Mejorando El Credito Despues De Una Ejecución De Hipoteca O Venta Corta

Mejorando Credit

By Aurora Olivares, Housing Counselor at Project Sentinel, one of the members of ForeclosureHelpSCC

Construir y mantener el crédito esta frecuente en las mentes de los dueños de casa aquí en San José y Sunnyvale. No es ningún secreto que su crédito recibe un golpe duro durante y después de una ejecución hipotecaria o venta corta. Cuando uno esta más de 30 días de atraso en su hipoteca, se reporta en su informe de crédito y su puntuación de crédito es afectado negativamente. Para obtener más información acerca de cómo una ejecución de hipoteca una ejecución de hipoteca, una venta corta sin una deficiencia, una venta corta con una deficiencia, y la bancarrota impactan a tres propietarios de viviendas típicos, lea las entrada de blog de FICO (Banking Analytics): “La investigación analiza cómo afecta la morosidad hipotecaria cuentas”

Los dueños de casa que no pueden pagar su hipoteca o conseguir un entrenamiento con sus prestamistas, pueden caer más atrasados ​​en sus pagos, y su reporte de crédito empeorará. El crédito del propietario de vivienda va ser afectado por todo este tiempo hasta que la delincuencia se resuelva.

Hay que avanzar rápidamente. ¿Qué sucede después de que alguien pasa por el proceso de ejecución hipotecaria?

Los procedimientos de la ejecución hipotecaria son reportados a la oficina de crédito por el prestamista y se anotará en su reporte de crédito durante los próximos 7 a 10 años. Sin embargo, esto no quiere decir que no se puede reconstruir su crédito después de una ejecución hipotecaria o venta corta y convertirse en propietario de una casa de nuevo.

Aquí hay 5 consejos sobre cómo reconstruir su crédito para que pueda prepararse si usted decide comprar una casa en el futuro o que solicitar otro tipo de crédito después de pasar por el proceso de ejecución hipotecaria.

1. Paga sus deudas a tiempo. Pagando la cantidad mínima mensualmente a tiempo se reflejará positivamente en su informe de crédito.

2. Mantenga bajos los balances de sus tarjetas de crédito. Si usted tiene una tarjeta de crédito con un saldo revolvente, trate de mantener el balance de la cuenta a 30% o menos del límite de crédito total de dicha cuenta. Por ejemplo, si su límite de crédito es de $ 10,000, usted debe tratar de mantener el balance de esa cuenta por debajo de $ 3,000.

3. Pague más que el pago mínimo mensual. Con sólo pagar $1 más por mes que el pago mínimo requerido, se registrará de manera positiva en su puntaje de crédito. No importa la cantidad, podría ser de $ 1 o $100 más de la cantidad mínima que se requiere pagas. Utilice este método para maximizar su capacidad para pagar la deuda más rápido y comenzar a reconstruir su crédito.

4. Mantenga abiertas sus cuentas antiguas de crédito. La longevidad de una cuenta tiene mucha importancia en como se calcula el puntaje de crédito. Los prestamistas les gusta ver que usted tiene un historial de uso de crédito y la capacidad de pagar sus facturas. Por lo tanto, si se cierra una cuenta antigua, que va a impactar negativamente su puntaje de crédito. Si es necesario cerrar las cuentas de crédito, considere la eliminación de nuevas cuentas en primer lugar.

5. Evite las esquemas de soluciones rápidas. Prometiendo la habilidad de arreglar su crédito en menos de 90 días quizás no pueden ser los medios más confiables. Si suena demasiado bueno para ser verdad, probablemente lo es. Si usted decide buscar ayuda profesional para ayudarle a resolver sus problemas de crédito, asegúrese de que es una organización de buena reputación. Una forma rápida de investigar si una organización está ofreciendo asistencia legítimo de asesoría de crédito es para ver si pertenecen a la Fundación Nacional de Consejería de Crédito, una organización sin fines de lucro, que tiene miembros de sus organismos miembros a un alto nivel. Visite su sitio: www.nfcc.org para obtener más información o para encontrar una agencia de asesoría de crédito cerca de usted.

