More people are losing their homes from a lack of knowledge rather than from a lack of money. People are going into foreclosure at record numbers. With rising interest rates, many people are getting behind on their payments. You only need to miss one payment for it to affect your credit score. When you miss two or more that is when the damage can really start.

None of the suggestions in this report should be considered legal or tax advise. Make sure that you check with a legal or tax professional regarding any actions that you may take. Only a professional can give you an idea of all the ramifications of any action that you choose.

This can be a very stressful time. Thoughts of foreclosure, bankruptcy and ruined credit are all present. Many times people panic when they are in this situation. That is the last thing you need to do. If you can remain calm and patient, there may be more help then you were aware of. There are 15 things that you need to know and consider if you are in this situation.

1. Talk To Your Lender.

This is the first place you should seek help. The lender has a vested interest in wanting you to stay in the property. Lenders are in the money business not the real estate business. Believe me they do not want your home.

There are two factors they will look at when evaluating your situation. One is that you must have a legitimate financial hardship. The other thing they will also look at is your future ability to pay. These programs are for short-term problems only.

A short-term situation is one where you may have lost your job, but after a month or two, you now have another one. If you have a long-term problem like the loss of job for 6 months or more, divorce or death in the family, these solutions maybe not be for you

There are three majors programs that you should consider:

Reinstatement. Under this program you would be allowed to restart on the terms of the original agreement. To do this you will have to make up all the back payment, interest and penalties. You would then move forward with your loan as usual and all is forgiven. This is usually the program that you will be on if you have missed several payments.

If you are facing foreclosure make sure that you take a certified check to the trustee of the foreclosure. You will also need to make sure that you receive a letter from the trustee saying that the foreclosure has been stopped.

Forbearance. Under this program, a portion of the principal, interest, penalty or all of the monthly payment will either be forgiven or tacked on to the back of your loan. This will be the program that you will probably be looking at if you have only missed a few payments.

Your forbearance may include a payment plan. This would allow you to pay it back over time. This may not always be a part of the plan, but it may be an additional benefit that can assist you.

Loan Modification. With this plan you actually change the terms of the original loan. This may include a reduction of the interest. That may actually lower your monthly payment. This will help you in the long term.