You don’t have to lose your home if you live in the sunshine state. Below is some guidance on default and foreclosure prevention.
- Steps to take – act now if you think you will be unable to pay your mortgage
- HUD-approved housing counseling agencies – local agencies that provide free foreclosure avoidance counseling
- (888) 995-HOPE – free foreclosure prevention counseling on the phone or online
- Florida Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act of 2008 – do not give money to anyone promising to help you avoid foreclosure without a written agreement and until all services are completed
- Avoid foreclosure rescue scams
- Responding to a foreclosure summons and complaint – self-help information from Legal Services of Greater Miami about foreclosure and other topics
- Legal assistance
- Florida Attorneys Saving Homes | intake form
- Local government/community-based agencies – some offer foreclosure prevention assistance; contact your city or county housing and community development office
- Florida Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force – report fraud, access current investigations, announcements, and tips
- Florida Office of Financial Regulation – check out a financial institution, file a complaint, read consumer alerts and tips
- Predatory lending
- Financial planning resources
For the third quarter in 2009, Florida ranked 4th among all states in foreclosure rate, a decrease of 0.71 % from the second quarter, yet a rise of 23.27% from the same quarter last year. Nationally, it was the worse three month period in US history, with 937,840 homes receiving a foreclosure letter.