
    2. Restructuring of the loan to make payments more affordable
    3. One-time interest-free loan from the FHA insurance fund on FHA mortgages
    4. Sale of your home
    5. Voluntary “return” of your property to the lender, as a last resort.

Beware of foreclosure recovery scams. Never sign a legal document without getting professional advice. You might unknowingly be signing over the title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home.