En conclusión, la reconstrucción de su puntuación de crédito después de una ejecución hipotecaria o venta corta tomará tiempo y dedicación .  No hay “solución rápida” para reparar su crédito.

Si no lo ha hecho, es posible que quedra obtener su reporte de crédito gratis. Y un recordatorio de la Comisión Federal de Comercio: AnnualCreditReport.com es la única fuente autorizada para el reporte de crédito anual gratuito que por ley. La Ley de Informe Justo de Crédito garantiza el acceso a su reporte de crédito gratis de cada una de las tres compañías de informes de crédito – Experian, Equifax y TransUnion – cada 12 meses.

Lee nuestros otros blogs en ​​español:

¿Por Qué Trabajar Con Un Consejero de Casa?

5 Programas importante para los propietarios de California

Si usted es dueño de una casa en San José o en Sunnyvale y están luchando con su hipoteca, por favor póngase en contacto con ForeclosureHelpSCC, un programa financiado por la ciudad de San José y la ciudad de Sunnyvale, al (408) -293 a 6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org. Nuestros consejeros aprobados por HUD puede ayudarle a evaluar sus opciones, aprender más acerca de los programas federales y estatales que pueden ayudarle con sus problemas de hipoteca, y le ayudará a crear un plan para seguir.

Por favor, tenga en cuenta: Todos los contenidos incluidos en el blog ForeclosureHelpSCC se proporciona únicamente a título informativo y no debe ser considerada como consejo legal o fiscal. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor no dude en contactarnos a nuestra línea directa: (408) -293 a 6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org o envíenos un correo electrónico: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

Independent Foreclosure Review Deadline is December 31, 2012. Learn How to Apply Here.

Independent Foreclosure ReviewBy Sean Coffey, Program Manager at Foreclosure Help.

There is just 31 days left to apply for the Independent Foreclosure Review.
The Independent Foreclosure Review was included in a settlement between federal regulators and 14 banks for the way they processed modifications and foreclosures in 2009 and 2010.

Eligibility: If a homeowner was in any sort of “foreclosure action” between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, and they feel it was improperly processed, then they may want to learn more and consider applying.  A foreclosure action does not necessarily mean the house was sold, the homeowner could still be in the home.

A foreclosure action includes:

  • the home being sold through a foreclosure judgment,
  • the loan went into the foreclosure process but the homeowner brought the mortgage current or entered a payment or modification plan,
  • the home was in foreclosure and the home was sold, the borrower participated in short-sale, or gave the home back to the bank via a deed-in-lieu, or
  • the mortgage was in foreclosure, the mortgage is still behind, but a sale has not yet taken place.

It also has to be the primary residence, and it only applies to the 14 banks/servicers included in the agreement.

The 14 banks and servicers are:

There is more information about eligibility on the Independent Foreclosure Review website.

SPANISH: There is also information in Spanish about the Independent Foreclosure review available here: ¿Qué es la Revisión Independiente de la Ejecución Hipotecaria?   También: Guia para completer el formulario

If you know of any homeowners who are potentially eligible, please encourage them to contact us with questions.   If a review finds their modification or foreclosure was improperly processed, depending on the situation, the homeowner could receive financial payments, ranging from $1,000 to up to $125,000 plus equity that was lost in the foreclosure.  For more information on the financial penalties, view this chart: Financial Penalties. Thus far, the number of eligible people who have applied for a modification is far below the projections (See this June GAO report for more information), so it is important to get the word out before the deadline passes in December.

The Independent Foreclosure Review is different than the foreclosure refund program, which is part of the Attorneys General Settlement.  The deadline to apply for the foreclosure refund in California is January 18, 2013.  For more information about the foreclosure refund, visit: “California Foreclosure Refund Program, Part of the Attorney General Settlement”

If you are a homeowner living in San Jose or Sunnyvale and are struggling with your mortgage, please contact ForeclosureHelpSCC, a program funded by the City of San Jose and the City of Sunnyvale at (408)-293-6000 or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org.  Our HUD-approved counselors can help you evaluate your options, learn more about federal and state programs that may help you with your mortgage issues, and will help you create a plan forward.

