5 Best Real Estate Options to Avoid Foreclosure

The threat of foreclosure of our precious real estate property hangs on our head like the proverbial Damocles sword. Most of us have to contend with the potential of losing our homes through foreclosure proceedings.

Job, high interest rates, tight credit and a depressed real estate market all conspire in aggravating the situation. It is essential for everyone to be on their toes and anticipate all possible real estate options to avoid the misfortune of being subjected to foreclosure proceedings.

Best Real Estate Options to Avoid Foreclosure

Beyond these best real estate options to avoid foreclosures, one should start with the proper mind-set. It is important that you objectively face the idea of foreclosure. Most would tend to struggle and deny that this is a possibility. These real estate options will only be effective if you begin to accept your situation.

Secondly, begin your work by approaching your mortgage lender and lay all your cards on the table. You should always remember that you and your mortgage lender share a common interest on this particular issue. Your mortgage lender would also like to explore the best real estate options to avoid foreclosure as such an event would also mean a financial loss for them.

Try to work out a new repayment plan based on your present financial circumstances. Your situation may provide you with the much needed relief in terms of temporary suspension or cutback in your monthly mortgage payments. There are certain conditions that should be considered for you to qualify for this relief and you need to provide some documentation to support your request.

One of the best real estate options that you can explore is to negotiate for a refinancing or term extension for your mortgage loan. The immediate beneficial effect of this option is that you may be able to cutback on the amount of your monthly payments to a level that could be covered sufficiently by your present financial condition.

Another one of the best real estate options involves the application for a loan with HUD which has no interest to cover the unpaid monthly mortgage requirements. This would immediately put your mortgage status to current. The proceeds of the HUD loan shall be used to pay your mortgage company.

You will be required to sign a promissory note for the loan and a lien is applied on the property. The loan will only be due when you decide to leave, sell the property, or when your mortgage loan reaches maturity.
The following real estate options will be explored if the previous real estate options don't work out for your situation. You may consider giving up the property by selling it before any foreclosure proceeding is undertaken. This option may be used only if:

• The appraised "as is" value of the property is at least 70% of the mortgage amount and the price tag is at least 95% of the real market value of the property.
• The mortgage loan should be at least two months overdue before the pre-foreclosure sale
• The sale of the property must be completed within 3 to 5 months.

Finally, the last of the best real estate options to avoid foreclosure is to give up the property in favor of your mortgage company. This should be your last option after you have exhausted all the other real estate options.

You will lose the house when you take on this option but you are able to protect your credit record. This will be a great help in getting another mortgage loan in the future.