The easiest way to start the Washington foreclosure recovery process is to contact your lender as soon as you are unable to make your payments on time. Lenders want the borrowers to keep their homes because foreclosure is an expensive process on which most lenders end up losing money.

Lenders therefore have an interest in exploring every possible option in the Washington foreclosure process, including forbearance, partial claim, payment modification and payment suspension. However, the fewer payments you are behind, the more options that will be open to you.

There are three key actions to take in the Washington foreclosure recovery process:

1. Read and respond to any correspondence from your lender. These notices will contain important information on the foreclosure recovery process in Washington and pending legal action.
2. Raise money to make a missed payment. You may be able to sell assets such as a second car or jewelry, or a household member could take a second job.
3. Avoid foreclosure recovery scams. Many companies will charge you for free information while claiming to be able to stop your foreclosure. Washington foreclosure scams attempt to get you to sign over the title to your house.
   

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

Know how Washington state forclosure laws will affect you

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

I recommend: ForeclosureS.com provides the contact information for the Attorney General’s Office in Washington and links to specific legislation regarding foreclosure in Washington. Advantage Mitigation Services summarizes the foreclosure laws in Washington and outlines the foreclosure recovery process.

Get assistance with Washington foreclosure recovery information

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

I recommend: The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides contact information for approved housing counselors in Washington that are available for free or very low cost. DebtAdvice.org is a service provided by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and allows you to locate a Washington foreclosure expert based on your zip code and search radius.

Retain a Washington foreclosure attorney

You may need one of the many Washington foreclosure lawyers to protect your interests, especially if you need to sign documents. If your regular attorney is not familiar with Washington state foreclosure laws, he or she may be able to make a referral.

I recommend: John E. Turner is an ex-judge in Olympia and specifically handles Washington foreclosure law. Anderson Hunter has a practice area of personal law that includes foreclosure cases for clients in Snohomish County.

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

• •  Consider refinancing in your Washington foreclosure process if you have some equity in your home. You will normally need at least 10% equity for a reasonable chance at refinancing and your odds get better with more equity. However, you don't want to make the common mistake of simply taking out a new loan that will be just as difficult to repay as the original mortgage.
• •  Ask to speak with a manager when you contact your mortgage company as part of your Washington foreclosure recovery process. You will need to have some basic information ready, including your loan number, household expenses and recent pay stubs. Be prepared to provide a brief, honest account of your financial circumstances and take notes, especially the contact information of the person to whom you are speaking.