Foreclosure Resources

Your house is more than a place to live. It’s your sanctuary, filled with meaning and cherished memories. It’s also a legacy that can be passed down to your loved ones, but the past few years have been challenging for everyone. Many are struggling to keep up with bills, including their mortgage. 

Received a foreclosure notice?

If you have received a foreclosure notice in the mail, it is not too late to talk to a housing counselor and learn what options you still have. Help is available to all Oregonians from certified housing counselors who can give you sound advice and guidance. The assistance is free, confidential, and available in multiple languages.

Housing counselors are knowledgeable, dedicated, and experienced professionals. They specialize in helping families in various stages of their housing experience, including when times are tough. 

If you’re worried about keeping your home, you’re not alone. Talking with a certified housing counselor who can explain all your options can help you keep your home at a cost you can manage. The sooner you call, the more options you have. Reach out today.

Worried about paying your mortgage?

The following are some of the programs and resources available to eligible Oregon homeowners. A certified housing counselor can help you navigate all of the options available to you.

  Homeowner Assistance Fund

If you experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for help through the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund. The Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund helps those who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and other housing expenses.

Eligible homeowners who apply for relief through the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund may qualify for one or both of the following programs:

      Past-Due Payment Relief

The Past-Due Payment Relief Program provides eligible homeowners with money to eliminate or reduce past-due eligible housing costs, including payments under a forbearance plan, forward or reverse mortgages, property taxes, insurance, homeowners’ association (HOA) dues, and more.

      Ongoing Payment Relief

The Ongoing Payment Relief Program provides eligible homeowners with money to cover all or some of their monthly mortgage and housing cost payments going forward.

Eligible homeowners include those who meet program income limit requirements, have experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020 due to the pandemic, as well as other requirements as part of the phased opening of assistance.

      Eligibility and Applications

To learn more about either of these programs, click here.
To find out if you are eligible, click here.
To apply, click here.

  Foreclosure Avoidance Program

Help is available for homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments. The Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Program helps homeowners avoid foreclosure. Before beginning a foreclosure, most lenders must request a resolution conference with the homeowner.

It is important to respond to the request for a resolution conference from your lender. Participation in the program will help you explore all options to avoid foreclosure. If you agree to participate, your lender will not be able to initiate any foreclosure proceeding until it has met the requirements of the program and attended a resolution conference with you.

If you have not received a request for a resolution conference from your lender, but think it would be helpful, you may be able to request one with your lender.

You can learn more here. 

Oregon Homeowner Legal Assistance (OHLA) Project

The Oregon Homeowner Legal Assistance (OHLA) project provides free or reduced-cost legal services to low- and moderate-income Oregonians whose homeownership is at risk due to economic factors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners can apply for legal assistance by calling the toll-free OHLA intake line, 1-855-503-2598.

For more information, follow this link.

Other Possible Avenues for Staying In Your Home

If you get behind on your mortgage payments, you may be able to keep your home by negotiating a solution with your mortgage servicer. A certified housing counselor can help you navigate your options with free and confidential support.

      If your situation is temporary:

If your financial situation will be resolved in the short term, work with the servicer or a housing counselor to set up a plan for mortgage reinstatement, forbearance, or a repayment plan. Explain your willingness to commit to a payment plan until you are in a better position to resume your regular payments. A certified housing counselor will be able to help you determine the best option available to you.

Mortgage reinstatement – if you have enough cash (examples would include a work bonus, tax refund, or settlement payout), you can reinstate your mortgage by making up all the missed payments, plus fees and interest, in one lump sum

Forbearance – a forbearance is a temporary period of time during which a regular monthly mortgage payment is reduced or suspended

Repayment – you promise to pay down past due amounts on a mortgage while continuing to make regular monthly payments on a property (this is often tied to a forbearance plan)

      If your situation is long term or permanent:

Sometimes situations happen beyond our control, such as a medical emergency, job loss, or divorce. In these cases your servicer may allow a loss-mitigation plan such as a mortgage loan modification or reverse mortgage.

Here is a resource with more information.

Protect yourself from mortgage scams

If you are struggling with your mortgage, you may receive information by mail or telephone with promises of a quick-fix or easy solution to your mortgage problem. Scammers will even create letters or advertisements that look like they came from your mortgage company. If you receive a call, text, email, or offer in the mail, call your mortgage company using the phone number on your mortgage statement, and ask if the communication came from the mortgage company.

Follow this link for more information on how to avoid mortgage scams.

Information from Oregon Homeowner Help. Oregon Homeowner Help is a joint effort of Oregon Housing and Community Services, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, and the Oregon Department of Justice to provide Oregon homeowners with information to help them keep their homes. To connect to a Housing Counselor near you, click this link here.