Testimonials From Those Who Have Been There…

Below are e-mails sent to me. These people have given their permission

to have their stories posted here. If you have a story to share, whether

you’ve been through a foreclosure, are going through one now, or worry you’re headed in that direction, all are welcome to share.

Please send an e-mail to lorieoclare@aol.com with HEA in the subject line. The next time we update the website your testimonial will be added here.

There is strenth in numbers! Those who have struggled can help you to be strong! Those who fought their way through the nightmare of losing their home can give you inspiration. Read the stories here. They are powerful and heart-touching!

PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME SHARE THEIR STORY…

We have just finally came out of foreclosure.  We signed and mailed the paperwork out last month. It took me 6 months of bugging the mortgage company and looking on line to find out everything I could.   

I was on the phone with our mortgage company every week and seemed to get a new person each time that would tell me that I was supposed to have done this and not that.  One person would tell me to fill out the paperwork for finacial and fax it over.  The next week when I called with a question on the paperwork I was told that I was to fill something else out.  One even told me that I was to fax over our last two taxes, paystubs, a letter stating why we were in our current situation or a hardship letter and also the financial paperwork.  Do you know how many pages that was?  I don’t own a fax machine and would have to pay for each page to go through.  It was an insane amount but like before, they didn’t need that but something else.

One man even told me that if my husband lost his job we would qualify better.  We are a one income family because I can’t find a job.  I have been looking for over a year and still can’t.  I couldn’t even qualify for a job as a Christmas elf and help with the santa pictures.  You have to have experience.  I have worked at a photography studi but that didn’t count. If my husband did lose his job, we would have nothing. How could that help us?

This had gone on for months and by the time you reach a certain amount of months they stop taking your money and rack up late charges.  Last month we owed so much that I honestly didn’t know what to do.  Do I give up after all this work?  Do I keep going so that I still have a roof over my head?  I was getting orders from lawyers starting the forclosure and just waiting for them to give a for sale date. 

What got us in this situation?  A lot of people don’t want to talk about it because it is embaressing or they have shame because of it.  I have to admit that I had felt that way but now so many people are in this situation.  We had to pay for braces for my son.  That took about 700 right at the get go.  I needed back surgery and the insurance didn’t pay for most of the tests I needed.  The MRI alone was over 600.  I had to do it or stay in pain and I couldn’t take that anymore.  I dealt with it for over 7 years.  I found out that the surgery would cost nearly 2000 and called my doctor to cancel but he decided that he would fit the bill for me.  I had my surgery but we still had to cover the hospital, co pays and tests.  Our air conditioner went out in the middle of the summer and that cost 1500.  We live in Florida so going without it was not an option. These are only a few of the things that brought to this but a lot of little things can add up before you know it. 

I had cut as much as I could.  We didn’t go out to the movies or eat unless it was the kids birthdays.  My husband and I didn’t exchange presents but gave the kids presents.  I bought in bulk.  I went to the library instead of the bookstore.  I bought store brand of things at the store.  I would freeze in the day so that I didn’t feel about th raising the temp at night for the kids.  I sweated in the summer so they could be cool at night.  I have even pawned jewerly and my husband has no idea.

We were lucky and able to cut our interest rate from 6 all the way down to 2.  It does go up but the highest it will ever go is 5 and that is still less.  I have been able to sleep again and breath.  Panic attacks were also a way of life but are really hard to hide but I did.  The kids have no idea how close we came to losing our home and I hope to never ever be in that situation.

Please tell your readers not to give up.  Do research on line and find out what you can and cannot do.  The mortgage company doesn’t tell you everything.  You can lower your interest rate, they can allow you to pay a bit more each month until you can catch up, small loans from FM, refinance but that one is hard to qualify for once you have gotten behind.  Check on line and don’t give up!  They want you to but they don’t realize that they can make more money if you can keep paying instead of selling the house at a loss. 

 Katie in Florida