If your financial hardship has left you in a position whereby you are not able to pay your mortgage payment, whatever the reason may be, then you cannot afford to live in your home. Foreclosures are growing dilemma for many homeowners in the Untied States today; foreclosures are at an all time high. Alan Greenspan has made comments that the US may be heading for a recession in 2008.

Some lenders out there have not been playing fair, and some even to the point of unethical practices. These unethical practices are a primary reason that foreclosures are at an all time high and not expected to slow down in 2008, from what most experts have said.
On the bright side of things, you may have an option that may allow you to keep your home, even if the foreclosure process is already under way. Something that has been around for many years, and you may possibly utilize to save your home and equity. You may need to wait a year or two in order to cash out the equity on the property, but it is better then the alternative.

This option is referred to as a Lease Purchase Agreement, find a tenant to lease your home from you, with an option to purchase the home at the end to the agreed period or time; usually 12 to 24 months. You set a price for them to buy the house when the agreement is signed; this will allow you to set the price so you can save the equity and by some time to recover. With a tenant that has the option to buy your home you may be able to:

1) First and foremost is the avoidance of a foreclosure

2) Since renters are paying less today due to the high foreclosure rates, this may be a way to increase the monthly rent, due in light of the purchase agreement

3) A one-time payment, up-front as a non-refundable deposit, this is usually 1% – 3% of the sales price. The best part of this is that even if they decide not to buy your home, you still keep the money

4) Quickly locate a buyer for your property, most times faster then trying to sell you home in the traditional manner

5) Someone else will be paying the mortgage payment, and potentially a few hundred dollars a month more

Lease Purchase Agreements usually work well in any real estate market; these agreements referred to as a “lease option” as well. This is a very valuable strategy to keep in mind, especially during market that in a distress.

While there may be many other reasons to take advantage of a lease option, they are defiantly an excellent way to avoid foreclosure, and salvage your home from the bank. In a foreclosure, your credit will be destroyed for years to come, and the additional financial repercussions can take a tool on your personal life.

The first past due payment is also the first step on the way to foreclosure. After a few weeks, you will get a notice from the lender telling you you’ve missed a payment. If it’s at all possible, pay the past due bill. If you stay in default, the mortgage company will start calling. They will declare that you are in default and they will require payment. If this looks like your situation, contact your lender.

Mortgage loan modification may still be an alternative if you talk with your lender in time. Going through this process can be one of the best ways to avoid mortgage foreclosure. Most lenders will delay the foreclosure until three months of past due payments before they start foreclosure. It can take a little more time, but if you keep missing payments you will get a foreclosure notice eventually.

When that foreclosure notice arrives, you have a problem. You can stall it if you decide to attend the court hearing, but you will lose in all probability. When the court hearing is finished and the decision has been made, the banking company obtains the right to sell your house through an auction. At that moment, there are only a couple of days left to leave your home. If you do not leave, you will be forced out by the law.

Talk with your lender before things get to this point. Mortgage loan modification is frequently a good opportunity to spare your house and family from mortgage foreclosue by renegotiating terms with your lender. Read up on the mortgage loan modification procedures and make sure you fill out all the paperwork to the best of your abilities.