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Welcome to the Community Foreclosure Coalitions website. We are a nonprofit coalition of community partners in Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties who are working together to stop preventable foreclosures and to soften their effects on families, neighborhoods and our local communities. We connect homeowners, renters and neighbors with information and resources and advocate for change to stop foreclosures here in our own back yard.
 
IMPORTANT NEWS & UPDATES
 
FOR HOMEOWNERS  | FOR RENTERS | FOR NEIGHBORS
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE:
1)  I'm having trouble making my mortgage payment.  What should I do?
2) I can no longer afford my home.  What are my options to avoid foreclosure?
 

Alternatives to Foreclosure:

Your lender may be willing to work out an alternative to foreclosure that may help you save your home, or at least prevent a foreclosure from ruining your credit. Some alternatives include:

  1. Repayment Plan:  Your lender may give you a fixed amount of time to repay the amount you are behind, plus any late fees, by adding a portion to your regular monthly payment.  This is a good option if you only missed a few payments.
  1. Forbearance:  Your lender may agree to suspend your payments for a period of time.  At the end of this time, you will resume your regular monthly payments, and you may be required to either make one lump sum payment or additional partial payments. This may be a good option if you have a temporary reduction in income.
  1. Loan Modification:  Your lender may agree to reduce your interest rate, extend the term of the loan, or add missed payments to the loan balance.
  1. Short Sale: The housing market in Michigan is not strong, so the chances of selling your home for what you owe are slim, but it is at least worth thinking about if you know of a buyer who may be interested. A more likely possibility would be a short sale where the lender allows you to sell and agrees to forgive any shortfall between the sale price and the mortgage balance. You still may face a tax liability on the amount of debt forgiven.
  1. Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure:  You voluntarily transfer title to the lender in exchange for cancellation of the remainder of your debt, but you will lose any equity in the home and may have to pay taxes on the debt forgiven.  A sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure may be a better alternative than a foreclosure adversely affecting your credit.
  1. Bankruptcy: This could be your best option, but it doesn’t automatically protect you from losing your home. You should consider it a last resort and always seek the counsel of bankruptcy attorney.  Legal service attorneys in Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties do not handle bankruptcy.
  1. Reverse Mortgage: For people over 62 years of age only.  This option allows you to use the equity in your home to live on, with payments not due until you move or pass away.  This is a VERY expensive mortgage and may not solve your financial problems, but in some circumstances, it is a good choice. For free HUD certified counseling regarding reverse mortgages, contact Greenpath Debt Solutions in Jackson at   (517) 788-9866 or www.greenpath.org

 

If you want assistance in working with your lender to pursue your options, contact a free HUD or MSHDA certified Foreclosure Counselor

FREE

HUD and MSHDA Certified Counselors

Jackson County

Community Action Agency (800) 491-0004

Jackson Affordable Housing (517) 788-4626

 Lenawee County

Community Action Agency (800) 438-1845

 Hillsdale County

Community Action Agency (800) 750-9300

 If you think there were misrepresentations or fraud regarding your mortgage loan, contact OFIR 1-877-999-6442 (www.michigan.gov/ofir) or the statewide number for the FBI – (313) 965-2323. Locally, you can also call a FREE legal services attorney Legal Services of South Central Michigan:

Jackson and Hillsdale Counties

(800) 676-9488 or (517) 787-6111

 Lenawee County

 (888) 251-1598 or (734) 241-8310

 
3) Is bankruptcy an option for saving my home?
4) I received a letter from my lender letting me know I'm in default.  What should I do?  
5) I've received a letter from a law firm about 14 days to ... What should I do?
6) What do you mean by a certified foreclosure counselor?
 
7)   What can I expect when I contact a FREE certified foreclosure counselor?
8) I'm at risk of losing a home that is not my primary residence.  Can a HUD or MSHDA certified foreclosure counselor help me?
9) Can I contact my lender on my own instead of working through a foreclosure counselor?
10) I've tried contacting my lender and can't get anywhere.  What should I do?
11) What is the new Michigan 90 day law I've heard about?
12) What is the Obama Plan I've heard about and am I eligible?
   
TAX FORECLOSURES
1) Can I lose my home if I do not pay my property taxes?
2) What is a delinquent tax?
3) What happens after the property is forwarded from the local municipality in which the property owner lives to the county treasurer for collection?
4) What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture? Does that mean I lose my property?
5) What happens after my property is in forfeiture?
6) What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?
7) What if I can’t come up with all the money I owe right now?
8) Will I receive notification before my property is foreclosed?
9) I am current with my property taxes, but because of my reduced or fixed income I am afraid I can’t afford to pay next year; what can I do?
10) I was current with my property taxes, but this year I haven’t been able to pay; what should I do?
11) I have been unable to pay my property taxes for a couple of years now, and have been receiving notices from my County Treasurer; what should I do?
 
JACKSON COUNTY LENAWEE COUNTY HILLSDALE COUNTY

Community Action Agency
 (800) 491-0004

Jackson Affordable Housing
(517) 788-4626

Community Action Agency
 (800) 438-1845

Community Action Agency
(800) 750-9300
FOUNDING PARTNER