Please note: All content included in the ForeclosureHelpSCC blog is provided for information only and should NOT be considered legal or tax advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our hotline: (408)-293-6000, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org or send us an email: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

¿Por Qué Trabajar Con Un Consejero de Casa?

Consejero En el programa de Foreclosure Help frecuentementenos pregunta por qué un propietario debe reunirse con un consejero de casa.  Usted puede ver una entrevista (en español) en Univisión sobre el programa ForeclosureHelp aquí.

Aquí están nuestras 5 razones principales para trabajar con un consejero de vivienda en una agencia aprobada por HUD:


1. Consejos Honesto: Un consejero de casa le ayudará a evaluar su situación. Vamos a hablar con usted acerca de lo bueno y lo malo con una opinión imparcial. También tenemos el conocimientos básicos de las mejores prácticas y los estándares de la industria nacional para la consejería para los propietario de vivienda. Además, hemos trabajado con muchos propietarios de viviendas, bancos y administradores, y esta experiencia significa que sabemos cómo mantener el proceso en marcha, y sabemos que los programas que pueden ayudar a su situación.

2. Explicación de la correspondencia de su prestamista: Un consejero de casa certificado puede ayudarle a entender la terminología utilizada en la correspondencia de su prestamista y en la documentación que se usa durante el proceso para modificación el préstamo. Mientras su prestamista le puede decir que su préstamo se va “ir a la ejecución hipotecaria”, nosotros le podemos ayudar a entender lo que el tiempo real es de la ejecución hipotecaria y la forma de estar al tanto para cosas importantes como una Notificación de Incumplimiento.

3. Su presupuesto: Si usted está solicitando una modificación de préstamo, el banco va a pedir su presupuesto. Un consejero trabajará con usted para revisar su presupuesto. Los consejeros puede darle consejería acerca de su presupuesto y calcular sus relación de deuda de la vivienda-al-ingreso familiar para que entienda su capacidad de pagar su hipoteca y explicar cómo esas mismas relaciones podría afectar su elegibilidad para recibir asistencia. Por ejemplo, un consejero puede revisar sus ingresos contra a los gastos de su vivienda y le explicará cómo afectará su elegibilidad para Making Home Affordable.

4. La comunicación con su banco o Prestamista: ¿Ha presentado documentación a su banco o prestamista múltiples veces, o llama su representante designado, pero no pudieron hablar con ellos? Este tipo de problemas no se pueden eliminar por completo, un consejero certificado puede tener un contacto fiable con su prestamista o tener un método eficaz de presentar los documentos que pueden ayudar a solucionar algunos de los obstáculos en el camino durante la revisión del prestamista.

5. Recursos: Debido a que trabajamos en esta industria, sabemos cuáles son los programas, los recursos y las opciones que están disponibles para ayudarle en su situación. También sabemos si un banco o prestamista no está siguiendo las pautas del programa y puede ayudar a resolver ese problema. Somos locales, al igual que usted, y podemos decir acerca de los programas locales y estatales que pueden ser útiles.

La oficina Foreclosure Help está compuesto por los consejeros de Asian Inc; Neighborhood Housing Services of Silicon Valley; Project Sentinel; and SurePath Financial Solutions.  Las cuatro agencias son aprobados por HUD.

Si usted es dueño de una casa en San José o en Sunnyvale y están luchando con su hipoteca, por favor póngase en contacto con ForeclosureHelpSCC, un programa financiado por la ciudad de San José y la ciudad de Sunnyvale, al (408) -293 a 6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org. Nuestros consejeros aprobados por HUD puede ayudarle a evaluar sus opciones, aprender más acerca de los programas federales y estatales que pueden ayudarle con sus problemas de hipoteca, y le ayudará a crear un plan para seguir.

