The best way to deal with Massachusetts foreclosures is to let your lender know when you will not be able to make a payment. Lenders usually end up losing money in the foreclosure process and do not actually want to foreclose on your house.

Lenders therefore have an interest in exploring all possibilities in the Massachusetts foreclosure recovery process, including forbearance, partial claim, payment modification and payment suspension. More of these options will be available if you are only one or two payments behind.

There are three key actions to take when seeking Massachusetts foreclosure help:

1. Review and answer all correspondence from your lender. These notices will contain important information on the foreclosure recovery process in Massachusetts and any pending legal actions.
2. Make a missed payment by raising money quickly. You may be able to sell a second car, jewelry or other assets, or a family member may be able to get an extra job.
3. Avoid foreclosure recovery scams. Many companies will charge you for information you could get for free. Others may ask you to sign over the title to your house.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know what your Massachusetts foreclosure rights are

Laws on foreclosure vary considerably by state so you should be familiar with at least a summary of foreclosure laws in Massachusetts. You should also read your loan documents to know what your lender can do if you can't make your payments.

I recommend: In addition to a summary of Massachusetts law, American Foreclosure Specialists provides links to Massachusetts foreclosure listings.

Get free Massachusetts foreclosure information

There are housing counselors and online resources available to help you understand your options, assist you in organizing your finances and negotiate with your lender if needed.

I recommend: Visit the National Foundation For Credit Counseling’s Homeowner Crisis Resource Center for information and tools to get started understanding your foreclosure options. DebtAdvice.org is a service provided by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and allows you to locate housing counselors based on your zip code and search radius.

Retain one of many foreclosure lawyers in Massachusetts

You may need one of the available Massachusetts foreclosure lawyers to protect your interests, especially if you need to sign documents. If your regular attorney does not handle Massachusetts foreclosure law, he or she may be able to make a referral.

I recommend: Jay Michelman is based in Springfield and practices real estate law with specific experience in home foreclosures. Tarlow Breed Hart & Rogers in Boston practices real estate law for clients throughout New England.

Watch out for mortgage recovery scams

The Federal Trade Commission warns that there are plenty of bad guys operating in the foreclosure recovery business who will take your money and provide no service. Some warning signs, according to the FTC: advertising terms like 'guarantee' and '97% success rate', upfront fees before services and company names or websites designed to make you think you're dealing with a government or nonprofit agency.

I recommend: Educate yourself about foreclosure recovery scams through the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC recommends you only seek foreclosure help from government sanctioned counseling agencies like the ones recommended by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the federal Making Home Affordable program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You may want to include refinancing in your Massachusetts foreclosure process if you have built-up some equity in your home. You would usually require at least 10% equity to have a reasonable chance at refinancing and it will be easier with more equity. However, you don't want to simply take out a new loan to repay the original mortgage.