5 Tips For Choosing A Foreclosure Attorney

Defending your home against foreclosure is an extremely stressful experience, and it is not one that you should go through without the help of a professional foreclosure attorney. However, choosing the right foreclosure attorney can be difficult, as there are several scammers out there that are looking to capitalize on homeowners that are seeking foreclosure assistance. Here are five useful tips to help you choose the right foreclosure attorney.

Consult Your State HUD

One of the best ways to find a reputable foreclosure attorney is to contact a housing counselor from your state's Department of Housing and Urban Development. By talking to a housing counselor from your state HUD, you may even be able to avoid hiring a foreclosure attorney by getting a mortgage modification or other assistance to prevent your foreclosure.

If hiring an attorney will still be necessary, contacting your HUD can help you get your case in order before your first attorney interview. They will assist you with getting your documents in order so that you have all of the information you need to talk to a prospective attorney. You can use the HUD online database to find a housing counselor in your state.

Avoid Empty Promises

A common tactic of foreclosure scammers is to make over-the-moon promises about the results they can provide before they have even reviewed the details of your case. You should avoid any attorneys that guarantee you will keep your house, as well as those that provide a flat-rate fee for all foreclosure cases.

Go Through National Associations

There are several national associations that are dedicated to helping consumers through bankruptcy and foreclosure. A good way to make sure that you are getting a reputable attorney is to hire based upon the recommendations of these associations. Two notable examples are the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

Choose a Lawyer With Free Initial Consultation

There is no better way to get a feel for the personality and professionalism of a lawyer that you are considering than to meet face-to-face. Fortunately, this is possible and recommended. Any good foreclosure attorney will provide a free initial consultation so that you can explain the details of your case and the attorney can provide details about the service he or she offers.

It is important to regard this initial consultation as a business meeting. You should be brief about explaining your case, and omit details about the events that led up to the consultation that are not relevant to your defense. This is also a good time to ask the attorney specific questions about the number of foreclosure cases they have worked on and their past experience with real estate law.

Help Your Lawyer Help You

No matter how much experience a foreclosure attorney has, it will be difficult for them to get a feel for your case and provide a good estimate of the outcome if you do not have the right documentation. During your initial consultation, be sure to bring a brief statement detailing the history of the case, the original paperwork that you gave your lender, any documents you received from the lender after you began to fall behind in your bills, and a record of all correspondence between you and the lender. This will paint a clear picture of the case and help the attorney look for signs of predatory lending and other unfair practices.

When your home is threatened with foreclosure, choosing the right attorney can be the deciding factor in defending it successfully. Keep these guidelines in mind and find a trustworthy attorney that can help guide you through this difficult time by clicking here.

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