Por favor, tenga en cuenta: Todos los contenidos incluidos en el blog ForeclosureHelpSCC se proporciona únicamente a título informativo y no debe ser considerada como consejo legal o fiscal. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor no dude en contactarnos a nuestra línea directa: (408) 293-6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org o envíenos un correo electrónico: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

Para hacer una cita con un consejero casa, llámenos: (408) 293-6000

5 Programas importante para los propietarios de California

Programs to help with foreclosure

Para los duenos de vivienda en el estado de California que están preocupados de su hipoteca, hay 5 programas que debe conocer.

1. Acuerdo del Fiscal General (Attorney General Settlement)
Visita: Sitio del Fiscal General que vigila el cumplimiento: www.californiamonitor.org. Email: CAMonitor@doj.ca.gov.
Visita: www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com
Expiración: La expiración del reembolso de la ejecución hipotecaria es 18 de enero 2013

El acuerdo con Chase, Ally / GMAC, Bank of America, Citibank y Wells Fargo incluye 3 partes:

A)
$ 3 billones en refinanciamiento para los propietarios de viviendas que tienen una propiedad que vale menos del balance que se debe en la casa

B) $ 17 billones en modificaciones de hipoteca, reducciones principales, y las ventas cortas

C) $ 1.5 billones en reembolsos de exclusión para las personas que perdieron sus viviendas inapropiadamente entre 1 de enero de 2008 y el 31 de diciembre 2012 .  Para el programa de reembolso para la ejecución hipotecaria, puede recibir un formulario de solicitud por correo (se enviaron por correo a principios de este mes). Si usted no recibe una carta antes del 31 de octubre de 2012, o si usted tiene una dirección diferente ahora, póngase en contacto con el Administrador del Acuerdo Nacional (National Settlement Administrator ) al1-866-430-8358 o enviar un correo electrónico con su dirección postal actual para administrator@nationalmortgagesettlement.com . Una vez que reciba la carta en el correo, usted tendrá que completar el formulario y enviarlo por correo, o también se puede llenar en línea (pero necesitará el número de reclamo de la carta que recibió, así que no lo vaya a descartar). Más instrucciones: https://nationalmortgagesettlementclaim.com/. Para las otras dos partes de la solución (modificaciones de refinanciación y préstamos), usted puede contactar a su prestamista directamente para preguntar sobre su elegibilidad y preguntar sobre cuando el banco  a implementar estas opciones. Es un proceso de 3 años, y tendrá que ser paciente.

2. Bill de los Derechos de Propietarios (Homeowner’s Bill of Rights)
Visita: www.oag.ca.gov/hbor
Esta nueva ley restringe la doble vía ejecuciones hipotecarias, donde una ejecución hipotecaria ocurre al mismo tiempo que la solicitud de modificación está pendiente. Esta ley también garantiza a los propietarios un único punto de contacto con su prestamista, así como otras protecciones.  El Proyecto de Ley de los Derechos Propietarios entra en vigor el 1 de enero de 2013.

3. Revisión Independiente ejecución de una hipoteca (Independent Foreclosure Review)
Visita: www.independentforeclosurereview.com
Llame al: 1-888-952-9105
Fecha límite: 31 de diciembre 2012
La Revisión Independiente Ejecución de una hipoteca es un acuerdo entre las autoridades federales y 14 bancos e incluye una investigación sobre los modos que  procesaron las modificaciones y las ejecuciones hipotecarias en 2009 y 2010. Si un dueño de casa (casa principal) estaba en algún tipo de “acción de ejecución hipotecaria” con uno de los 14 bancos / administradores entre las fechas  del 1 de enero, 2009 a diciembre 31,  2010, y siente que fue indebidamente procesada, favor de completar la aplicación.  Si las revisiones encontrar el procesamiento indebido, un propietario podría recibir una compensación de entre $1,000 a $125, 000. Una acción de ejecución hipotecaria no significa necesariamente que la casa fue vendida, el propietario podría seguir viviendo en el hogar.

4. Conserva Tu Casa California (Keep Your Home California)
Visita: www.conservatucasacalifornia.org y www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org
Llame al: 1-888-954-5337
California recibió casi $2 mil millones en fondos para ayudar a los propietarios de California elegibles evitar ejecuciones hipotecarias evitables. El programa Keep Your Home California se compone de 4 opciones que ayudan a los propietarios de ingresos bajos y moderados conservar sus hogares si han sufrido una dificultad financiera, como el desempleo,  enfermedad, o están en riesgo de incumplimiento debido a una economía dificultades, junto con una disminución severa en el valor de su casa.

