Mortgage payment help
If you are behind on your mortgage or think you may miss a payment, you may have more than one option. Your payment status, hardship, budget, notices, and plans for the home all matter.
Choose where you are now. We will help you organize the facts and review the next steps.
Free educational information. No pressure to sell your home.
You do not need to know the name of a mortgage program or legal process. Choose the statement closest to your situation.
Review your budget, mortgage statement, and the reason the payment may be late.
Review what happens after a missed payment and what your mortgage servicer may ask for.
Review your payment status, notices, budget, and the mortgage-help options tied to your loan.
Review what happens if you are in forbearance, a repayment plan, or a loan modification and the payment is still difficult.
A notice may list response steps, contact information, a hearing date, or a sale date. The meaning depends on the state and document type.
Compare the cost of keeping the home with the estimated proceeds from a sale after the mortgage and selling costs are paid.
A general guide
First, check your payment status and any notices or known dates. Then consider whether the payment problem is short term or likely to continue. This helps you compare ways to keep the home with options for selling it.
Check your payment status, notices, and budget. Then start with one question.
Is the mortgage problem short term?
Examples: a short break in work, a delayed payment, or a one-time expense
Can the regular mortgage payment become affordable again?
Maybe
Review options that may help resolve missed payments or change how the loan is repaid.
Reinstatement
Pay the full past-due amount.
Repayment plan
Add part of the past-due amount to future payments.
Forbearance
Pause or reduce payments for a set time.
Loan modification
Change one or more loan terms after review.
Unlikely
Compare the likely sale price with the mortgage balance, selling costs, and available time.
Traditional sale
List the home and sell through the open market.
Short sale
Seek approval when proceeds cannot cover required amounts.
Deed in lieu
Ask whether a transfer to the mortgage holder may be reviewed.
The mortgage servicer reviews loan-specific options. Sale choices depend on property value, debts, costs, timing, and required approvals.
This is a general guide. Options depend on the loan, mortgage servicer, household finances, property, and state rules.
A short-term hardship may improve when income returns or a one-time expense ends. A long-term hardship may continue after short-term mortgage help ends.
If you are not sure, review your income, regular expenses, mortgage payment, amount past due, and expected changes.
A short-term hardship may improve when income returns or a one-time expense ends.
Examples
The mortgage servicer can explain which repayment, forbearance, or other review paths apply to the loan.
A long-term hardship may continue after short-term mortgage help ends.
Examples
Compare the cost of keeping the home with the financial effect of selling it. A loan modification, home sale, short sale, or another option may be reviewed based on the facts.
You do not need to classify the hardship now. We can help you review what is known and what may change.
Help me compare the pathsMortgage-help options usually support one of two goals: keeping the home or leaving the home through a sale or another process.
If the regular payment can become affordable, the mortgage servicer may review ways to resolve the missed payments or change how the loan is repaid.
Availability and approval depend on the loan rules and a review of the homeowner's information.
If keeping the home does not fit the budget or the homeowner's plans, compare the likely sale price with the mortgage balance and selling costs.
A short sale requires approval from the mortgage holder or servicer. Other lienholders or parties may also need to approve the sale.
A mortgage problem can move through several stages. A homeowner may expect a missed payment, miss one or more payments, receive mortgage-help information, and later receive foreclosure notices.
The steps and timing depend on the loan, mortgage servicer, state process, and notices already sent.
Keep copies of written notices. Note the sender, date, instructions, and any listed hearing or sale date. A HUD-approved housing counselor or attorney can help explain a notice. An attorney is the right source for legal advice.
Acting sooner may help you stay in control of your next move. Review your options before any foreclosure date listed on a notice. A short sale still needs approval and does not automatically stop foreclosure activity.
| Factor | Short sale | Foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Who starts it | Homeowner | Lender or servicer |
| Control over the process | Some | Little or none |
| Credit impact | Often less severe | Often more severe |
| Timeline | Often longer | Can move faster |
| Buying a home later | Often sooner | Often later |
Results vary by loan, state, credit file, and the facts of the case. This table is general information, not a prediction for any homeowner.
Calculators can help a homeowner compare paths and prepare questions. The results are estimates, not approvals or professional advice.
Compare current household income with the mortgage payment, other monthly debts, and living expenses.
Estimate how much may remain after the mortgage balance and common selling costs are paid.
Find a nearby housing counseling agency that can provide independent guidance about mortgage and foreclosure options.
Calculator results are estimates. They do not determine program eligibility, approval, future payments, or a property's sale price.
Start with the information you have. These items can help when reviewing options or speaking with a mortgage servicer or housing counselor.
Missing documents should not prevent a homeowner from asking for guidance.
Help me organize my informationA HUD-approved housing counselor can help a homeowner understand mortgage options, prepare information, and communicate with a mortgage servicer. Legal aid or a qualified attorney can help with legal questions, court papers, bankruptcy, title issues, or a scheduled foreclosure sale.
Short-Sale.com provides educational information. It does not replace advice from a mortgage servicer, housing counselor, attorney, tax professional, or other qualified professional.
Find a housing counselorWe use government, housing agency, mortgage servicer, and other identified sources. We explain the information in plain language and link to original materials when available.
Mortgage programs and laws can change. Content should show its sources and review date.
You do not need to choose a final path now. Choose the question that best matches your situation.