8/6/2019 New York Attorney General Helpful Tips and Links For Homeowners

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Helpful Tips and Links

The Attorney General offers the following tips for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments:

Call your lender or mortgage servicer immediately to discuss the available alternatives to foreclosure. Many lendersoffer foreclosure avoidance programs and have pledged publicly to assist distressed borrowers. To obtain foreclosureassistance or contact your mortgage lender, cal l the Federal Housing Administration at 1-800-CALL-FHA or visitwww.fha.gov

Respond to your lender or mortgage servicer. Some lenders and servicers contact homeowners to discuss availableforeclosure avoidance options.

Consult with a government-approved housing counseling agency. To find counselors approved by the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in your local area, call 1-800-569-4287 or visit www.hud.gov.

 A list of housing counselors also can be found on the website of the NYS Banking Department atwww.banking.state.ny.us.

Check your eligibility for the federal government's modification program. You may qualify for assistance under thefederal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). If you cannot afford to make your monthly mortgagepayments, you may qualify for a loan modification to make your monthly payment more affordable. To find out moreabout the program, visit www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

Call HOPE NOW at 1-888-995-HOPE. HOPE NOW is an alliance of housing counselors, mortgage companies, investors,and other mortgage market participants that provides free foreclosure prevention assistance.

If you live in New York City, call 311 to schedule free foreclosure counseling sessions at the Center for New York CityNeighborhoods.

 Visit www.ftc.gov and www.LoanScamAlert.org to learn more about foreclosure rescue scams.

If you are a victim of foreclosure fraud, call the New York State Attorney General's Office Consumer Helpline at1-800-771-7755 or visit www.ag.ny.gov

 Avoid scams. Bew are of the following:

 Anyone who offers to arrange to stop or delay foreclosure for an upfront fee.

 Anyone who offers to pay your mortgage or save your home if you transfer the deed to your home.

 Anyone who offers to make your mortgage payments for you.

 Anyone who advises you to stop making your mortgage payments or to ignore calls from your lender or mortgageservicer.

Direct solicitations sent via mail, e-mail, or telephone or in-person solicitations at your doorstep.

For-profit companies with names suggesting a government affiliation or who claim to be approved by thegovernment.

For-profit companies that claim they have a relationship with attorneys but do not provide legal services.

Helpful Links

The New York State Banking Department's Help for Homeow ners in Foreclosure

Foreclosure Prevention Counselors (by county): New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewalcan help you find a not-for-profit housing counselor in your area. Not-for-profit housing counselors provide free,professional advice.

The federal government's Web site for the "Mak ing Home Affordable" program

To find counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in your local area,call 1-800-569-4287, or visit www.hud.gov

To obtain foreclosure assistance or contact your mortgage lender, call the Federal Housing Administration at 1-800-CALL-FHA or visit www.fha.gov

If you are a victim of foreclosure fraud, call the New York State Attorney General’s Office Consumer Helpline at1-800-771-7755 or visit www.ag.ny.gov

For more tips, see the Attorney General's brochure, Avoid Foreclosure and Rescue Scams

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ul Tips and Links http://www.ag.ny.gov/features/foreclosure_rescue_scams/helpful_

7/2/2011

8/6/2019 New York Attorney General Helpful Tips and Links For Homeowners

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/new-york-attorney-general-helpful-tips-and-links-for-homeowners 2/2

ul Tips and Links http://www.ag.ny.gov/features/foreclosure_rescue_scams/helpful_

7/2/2011