5. Haciendo Tu Casa Asequible (Making Home Affordable HAMP and HARP programs)
Visita: www.makinghomeaffordable.gov (Spanish)  or www.makinghomeaffordable.gov (English)   Llame al: 888-995-4673
Propietarios de hogar pueden reducir sus pagos mensuales de la hipoteca y modificar sus préstamos a más bajas tasas estables de hoy. Para los propietarios para los que la propiedad de vivienda ya no es asequible o deseable, el programa puede proporcionar una salida que evite una ejecución hipotecaria.

Si usted es dueño de una casa en San José o en Sunnyvale y están luchando con su hipoteca, por favor póngase en contacto con ForeclosureHelpSCC, un programa financiado por la ciudad de San José y la ciudad de Sunnyvale, al (408) -293 a 6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org. Nuestros consejeros aprobados por HUD puede ayudarle a evaluar sus opciones, aprender más acerca de los programas federales y estatales que pueden ayudarle con sus problemas de hipoteca, y le ayudará a crear un plan para seguir.

Por favor, tenga en cuenta: Todos los contenidos incluidos en el blog ForeclosureHelpSCC se proporciona únicamente a título informativo y no debe ser considerada como consejo legal o fiscal. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor no dude en contactarnos a nuestra línea directa: (408) -293 a 6000, o visite nuestro sitio: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org o envíenos un correo electrónico: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

Loan Modification: How To Be Successful

By Stephanie Vang, HomeOwnership Program Manager at Neighborhood Housing Services of Silicon Valley, one of the members of ForeclosureHelpSCC

Do you ever wonder what does it take to get successful loan modification from your lenders?  How long is the loan modification process?  From our experiences of working with distressed homeowner in imminent danger to default and homeowners already in foreclosure; the answer to these questions is TIME.  You must take time away from your busy work schedule to visit your lender’s website to educate and empower yourself and you must allow time for your lender to respond to your request.

Lenders put useful links on their website to help struggling homeowners know their options.   By empowering yourself with this information, you will be better equipped when communicating with your lender about your hardship.  Although every homeowner’s hardship is unique, banks and servicers know which homeowners did their research and which ones did not.  You must take at least a day or two to fully understand what options are available.  You should also visit helpful sites like: www.makinghomeaffordable.gov, www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org, or www.conservatucasa.org, www.hud.gov, and knowyouroptions.org.

You must also take time to prepare a timeline of events with concrete dates of when your hardship started.  When applying for a loan modification, it takes twice if not three to four times the effort as when you initially purchased or refinanced your home.  Like before, you have to get all your documentation ready and prepare yourself when calling your lender.

This call should not be made during a 15 minute break and not during your lunch hour.  This call should take place when you have more than two hours to spare.

Through Neighborhood Housing Service Silicon Valley’s Successful Loan Modification Survey, 31% of the homeowners that were able to prevent foreclosure noted a wait time of 20 – 30 minutes when calling their lenders.  Of the 31% percent, half noted that they outreached to their lender once a week to verify that status of their loan modification and had to repeat the same information every time they contacted their lender.  Some even designated a specific notebook where they recorded the date, time, the conversation, the lender’s representative and the representative’s I.D. number.

Lastly, loan modification varies from lenders to lenders.  If you’re applying for a loan modification, do not expect to get your lender’s response within 30 days.  On average, loan modification can range from 30 to 45 or more business days in response time or longer.  During this time frame, you must stay focused on your goal and stay connected with your lender.  Set aside ample time when calling, designate at least one day out of the week to call and always prepare yourself when calling your lender.  These are some helpful tips from our past homeowners who received successful loan modification.

You may also enjoy our earlier blog posts related to this topic:  “Maggie’s Five Rules for Working With Your Bank or Servicer,”Foreclosures in San Jose and Sunnyvale: Three Reasons Time is NOT on your Side,” and “Five Reasons Working With A Housing Counselor is Better Than “Going Alone.”

