Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.迷你倉Sept. 24--HYANNIS -- Foreclosure prevention counseling at Housing Assistance Corp. in Hyannis is moving into second homes.For five years, HAC has provided mortgage foreclosure counciling on the Cape and Islands.But now, the agency's counselors can help clients that have second homes in the area -- a change made possible by a grant funded by the Making Homes Affordable Outreach and Intake Project, administered by NeighborWorks in partnership with the U.S. Department of Treasury.While Cheryl Kramer, program coordinator for HAC's Housing Consumer Education Center, said the "focus will remain on first homes," additional help with a second home could "save the first home" for some Cape property owners."In past years, we have strictly been able to help with primary residences and we will continue to do so, but for some people, their second home is causing a crisis on the first home and a modification could help save both properties," Kramer said.To qualify for free foreclosure prevention counseling, clients must have a primary residence on Cape Cod or the Islands and their second home must be used for income purposes -- typically as a rental."There are no income or mortgage limits to receive help, and even if you are current with your mortgage but are concerned that you won't be able to keep up, or if your mortgage payment is past due, just call us and speak with a counselor," Kramer said. "You should also contact a counselor if your lender has sent a letter demanding money by a certain date or if an attorney has sent you a letter about your mortgage. We can help with all of that."According to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, 112 homes were foreclosed upon through August, compared with 315 foreclosures during the same time last year.While Kramer said this shows an upswing in the economy, there are still many homes that are in danger."Many people feel that foreclosure (rates) are down and the crisis is over. While it's better than in the past, it doesn't mean its over. The average person on the Cape is struggling and many haven't seen a raise in years -- and the cost of living here hasn't gotten any cheaper," Kramer said. "People that are in danger of foreclosure need to come in and meet with a counselor right away."Karin Bar, a HAC foreclosure prevention couns儲存倉lor, agreed, saying clients often come to her "overwhelmed and emotionally invested" with problems that can be an "easy fix.""We are not emotionally attached to the situation and we guide and help people create a complete modification, and we also empower them to communicate with their lenders," Bar said. "It's so important that people come in before they are three months behind on their mortgage because, after 90 days, it's a totally different ball game."With a 63 percent success rate, HAC counselors Bar and Joan Maney said they are happy to explain mortgage options, the foreclosure process, assist in preparing mortgage-modification-request paperwork, and will also submit paperwork to lenders."First, we review the homeowner's information by looking at their income, how much is owed on the mortgage, and we take a look at their budget and spending habits," Maney said. "Even if, according to all guidelines, it doesn't look like there is a possibility for modification, we still submit the application because you never know where its going to land on the other side. Sometimes they come back with a great modification."Maney said even when a modification isn't possible, there are still options for homeowners."Success is different to different people. It might be a modification, but success might also be that a person realizes they can't keep their home any longer and they do want to sell," Maney said. "Sometimes people do need to let go of their homes and we are here to provide information about debt-management counseling, alternative housing options and general resources in the community."Whatever the situation, Kramer believes that foreclosure issues "impact the entire community at large."Every person, every neighbor, every renter and every town on the Cape and Islands is impacted. If people lose their homes, they often leave the Cape and that means lower enrollment in schools and other problems, including a population drop, " she said. "Foreclosure prevention helps all of us achieve a stable community, a stable county and a stable state. It takes a community to live successfully and we are doing our part here at HAC to achieve that."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉
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