No one expects to face foreclosure.  The truth is most homeowners in the United States only have to deal with foreclosure after losing their jobs, going through a divorce, suffering from an incapacitating illness or other such life events.  Unexpected events happen to everyone, even responsible homeowners.  However, once people fall behind on their mortgage payments, they will have to deal with the reality of losing their homes if they do not act quickly.

When homeowners receive notices of foreclosure from their banks or lenders after defaulting on their mortgages, they will have two main options:  allow the foreclosure to happen or pursue a short sale.  Before homeowners decide which option is most appropriate for their situation, they need to know the difference between short sales and foreclosure.

What is foreclosure?
Foreclosure occurs when a bank or mortgage lender decides to regain possession of a property after a homeowner has defaulted on his or her mortgage.  Once lenders move forward with foreclosure, homeowners must vacate their properties and surrender their homes.  The damage does not stop there as foreclosures will appear on homeowners’ credit reports and will lower their credit scores.

What is a short sale?
A short sale occurs when both homeowners and lenders agree to sell homes for less than what is owed on the homes.  The lenders accept the loss because it helps them avoid costs associated with foreclosure and homeowners avoid incurring damage to their credit reports.

Which is better?
At American Economic Solutions, we firmly believe that of all the options available, foreclosure is the worst for several reasons:

• You lose your home.
• Your lender may choose to file a judgment against you to collect your past obligations as well as costs related to the foreclosure.
• You will incur significant damage to your credit report for years to come.

With the cons far outweighing the pros, we advise you to steer free and clear of foreclosure and pursue short sales instead.  While you may think that short sales are extremely complicated, time consuming and strenuous, the truth is that when you work with our specialists, the process is very smooth and expedient.  Our short sale specialists will handle all of the applications, paperwork and work with your lender and make sure that things move along quickly.

Contact American Economic Solutions today to learn more about our effective short sale services!

When it comes to the topic of loan modification, there tends to be a lot of fiction and little fact circulating, which can make it difficult for homeowners to understand their options.  If you are thinking about loan modification, this blog will be of immense help and has been created by our team of experienced, accredited and knowledgeable loan modification specialists:

Fiction:  You must be behind your mortgage to apply for loan modification.
Fact:  This is absolutely false and a popular misconception. In order to get your home loan modified, you do not have to be late on your monthly mortgage payments.  You simply have to prove to your mortgage lender that you are in danger of defaulting on your mortgage to initiate the loan modification process.

Fiction:  You can’t modify your home loan if you have received notice of foreclosure.
Fact:  Many people wrongly assume that if their lenders have issued notice of foreclosure, it is too late to pursue loan modification.  Yet, the reality is, you can still negotiate more favorable loan terms with your lenders and modify your home loan even after receiving foreclosure notices.  If you are successful with your loan modification, you can stop foreclosure and save your home.

Fiction:  You can modify your home loan on your own.
Fact:  While it is true that you can try to modify your home loan on your own, the fact is that very few homeowners have been successful when trying to seek loan modifications alone.  Many report that they found the process confusing, strenuous and complicated and most say they never completed their loan modifications.  For this reason, homeowners should always seek help from loan modification specialists instead of trying to get through the process on their own, which can cost them time and money.

Fiction:  Attorneys are best equipped to handle loan modifications.
Fact:  Attorneys are not the best choice for homeowners pursuing loan modifications.  Instead, homeowners want to work with a reputable company that specializes in modifying home loans, like American Economic Solutions (AES).  Our company is approved by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and, unlike lawyers who claim they are loan modification experts, we can actually prove we are experts as we have successfully modified hundreds of home loans nationally.

If you would like to learn more about the facts surrounding loan medication, we strongly encourage you to contact our knowledgeable specialists by calling 1-888-500-2632!

One of the many questions that homeowners ask when they are on the verge of losing their houses is, “Will filing for bankruptcy stop foreclosure?”

The answer to this question is never easy to come up with because it depends upon the circumstances that are involved.  In some cases, the answer will be “yes” as many homeowners prevent foreclosure by filing for Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Unfortunately, in other cases, the answer will be “no”.

After people file for consumer bankruptcy, an automatic stay is issued.  This stops creditors and collectors from calling people to collect debts that they owe.  However, this stay is only temporary and will only stop foreclosure for a short period of time.  Even more disheartening is the fact the mortgage lenders and banks can get around automatic stays by appealing to the court to issue lifts.  Once courts grant lifts, lenders will be free to pursue foreclosure.

