This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Mortgage Foreclosure issues.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Helping Clients Explore Their Personal Finance Rights (Video)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers this prerecorded webinar, in four short modules, to help consumers know their rights and call out potential violations. (2022) The modules include: Module 1: Consumer Rights [18:21]; Module 2: Credit and Housing Rights [16:14]; Module 3: Financial Products and Identify Theft Rights [15:59]; and Module 4: How to Submit a Complaint or Tell your Story [10:06]
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program Counseling Agencies
This is a listing of Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) Counseling Agencies. Counseling agencies prepare applications and forward information to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for processing. The Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) was created by Act 91 of 1983, and was designed to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. HEMAP is a loan program to prevent foreclosure and funds loaned must be repaid. Recipients must be able to show that they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within the required timeframe. [PDF]
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)
Information on the Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. This is a unique loan program designed to protect citizens who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. Recipients must be able to show that they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within the required timeframe.
Mortgage Mediation
Information from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency on The Residential Mortgage Diversion Program that was created to provide a stay of foreclosure on owner-occupied homes. This stay allows the parties an opportunity to reach an agreement to reinstate the loan and avoid foreclosure.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Emergency Measures for Mortgage Foreclosure (Philadelphia County)
Information on when you can get a Sheriff's Sale postponed in Philadelphia County and what steps need to be taken to postpone the sale. Also information on the filing of a "Certification of Premises as Residential - Owner Occupied and Request For Conciliation Conference" (CERDO), which mandates the scheduling of a Conciliation Conference, and depending on the timing of the CERDO, can delay a default judgment or a Sheriff Sale.
Preventing Foreclosure
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network on preventing the foreclosure of your house.
Preventing Mortgage Foreclosure
Many homeowners face difficulties paying their mortgage. Job loss, change in income, and adjustments to interest rates can lead to falling behind on payments. This information from Northwestern Legal Services will give you some tips about what to do when you fall behind on your mortgage payments, what resources are available, and who can help you. October 2018.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Mortgage Foreclosure
General advice from the Erie County Bar Association on how to deal with a mortgage foreclosure. February 2019.
Avoiding Foreclosure
Information from HUD on programs to assist homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and otherwise struggling with their monthly mortgage payments. These programs can help property owners avoid losing their homes because of delinquent payments.
Financial Education & Coaching
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency developed the Financial Education and Coaching Program to help renters, homebuyers, and homeowners understand and improve their personal finances. After you've completed your Financial Education sessions, you're eligible to meet with a counselor one-on-one to get help with your personal finances. These private coaching sessions can be either face-to-face or on the phone, and are also free of charge.
Helping Clients Explore Their Personal Finance Rights (Video)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers this prerecorded webinar, in four short modules, to help consumers know their rights and call out potential violations. (2022) The modules include: Module 1: Consumer Rights [18:21]; Module 2: Credit and Housing Rights [16:14]; Module 3: Financial Products and Identify Theft Rights [15:59]; and Module 4: How to Submit a Complaint or Tell your Story [10:06]
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program Counseling Agencies
This is a listing of Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) Counseling Agencies. Counseling agencies prepare applications and forward information to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for processing. The Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) was created by Act 91 of 1983, and was designed to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. HEMAP is a loan program to prevent foreclosure and funds loaned must be repaid. Recipients must be able to show that they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within the required timeframe. [PDF]
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)
Information on the Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. This is a unique loan program designed to protect citizens who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. Recipients must be able to show that they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within the required timeframe.
Housing Counseling Agencies in Philadelphia
Home ownership brings both rights and responsibilities. Philadelphia city-funded housing counseling agencies can help. Housing counselors can help prepare people to buy a home. They assist tenants fighting eviction. They help homeowners facing foreclosure. And they can help address specific issues facing seniors and people with disabilities. Download an English, Spanish or Simplified Chinese flyer with a current list of Department of Housing and Community Development-funded Housing Counseling Agencies.
HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Pennsylvania
HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages. A list of agencies in Pennsylvania is provided here.
Mortgage Fraud
This information from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) describes common mortgage scams, suggests ways to protect yourself, provides information on U.S. government loan programs and counseling resources, and lists 10 warning signs of a mortgage modification scam.
Mortgage Mediation
Information from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency on The Residential Mortgage Diversion Program that was created to provide a stay of foreclosure on owner-occupied homes. This stay allows the parties an opportunity to reach an agreement to reinstate the loan and avoid foreclosure.
Mortgage Relief Scams
Scammers promise to make changes to your mortgage loan or take other steps to save your home, but they don’t deliver. Never pay a company upfront for promises to help you get relief on paying your mortgage. Read more about mortgage relief scams in this page developed by the Federal Trade Commission.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released a series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts. This video provides an overview of the new requirements. Follow the link to view the entire series of videos.
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
Tips from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on how to avoid foreclosure of your home.