Step 1. We admit that our lives have been completely taken over by our financial troubles in general and foreclosure in particular. The first step to a successful recovery from foreclosure is to admit the problem exists and that it is not going to go away by ignoring phone calls from the lender or trusting in hope. While you may not have a plan right now, admitting you need a plan is a courageous step on the road to save your home from foreclosure.
Step 2. We believe that knowledge will give us the power to fix our situation. No one is able to stop foreclosure until they believe that they can gain the knowledge necessary to save their homes. You will have to have faith that there is a solution to foreclosure and that you can find that solution and pursue it until you have saved your home. Remember the concept of a self-sulfilling prophecy -- just by believing in your success, you are much more likely to achieve it.
Step 3. We make the decision to trust those around us and those who we are seeking foreclosure advice from. Although you need to verify income on your own, as well, you should not go into foreclosure second-guessing everyone around you and everyone that you request help from. You simply do not have the time to waste in foreclosure to be able to hold off making a decision until it is too late.
Step 4. Complete a thorough evaluation of our current financial situation. You absolutely need to find out where you can save money, or what other resources are available to you to help you stop foreclosure. Homeowners spend too much money in certain areas every single day, and you may be able to significantly lower your bills or take on a second job. But you won't know this until you look at the complete financial picture of your lives.
Step 5. We admit that we have made mistakes that have led us into this foreclosure situation. Simply put, everyone makes mistakes and many people face foreclosure. While there is no shame in simply missing payments on your mortgage, it is a grave error to continue making the same mistakes over and over again. Once you have recovered from the foreclosure, you need to make certain that you are not in a financially devestating hardship ever again.
Step 6. We trust that we can actively work out a solution to our problem for the long-term. You must trust that you have the ability and strength to fix the current situation and, more importantly, that you can establish a long-term financial plan to prevent foreclosure from ever becoming an issue later in life. Too many homeowners are able to stop foreclosure, only to find that they go into default again within a year. You do not want to be one of these people.
Step 7. We know that we need help to get our financial lives back on track. Whether it's consulting with a trusted attorney, reputable mortgage help provider, or financial adviser, you will need a guide along the way to saving your home. You don't want to live your whole life being led by the hand, but a trusted adviser can provide much needed foreclosure advice and assistance. Ask for the help you need, and you will find that many companies and people are willing to provide it to you.
Step 8. We contact our lender to make them aware that we are working on a solution. Homeowners by the thousands lose their homes to foreclosure every day because they denied the problem and refused to inform their lender that they were going to be late on their mortgage payments. Once they found a solution, the lender was unwilling to grant them additional time, and these homeowners found themselves with nowhere to go. You aren't like that, because you are looking for help -- but you need to communicate that to your lender, so they know not to continue with the foreclosure process.
Step 9. We start making positive changes in our financial lives to avoid the possibility of facing foreclosure ever again. Whether this is saving more, spending less, or selling expensive assets, you can get a head start on foreclosure recovery simply by fxing some of the mistakes you have been making for years. This simple step will put you on the correct financial path and allow you to repair your credit and financial situation as quickly as possible.
Step 10. When evaluating our previous financial plan, we clearly point out the gaps in it. These gaps are what caused you to go into default on your mortgage, most likely. Filling the holes now will help you stop foreclosure now, as well as give your finances the cushion they need so that you never get into another hardship again. You can learn to weather any financial storm by having the right compass to steer by.
Step 11. We put our trust in a solution to stop foreclosure, and we carry out that plan to the end. Whether you are ultimately successful saving your home or not, you must put into each plan as much effort as possible. Not having a plan got you into the situation you are now in, so working hard on your new solutions to stop foreclosure will give you the confidence to know that you gave 110% to fixing the problem. Even if you lose the home, it won't be for lack of trying.
Step 12. Having learned how to repair our financial lives, we give others the knowledge that helped us. Millions of homeowners just like yourself have faced foreclosure and come out of it, and millions more are right now beginning to miss their first payments. You should share your experiences and knowledge, so that you can contribute to others' financial well-being, as well as your own.
Hopefully, these twelve steps will give you the motivation that you need to take the next step, and either become a ForeclosureFish.com client by filling out the foreclosure evaluation form, or finding a viable solution to stop foreclosure. Remember, foreclosure is not the end of the world, and there is a better life after foreclosure.