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Housing Resources

Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks America have collaborated to promote theNeighborhoodLIFT program. Although Wells Fargo is the sponsor of the LIFT program, homebuyers may seek financing from Wells Fargo then apply for the remaining balance of the home purchase from any qualified lender who accepts a LIFT down payment assistance program. The amount of down payment assistance varies by market. The combined income for all borrowers on the loan cannot exceed the income limits of the LIFT down payment program. Down payment assistance grants cannot be used to purchase bank-owned properties managed by Wells Fargo.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs' Dream Homeownership Program provides affordable mortgage financing for eligible homebuyers. Currently there are four programs available:

  • Georgia Dream Hardest Hit Program: Up to $15,000 toward down payment and closing costs.
  • Georgia Dream Program: Up to $5,000 toward down payment and closing costs.
  • Down Payment Assistance Program for families with members who are disabled: up to $7,500 toward down payment and closing costs.
  • Down Payment Assistance Program for Protectors, Educators and Health Care Workers: Up to $7,500 toward down payment and closing costs.

As your Congressman, I consider it an honor to serve you and my office will do everything in its power to help you keep the home you have worked so hard to maintain:

Homeowners Assisted: 12,623

Funds Paid/Committed: $270 Million
Funds Remaining: $60 Million (This includes $7 Million of repayments from homeowners due to the sale of their homes before meeting the 5 year commitment that comes with receiving this assistance.)

Note: when homeowners receive assistance of a qualified amount, the money received is forgiven once they stay in the home for 5 years. It is forgiven at a rate of 20% per year.

Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance

The Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance program helps homeowners catch up delinquent mortgage payments caused by a qualifying financial hardship. For eligible homeowners, the program provides a onetime payment of up to $50,000 submitted directly to the lender/servicer to bring the loan current. For more information, click here.

Home Foreclosure Information

Links below provide a one-stop shop for all your foreclosure information needs:

What is Home Foreclosure?

According to the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation (995hope.org), foreclosure is "a legal action used by a mortgage company to recover any money from a customer when the customer does not pay his or her debt in accordance with the mortgage agreement." In other words, it's the legal remedy used by a mortgage company to assume ownership of a property when the required loan payments are not made. Foreclosure obliterates otherwise good credit.

"Although the actual process varies from state to state, foreclosure revolves around a homeowner's inability to keep up with monthly mortgage payments. The farther behind the homeowner gets, the closer to foreclosure the homeowner becomes."

Click here to open a new window with a list of common myths about foreclosure.

How to Avoid Foreclosure

If you are facing financial difficulty and suspect you may be unable to make your payments on time, first contact your lender. You may be able to renegotiate the terms of your mortgage.

We also highly recommend you consult the resources listed below. It is better to have contacted them before you are in urgent need of assistance.

What Can Families & Individuals Facing Foreclosure Do?

Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation are non-profit resources for families and individuals facing foreclosure. We recommend you contact both to maximize your access to information. Contact Atlanta Legal Aid at one of their offices:

  • DeKalb County: (404) 377-0701
  • Gwinnett County: (678) 376-4545
  • Downtown Atlanta: (404) 524-5811
  • SENIOR CITIZEN HOTLINE: 1-888-257-9519
  • South Fulton / Clayton County: (404) 669-0233

We highly recommend the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation hotline for immediate counsel. HPF's representatives -- experienced advisors from HUD-approved agencies -- will be able to give you support and advice in your hour of need. Call now: 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

We highly recommend that you contact a HUD-approved counseling agency.

KEY LINKS:

Home Safe Georgia

Home Affordability and Stability Plan

HUD-approved counseling services, foreclosure prevention tips, provisions of the service members Civil Relief Act; rental assistance programs

● Correcting Foreclosure Practices [4-10-2013]

Payments to 4.2 Million Borrowers Covered by Foreclosure Agreement to Begin April 12 [4-10-2013]

Wounded military personnel can apply for the free homes donated by banks

Independent Foreclosure Review

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Home Loan Learning Center: Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center

Avoiding Foreclosure Rescue Scams | Espanol

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Questions

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Facts vs. Fiction

Loans and Credit: What You Should Know About Equity Lines of Credit covers variable interest rates and other things about your home equity line of credit that can change without notice.

Safeguarding Against a Credit Freeze:5 Tips for Dealing With a Home Equity Freeze can help you protect yourself and your assets in case your lender freezes or reduces your home equity line of credit.

● IRS.gov – Tax questions & answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation

Georgia Landlord/Tenant Handbook

Avoiding Foreclosure:5 Tips for Protecting Your Home from Foreclosure discusses housing and credit counseling agencies, and other short and long-term solutions to help you keep your home.

Upcoming Legislation: Learn about laws that will protect you from unfair fees and practices with New Consumer Protections for Credit Cards and Mortgages.