If you are a homeowner living in San Jose or Sunnyvale and are struggling with your mortgage, please contact ForeclosureHelpSCC, a program funded by the City of San Jose and the City of Sunnyvale at (408)-293-6000 or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org.  Our HUD-approved counselors can help you evaluate your options, learn more about federal and state programs that may help you with your mortgage issues, and will help you create a plan forward.

Please note: All content included in the ForeclosureHelpSCC blog is provided for information only and should NOT be considered legal or tax advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our hotline: (408)-293-6000, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org or send us an email: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

Four Questions For President Obama and Congress about the Foreclosure Crisis Now that Elections are Over

By Sean Coffey, MPA, Program Manager, ForeclosureHelpSCC

Earlier this week, President Obama was re-elected President of the United States.  For people in the housing world, especially those of us who work with homeowners facing foreclosure, we want to know what, (if any) actions the President and Congress will take to address the ongoing foreclosure crisis, with over 5 1/2 million homeowners (nationally) “not current” as of September 2012.

A few specific issues:

1. Will the President and/or Congress intervene in any way to extend the deadline for the Independent Foreclosure Review  beyond the December 31st Deadline?   The number of eligible people who have applied for the review is far below expectations, and there have also been a number of questions raised about how independent the process actually is. The foreclosure refund program of the Attorneys General settlement, a similar program, also has a deadline fast approaching.  Depending on how many eligible people have contacted their Attorney General, it may be worth also extending deadlines for this program.

2.  What will happen with the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act?   As we discussed in an earlier blog post, not extending this debt forgiveness could have dire consequences for individual homeowners as well as the success of programs like the Attorneys General Settlement.

3. What will happen with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s overseer?   The National Fair Housing Alliance has a survey monkey poll about whether or not President Obama is going to fire the current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Ed DeMarco.   Some advocates feel that DeMarco’s leadership has limited the GSE’s responses to the mortgage meltdown, including not allowing principal reductions.

4. Will there be any tougher consequences implemented for banks and servicers when they fail to comply with program rules in the Making Home Affordable program, or if they continue robo-signing or dual-tracking?

Are you having trouble paying your mortgage and do you live here in San Jose or Sunnyvale California? If so, contact ForeclosureHelpSCC by telephone: (408) 293-6000, email: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org.

ForeclosureHelpSCC is a program that is supported by the Cities of San Jose and Sunnyvale, and staffed by housing counselors from four local, HUD-approved counseling agencies.

Our housing counselors can speak to you about what your options are if you’re having trouble paying your mortgage, including programs like Making Home Affordable, Keep Your Home California, the Independent Foreclosure Review, and private, in-house modifications offered by banks and servicers as well. Your housing counselor can work with you to develop a plan of action to begin dealing with the problem instead of ignoring it.

Remember, the sooner you start working with a housing counselor, the more options you will have to address your mortgage situation and potentially remain in your home. Time is not on your side, so pick up the phone and give us a call.

Please note: All content included in the ForeclosureHelpSCC blog is provided for information only and should NOT be considered legal or tax advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our hotline: (408)-293-6000, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org

Help with rental assistance after a foreclosure – What’s out there?

By Yvonne M. Castillo, Housing Counselor at SurePath Financial Solutions, one of the members of ForeclosureHelpSCC.

What’s out there for me to rent?” and “where to do I begin to research rentals?”With more people becoming displaced as a result of foreclosures, short sales or because of deeds-in-lieu of foreclosures, these questions are being asked by many, many people.

One place you can go to begin your search is at www.scchousingsearch.org. It is a very informative website to search for rental housing in Santa Clara County.  It provides information on various types of rentals including, apartments, townhomes etc. This website can help you find available rentals in different cities throughout Santa Clara County.  You can also call and speak with a live person who will assist you in looking for a rental- call Toll-Free: 1.877.428.8844.

Before you begin your search, it is a good idea to know what size rental you are looking for and how much you can afford to spend on rent. If you are looking to rent something larger such as a house, you can also check out websites such as www.zillow.com or www.craigslist.org. At www.craigslist.org you can tailor your search to different areas of the bay area.

Before you begin your search it is important that you review your credit history and score as a credit evaluation is required with most rental applications. You can order your credit reports from the three bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion through www.annualcreditreport.com.  Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, each one of the three agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) is required to provide you a free copy of your report once a year.  While you are ordering your reports it is a good idea to purchase your credit score.  Your credit report is free but the scores have to be purchased- the fee is around $8.00 per score.

Check to see what is listed on your reports and also what your scores are before you submit a rental application to a landlord or property management company. You want to check for any unpaid debts or judgments within the last two years. If your credit report does have recent unpaid debts you can contact a HUD-approved credit counseling agency such as SurePath Financial Solutions to receive a free consultation to review options on improving your credit.

Note: If your report does show a foreclosure it will remain on your credit report for seven years but, the effects of the foreclosure will lessen with time – refer to the My FICO website.

With so many people seeking rental housing these days, landlords and property management companies can be very selective regarding whose applications they approve. Each landlord or property management company has their own set of guidelines to follow in order to approve an application. For example, a landlord or property management company may require a credit score of 650 or higher and your gross income to be two to three times the monthly rent. Some may require no recent bankruptcies and no convictions for specific criminal activity etc.

If you have a foreclosure or short sale on your credit report, it may be better to mention it to your potential landlord before they pull your credit report.  They may be willing to still rent to you if you put down a larger deposit, or if you have good references.  Or, if they tell you that they absolutely will not rent to somebody with a foreclosure or short sale, then you can save the fee that you will pay for them to pull your credit report.

Landlords will also check for recent unpaid debts or unresolved judgments and if you’ve been evicted from previous rentals or foreclosed homes. If you have recently paid some outstanding balances, it might not show on your credit report right away. If the updates are not reflected on the credit report, make sure to mention it with your application, so you can show proof of resolved debt issues and that may help you through the rental process.

Be prepared to pay a non-refundable fee of approximately $20-$35 per person in the application, for them to run your credit report.  If you are approved, you will be asked to pay a security deposit, first and/or last month’s rent. Some landlords or property management companies may consider a larger security deposit to allow for pets and they may request all adults over the age of 18 who will be living in the home to fill out an application.

If you do not qualify for a rental, some property management companies will send you a copy of your credit report they requested and will include the reasons why you did not qualify.

If you do not immediately qualify for a rental then another strategy is to see if you can possibly rent a room (www.craigslist.org also has listings from room rentals) or stay with family or friends for a short term while you find a more permanent housing. The qualification for renting a room might be simpler compared to an apartment, but you will still need to provide proof of income, a security deposit and possibly referrals from previous landlords. The option of renting a room will give you some time to increase your savings, pay off some debts and work on improving your credit so later you qualify to rent a place on your own.

One thing the rental application does not list but you will definitely need is a lot of is patience. You will need patience as you search for and apply for a rental because more people are looking to rent now. You will also need patience while working on improving your credit. As mentioned before, it may take up to 45 to 60 days for your credit report to reflect activity such as paying off debts. As stated above, if you would like information and assistance improving your credit, you can contact a HUD- approved credit counseling agency for a free consultation. Then, the next time you submit a rental application you will have a better chance of qualifying for the rental you are seeking.

If you are a homeowner living in San Jose or Sunnyvale and are struggling with your mortgage, please contact ForeclosureHelpSCC, a program funded by the City of San Jose and the City of Sunnyvale at (408)-293-6000 or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org.  Our HUD-approved counselors can help you evaluate your options, learn more about federal and state programs that may help you with your mortgage issues, and will help you create a plan forward.

Please note: All content included in the ForeclosureHelpSCC blog is provided for information only and should NOT be considered legal or tax advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our hotline: (408)-293-6000, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org or send us an email: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.

Thank You to Everyone Who Helped With Foreclosure Prevention Fair

On behalf of the ForeclosureHelpSCC Consortium, I am writing to thank you for your contribution to the success of the Foreclosure Prevention Fair at Overfelt High School on October 20, 2012.

