Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling

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Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling

Whether you’re about to fall behind on your mortgage, have already missed a few payments, or are already in the foreclosure process, we can help you avoid foreclosure with education, counseling, and other resources. The earlier you reach out for help, the more options you’ll have, but just remember even if you’re in foreclosure, you may have more options than you think.

We can help you keep the roof over your head.

Counseling as part of the Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance (OFA) Program:

If you have received an OFA Notice of Resolution Conference, please contact our office immediately. Time is of the essence right now and there are several important steps to take. We want to help you get started right away.

If you haven’t already, please pay the required fee to MCM (Mediation Case Manager), before the deadline on your notice. This confirms your right to participate in the OFA program. The fee must be paid to MCM; see the notice for payment details. DevNW cannot accept payments. Failure to pay the fee by the deadline will cancel your conference.

Once you have paid the fee, the next steps are to meet with a foreclosure counselor and submit the required documents. Ideally (if you start soon enough), these are done together. Your counselor is an expert in the documents your lender will need.

Our role is to be your guide and advocate through the OFA program. We can help with everything from gathering documents to analyzing which options are available to you, and even representing you at the resolution conference. However, we need your help and commitment at every step. Here’s how our counseling process works:


Step 1: Register for OFA Counseling.

Call:

This gives us a chance to double-check your deadlines, identify the investor on your loan, and answer any up-front questions.


Step 2: Complete the DevNW Forclosure Avoidance Application (English | Español) and supporting documents.

We can schedule your counseling session as soon as you turn in the application and required documents.

A note on documents:

OFA requires you to upload certain documents to an online database (Canopy) by the deadline listed in your notice.

DevNW needs similar documents for counseling. We need all of the details to give you the best advice. We ask for a longer list because we know that your lender will require more than the basic OFA documents before they will review you for assistance.

Ideally, if you contact us soon enough, you’ll just turn in a single set of documents to us, and we’ll upload everything to Canopy. That way, we can double-check that you have everything that your lender will need for a full review.

If your document deadline is too close, or our calendar is booked too far out, we may advise you to upload your own documents. We provide tips for that process.

We can schedule your counseling session as soon as you turn in the application and documents.


Step 3: Attend a counseling session.

A counselor will:

  • Talk with you about your goals for the home
  • Review your financial information
  • Outline the likely (and not-so-likely) options available
  • Ask for any additional documents that your lender might need to support your goal
  • Strategize for the resolution conference

This usually occurs in-person at our office, but we can also counsel by phone if that works better for you.


Step 4: Stay in touch.

DevNW or your lender may need additional documents. The conference may need to be rescheduled. It’s important to respond quickly to calls or emails related to OFA.

If your lender contacts you during this time, please call or email your counselor right away. We want to make sure that your lender is giving you the most helpful advice!


Counseling before the OFA Program:

If you haven’t received an Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Notice, you can still participate in all of our counseling services.


Step 1: Complete our foreclosure counseling application and return it to our office with the documents listed on page 1. (Note: The application and supporting documents are required before your counseling appointment can be scheduled, so that your counselor fully understands your situation. They are also required by your lender to apply for most assistance programs.)


Step 2: A member of our Program Support team will call you to schedule an appointment.

It’s that easy!

Your counselor will help you understand:

  • How your lender will analyze your situation
  • Which options are available to you
  • How to move forward

Counselors can help you apply for a loan modification or forbearance and provide referrals to other professional services, such as short sale realtors and bankruptcy attorneys.


DevNW Application and Supporting Document Links:

Enrollment Packet (English | Español)

Blank DevNW Budget Sheet

Hardship Letter Template/Example

4506T Form


Other Helpful Resources

Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Program

Fannie Mae Loan Lookup

Freddie Mac Loan Lookup

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — servicing guidelines and complaint forms

Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection

Cost: No fees to DevNW. See your Notice of Resolution Conference and follow its instructions.