You may be wondering how this is possible.  The fact is, a home is an asset that is secured by a deed of trust and your mortgage lender is allowed to ask the courts for relief from automatic stays because they financed the purchase of your property.  In order to remain in possession of your home and avoid foreclosure altogether, you will need to negotiate favorable terms with your mortgage lender.  You may also pursue loan modification or short sale by working with the team at American Economic Solutions as both of these alternatives could stop your foreclosure.

The bottom line is this, if you want to stop foreclosure, filing for bankruptcy is really a temporary solution and will provide short-term relief.  If you pursue bankruptcy, you will have to live with several consequences, such as having the bankruptcy on your credit report for up to 10 years.  Therefore, if you are facing foreclosure, it is to your advantage to consider all of your options by speaking with the specialists at American Economic Solutions.

If you are still seriously considering filing for bankruptcy, American Economic Solutions encourages you to work with our preferred partner, Scott Orona, an experienced bankruptcy lawyer.  Scott Orona has helped many homeowners get through the consumer bankruptcy process with little stress and in minimal time.  You can contact Attorney Orona directly by calling 619-306-7627 or by visiting his bankruptcy website:  http://www.sdbankruptcy.net/

If you pay your credit card bills before your mortgage, know that you are not alone.  According to a recent study released by TransUnion, consumers are choosing to pay off their credit card debt before their mortgages. 

Sean Reardon, a consultant with TransUnion and the creator of the study says that, “Conventional wisdom has always been that, when faced with a financial crisis, consumers will pay their secured obligations first, specifically their mortgages.” The study revealed that the number of Americans that chose to pay their credit card bills over their mortgages increased by 68% from 2007 to 2009.  Two states that clearly show bill payment hierarchy are Florida and California (Bills.com).

The team at American Economic Solutions feels that while it may seem like paying your credit cards first is a wise option, it can lead to much greater problems in the long run.   Whenever homeowners stop paying their mortgages, mortgage lenders move quickly to issue foreclosure notices.  And, the reality is that dealing with a foreclosure can be far more strenuous than dealing with a credit card collector.  What is more frightening, receiving calls from creditors or losing your home?  Give this some thought before you skip a mortgage payment.

There are certain things in life that must take priority over others.  At AES, we consider housing and transportation to be more important than paying down credit card balances.  If you find that you are in a compromising situation and cannot afford to pay both your mortgage and your card bills, you should always pay your mortgage first.  You should also seek immediate help from our debt management specialists.  Every day, we meet with individuals who are overwhelmed by debt.  Our team works with our clients to come up with feasible solutions that often prevent foreclosure and enable them to regain control finances.  

If you are struggling with debt, don’t hesitate to get the help you need to reclaim control of your life.  Contact us today to speak with a knowledgeable debt management professional!

In today’s market, many homeowners are finding it difficult to make their mortgage payments on time.  For this reason, our team has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers which may be helpful for people who are behind on their mortgages.

I am behind on my mortgage.  What are my options?
Your options will depend upon your financial situation, length of delinquency and age.   For example, if you are struggling to pay your mortgage because of accumulated late fees and penalties or have a high interest rate, one of our loan modification programs may be ideal for you.  Or, if you are over the age of 62, you may qualify for a reverse mortgage.  Depending on your circumstances, other options may include short sales, bankruptcy or loss mitigation.

I know other people who have filed for bankruptcy.  Is that the best option for me?
Again, in order to determine which option will work best for you, we would have to consider your individual circumstances.  It is true that many people choose to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy when they are behind on their mortgage payments.  While there are several bankruptcy benefits, like having your debts discharged or being able to repay your debts over the course of 3 – 5 years, it is important that you speak with one of our mortgage specialists before you commit to filing for consumer bankruptcy.  Simply put, there may be better options for your situation.

I just received a notice of foreclosure.  What should I do?
Immediately after you have received a notice of foreclosure, you need to take quick action.  The best thing you can do is contact American Economic Solutions and speak with one of our mortgage specialists.  We may be able to prevent your foreclosure and will do everything we can to help you remain in possession of your home.   Our team will review your current situation and provide effective solutions that will enable you to stop foreclosure.  Remember, the sooner you get our team involved, the better your outcome will be.

What should I do if I want to modify my home loan but don’t know where to start?
You can start the loan modification process easily by speaking with a specialist from American Economic Solutions (AES).  We are a trusted company that has completed hundreds of loan modifications.  With our help, you will avoid scams, pay zero advance fees and have the comfort of a 100% money back guarantee.  We will work closely with your lender to come up with the best mortgage terms possible.

What if I believe I was a victim of a loan modification scam?
If you have been a victim a loan modification scam, you should report the company you worked with to the Better Business Bureau.  You can also file a complaint with your state’s Attorney General’s Office.

For further assistance, contact our team today!