Being Smart To Stop Mortgage Foreclosure

In watching the national news lately you begin to hear stories about the spike in foreclosures and how predatory mortgage lending practices are causing a huge problem with the banking industry which is affecting new loans and driving us to recession. At some point the logic is flawed and the notion that there are predatory mortgage brokers may be true but unless these people are putting guns to clients' heads and forcing them to sign mortgages then some of the fault has to lie with the client.

It is easy to stand in your huge beautiful home and cry on national television that you cannot afford the mortgage anymore but when you hear the whole story from these people at some point you have to stop feeling sorry for them. The best way to stop mortgage foreclosure is to be smart when you get your mortgage in the first place.

The first step in stopping mortgage foreclosure is to sit down long before you even talk to a mortgage broker and do some research. People get blinded by the desire to own a home and are willing to believe anything a devious broker tells them. These sorts of people will always be victims no matter what is going on but to stop mortgage foreclosure for otherwise intelligent people you need to learn your limitations.

There are a lot of websites on the internet that will help you to understand exactly how much of a mortgage you can honestly afford. The best way to stop mortgage foreclosure is knowing up front whether or not you can afford the home you are thinking of buying. A devious broker is going to get you a loan whether they think you can afford it or not, but if you take on a mortgage that you either know you cannot afford or have no idea if you can afford then you are the one to blame and not the broker.

The Big Picture

When you look to stop mortgage foreclosure before it even starts you need to take into account everything that goes into a mortgage when you figure out if you can pay it or not. Some people figure out principle and interest and if that looks like it can squeeze into their budget then they use that number. Owning a home is so much more than that. You have to figure in your monthly taxes which is a number any house listing will give you.

Then there is periodic upkeep which means that you should work with a number that is not going to leave you flat broke every month because that water heater is going to break down someday and you will need to replace it. Also look at the condition of the house you are buying. Is the foundation solid? Will the roof need replacing? The best way to stop mortgage foreclosure before it can start is to know everything that goes into home ownership and fit that into your monthly budget.

Owning a home is a great thing but if you make $25,000 a year and you plan on signing a mortgage for a home that costs a total of $1,000 per month then who is to blame? Be smart and you can stop mortgage foreclosure before it even begins. Then you can avoid potentially being that person on television that no one feels sorry for but yet everyone wants to avoid being like.