Resources

​There is help for homeowners who are struggling to maintain their home.

If your lender sent you a request for resolution conference, or if you want to request a resolution conference, the Oregon Foreclosure Mediation Program can help. The program’s website has many helpful resources.

Nonprofit housing counseling agencies can help negotiate solutions or seek alternate options to avoid foreclosure. The counselors are certified by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and offer free, objective, and confidential services. Find a HUD-approved nonprofit housing counselor near you.

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation also provides free housing counseling. Speak to a HUD-certified counselor on the HOPE foreclosure hotline: 888-995-HOPE (4673).

The Department of Veterans Affairs has financial counselors available to help veterans and surviving spouses. This help is available even if your mortgage is not a VA or VA-backed loan. Visit Veterans Affairs foreclosure prevention to learn more.

For service members called up for active duty, the Service Members Civil Relief Act may be able to provide mortgage relief.

​The Federal Trade Commission provides this information on Your Rights When Paying Your Mortgage.

Fannie Mae provides options through its mortgage advice and resources.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has compiled useful guidance for homeowners.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created templates to help request information from your mortgage servicer and to request that your servicer correct errors.

The Division of Financial Regulation created the Keeping Your Home handbook.

​​For homeowners 62 years old and older, another option may be a reverse mortgage. The most common reverse mortgage loan is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), administered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s reverse mortgages page has more information and resources.

Companies that charge a fee for help with loan modifications or short sales in Oregon must be registered as a debt management service provider, licensed as a mortgage lender or loan originator, or be a licensed Oregon attorney.

Debt management service providers must display their Oregon registration number on all advertisements, presentations, communications, and promotional materials.

Check the license of a debt management service provider.

Learn about the allowable fees

Search for enforcement actions taken against the company

Attorneys: Oregon-licensed attorneys can offer debt management services if it is part of the related legal services they are providing to a client, and only while acting as an attorney for the client. An example would be an Oregon-licensed attorney representing a client in a divorce or bankruptcy proceeding. To check the license of an Oregon attorney, visit the Oregon State Bar.

Real estate brokers: Brokers can offer short-sale services without a registration only if they do not charge any fees over the usual and customary real estate commission. Visit the Oregon Real Estate Agency to check a brokers license.

Mortgage loan originators: Oregon-licensed mortgage loan originators are exempt from registration as debt management service providers and can negotiate a loan modification on behalf of the homeowner, but only if they provide those services under the company they represent. Loan originators cannot work for more than one company, and the company must be licensed to do business in Oregon. The company and the loan originator’s license number must be displayed in all advertising, including radio, TV, printed media, and any printed materials they use to promote their business. Visit the National Mortgage Licensing System to verify a loan originator’s license.

State regulators are responsible for investigating consumer complaints about the companies they regulate. If you need to file a complaint, first determ​ine which state agency to contact about the complaint.

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation regulates debt management companies, mortgage lenders and mortgage service companies. The division also regulates insurance companies as well as state-chartered banks and credit unions. Ask the company who their regulator is in order to file your complaint with the right agency.

Federally chartered banks are regulated by the Office of the Controller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or the Federal Reserve.

Federally charted credit unions are regulated by the National Credit Union Administration.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also acts on complaints against banks, lenders, and other financial companies.

​It is important to know the tax effect of your decisions and the options you may have for tax relief. These resources provide Oregon and federal tax information. You may want to talk to a tax accountant for professional advice, but make sure they are licensed by the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners.​

Oregon Property Tax Deferral Program

Oregon tax assessor contact information by county

Oregon real property foreclosure for unpaid property taxes

IRS info on home foreclosure and debt cancellation

IRS info on home loan modification with a principal reduction

Understanding a Federal Tax Lien

Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners