Tempe

The real estate market is currently in a state of flux, with many people still struggling to keep their homes. Arizona Republic reporter Chad Graham shared real estate reporter Catherine Reagor’s tips for readers who are dealing with a potential foreclosure. According to Reagor, foreclosures spiked more than tenfold in the past year as homeowners fell behind on their mortgage payments. Here are some of Reagor’s tips that can help you from becoming a statistic in Tempe:

1. Contact your Tempe lender immediately.

2. Organize important papers – locate such items as lender information, annual tax returns paychecks and monthly utility bills (any organization providing assistance will ask for this information).

3. Look into Making Home Affordable, a plan to stabilize our housing market and help up to 7 to 9 millions Americans reduce their monthly mortgage payments to more affordable levels. For more information, visit www.makinghomeaffordable.com or call 888-995-HOPE.

4. Call the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at 877-448-1211. It offers bilingual counselors.

5. Check out www.hud.gov. Click on the “foreclosure avoidance counseling” link and then choose Arizona. It is a good way to find a counselor approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

6. Consider a short sale – you won’t make any money, but you won’t have a foreclosure on your credit either.

Not everyone is going to be able to avoid foreclosures, but for many of you, it is not too late. Facing a foreclosure can be daunting, but it is important to face the challenge head on with creativity and honesty – hiding mortgage statements in the junk drawer or changing your phone number will not help you keep your Tempe home. So pause, take a deep breath, and start getting in touch with the people who can help you avoid foreclosure.