Homeowners from 12 cities attended the event, and learned about many programs that could assist them with foreclosure prevention. Housing counselors from four HUD-approved agencies saw a total of 51 borrowers and co-borrowers at the fair. In most cases, a distressed housing situation impacts more people than just the borrower. Over 112 household members received benefit from the services provided, including 31 children under the age of 18. Many of the homeowners who met with a counselor will continue working one-on-one with their housing counselor as they identify a plan to move
forward.

The survey results were overall very positive and provided helpful feedback, which will allow us to improve our next event. Participants appreciated hearing from presenters about alternatives to foreclosure, how to work with their bank or servicer, Keep Your Home California, recent legislation passed in California, legal issues and scams to avoid, bankruptcy and tax issues, and renter’s rights.

This event could not have taken place without the 31 volunteers who ensured that it ran smoothly, our planning committee who were instrumental in all aspects of the event, and our community partners who attended and shared information. Lastly, our funders for the event, including the Silicon Valley Chapter of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals, the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates, and the National Association of Realtors, all helped make the day possible. We would like to build on this experience and invite you to join us for our Spring 2013 event.

Thank you again for your contribution to making this day a success!

Sincerely,
Sean Coffey
Program Manager, ForeclosureHelpSCC

October 20th Foreclosure Prevention Resource Fair Agenda

The ForeclosureHelpSCC Consortium is sponsoring a FREE foreclosure prevention resource fair on October 20th at Overfelt High School.  Housing counselors from HUD-approved agencies will be on-site to meet with homeowners on a first-come, first served basis from 9:00am to 2:15pm.  For more information, call (408) 293-6000, or visit our event webpage.  In addition to housing counseling, homeowners can attend and hear practical advice on a variety of topics related to housing.  The event is free and open to the public.

Agenda for Foreclosure Fair

9:30AM  Facing Foreclosure? What Steps Should you Take and Keep Your Home California

10:15AM Legal Issues You Need to Know About

11:15AM Presentation about the ForeclosureHelpSCC Program

11:45AM Roundtable With Representatives from Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo

12:30PM Bankruptcy and Tax Issues You Need to Know About:

1:30PM Renters Rights and Renting after a Foreclosure or Short Sale

2:30PM Buying Again: What Do You Need to Know and Do Now to Become a Homeowner Again

Day Concludes

Five Questions for the Presidential Candidates About the Foreclosure Crisis

By Sean Coffey, MPA, Program Manager, ForeclosureHelpSCC

  1. What is your position on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and allowing principal reductions for homeowners?   If elected or re-elected, would you consider changing this policy so they could allow principal reductions?  (In addition to principal reductions for Fannie and Freddie Loans through Keep Your Home California).
  2. Would you push for extension of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act which is set to expire in December 2012?
  3. Will you push to extend the Independent Foreclosure Review (and potentially the foreclosure refund under the Attorney General settlement) deadline so that more people can learn about it?
  4. Is there anything you would change with current system of modifications, short-sales, and foreclosures?
  5. Do you think we have put adequate policies in place to prevent another mortgage meltdown and foreclosure crisis?

ForeclosureHelpSCC is sponsoring a FREE foreclosure resource fair here in San Jose on October 20th at Overfelt High School from 9am to 3pm..  Come meet with a HUD-approved housing counselor, learn about your options, and make a plan.  Visit our website or blog post for more information, or you can call us to register: 408-293-6000.

If you are a homeowner living in San Jose or Sunnyvale and are struggling with your mortgage, please contact ForeclosureHelpSCC, a program funded by the City of San Jose and the City of Sunnyvale at (408)-293-6000 or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org.  Our HUD-approved counselors can help you evaluate your options, learn more about federal and state programs that may help you with your mortgage issues, and will help you create a plan forward.

Please note: All content included in the ForeclosureHelpSCC blog is provided for information only and should NOT be considered legal or tax advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our hotline: (408)-293-6000, or visit our website: www.foreclosurehelpscc.org or send us an email: help@foreclosurehelpscc.org.