The Homeowner’s Checklist for Getting Organized

Falling behind on a mortgage brings a great deal of paper and a great many phone calls. Getting organized will not solve everything, but it puts you in a far stronger position when you speak with a lender, a housing counselor, an attorney, or with us. Work through the list at your own pace and skip anything that does not apply. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and you can call (786) 983-9208 · (850) 407-7111 for a second opinion on any line.

• 1 Open every letter from your lender or servicer and keep them together in one folder
• 2 Write down the date, the name, and the outcome of each phone call about the loan
• 3 Gather your recent mortgage statements and ask for a current payoff figure
• 4 Note how many payments have been missed and what fees have been added
• 5 List every loan secured by the home, including a HELOC (home equity line of credit)
• 6 Check whether the loan is backed by the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) or another program
• 7 Collect pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns in case a hardship application is requested
• 8 Estimate your home equity: what the home might sell for today, less what you owe
• 9 Write your own goal in one sentence, whether that is staying, selling, or simply understanding the choices
• 10 Ask a question every time a term is unfamiliar, and keep asking until the answer makes sense