Pre Foreclosure Profits and Opportunities and Locating Them

Refinance Pre Foreclosure Options For Owners

It is always devastating to families and individuals when they are in default of their mortgage payments and face the possibility of being forced out of their homes. Thankfully there are several refinance pre foreclosure options that are available for homeowners, depending on their financial standing, credit history and record and the circumstances that led to the home or property mortgage not being paid. Refinance pre foreclosure methods will also differ slightly from state to state, so always do some research and learn about what your state offers and requires. This will help you discuss refinance pre foreclosure options with your lender from a knowledgeable and informed perspective.

Three things for a good start are:

1. The first step in obtaining information on how to refinance pre foreclosure property if you are home owner is to talk to someone that is knowledgeable about both your options and your legal rights.

2. A HUD housing counseling agency can be a good first step, as these counselors can provide information on various government programs that may be available in your area.

3. To access these services check your local government website or contact your Veterans Affairs department if you are current or past military and purchased your home with a Veteran's Administration (VA) guaranteed loan.

Refinance pre foreclosure options may also include an actual modification in your mortgage payment, without the requirement of a full refinance. This can be arranged between the lender and the borrower and typically occurs due to some specific issue such as a loss of income, disability or a change in your income that will not allow you to pay the amount you were previously able to cover. Clear information to the lender as well as a prior good payment history before the pre foreclosure is usually critical in this special situation.

A partial claim refinance pre foreclosure deal can be a true lifesaver for both the borrower and the lender. In this option there are several criteria that may be met, but what actually happens in the lender is able to claim the deficit amount through a no-interest loan directly from HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development). This can only happen if the house or property in not currently in foreclosure but is in default between four and twelve months and the homeowner is able to now make full mortgage payments to the lender at the terms of the original loan.

Typically home owners in looking for refinance pre foreclosure options may also be able to work through banks or lenders if they have a significant amount of equity built up in the home. In cases where the homes have no equity or negative equity, options will be very limited. Negative equity occurs when there is more owed on the home than the property would bring in if placed on the market.

Where Can I Find A Pre Foreclosure List?

A pre foreclosure list is a tool that can be used to determine what properties in your area or an area you are interested in may be going into foreclosure and be available for purchase. It is important to keep in mind that houses or properties on a pre foreclosure list may not end up in foreclosure, especially if the owner is able to either refinance or work with the lender to set up a repayment plan that will deal with the deficit in the payments.

A home makes it onto a pre foreclosure list in several different ways, depending on the type of financing and the various real estate laws within a state. Lets explore a few possibilities:

Typically the lists are developed by the local courts through public notices, which are found through court filings by the lender. In some states where Judicial foreclosures are used, the lender has to file a notice of Lis Pendens with the court, which then hears the complaint of the lender. The homeowner is allows to also present their information, during this process the house or property is considered in pre foreclosure. The lender and borrower may resolve the outstanding debt prior to the court hearing, at which time the house would be removed from the foreclosure list and would not move into foreclosure.

The other option for a foreclosure is called a Non-Judicial Foreclosure, although a legally established process is still followed. The lender will file a Notice of Default as well as notify the homeowner that the house or property is in pre foreclosure. The owner then has a set amount of time to communicate with the lender to attempt to develop a plan to address the default payments. Once the time has passed for the owner to attempt to correct the problem, the lender will sell the property through a public auction.

While a pre foreclosure list does not necessarily mean that the property is going to go to foreclosure, it can be a useful tool in determining what homes or properties may be available for sale during the pre foreclosure period or may come on the market shortly. There are many different websites offering both foreclosure and pre foreclosure list information either on a state by state, county, city or broader area search option. These sites may be free and open to the public or there may be sites that require a paid membership to view the pre foreclosure list area. There are also several agencies that specialize in locating pre foreclosure list information for specific categories of properties that buyers or investors may be interested in purchasing.

Jeremy Lawrence is an independent business person and Niche Marketer. See his website - Stop Foreclosure