If you have been struggling to make your mortgage payments on time and have therefore fallen behind by a few payments, you may be on the verge of foreclosure. Too many people make the mistake of giving up and moving out when they receive their first letter of foreclosure. It is important to know that you do not have to do that and you may have options. Take a moment to review the following information for more assistance:

Call And Talk With The Collections Department

It might feel as though you should ignore their calls and avoid calling them back, but the collections or foreclosure department is there to try to help you. The lender doesn't actually want your house. They want you to keep it because they are in the business of collecting interest payments, not in selling properties. When you call, explain what it is that caused your financial hardship. They might have a repayment plan that you can get started on so you can avoid foreclosure.

Contact A Foreclosure Attorney

If you feel as though you are not as far behind with payments as the lender is claiming, you will want to get in touch with a foreclosure defense attorney. He or she will be able to communicate with the mortgage company on your behalf, as well as comparing their payment records with your payment records. There could be a chance that they accidentally did not properly apply some of the payments that you send in. For example, if you sent in a payment and they applied the entire amount to the principal balance without rolling over the due date, you will show in their system as being delinquent.

Seek Some Help For Your Past Due Payments

You might have a church that can help. Try asking some friends and family if they would be able to assist you in getting your mortgage caught up. You can also discuss some options with your foreclosure attorney. He or she may know of some charities in your state that may be able to help you pay some or all of your past-due payments.

It is important to remember that although a foreclosure is a process, you do not have all of the time in the world. If you wait too long to take action, you can end up having the house taken from you. The lender will take ownership of it, evict you, and then sell the house either through a real estate agent or at an auction. The sooner you consult with an attorney and start taking action to resolve this issue, the less likely it is that you will actually lose your home.