Regardless of the opinions of cable news stations, the average homeowner knows that the real estate recovery is moving at a snail's pace. The overall slow economy and high unemployment numbers figure strongly into this equation, and states that were hit the hardest by this perfect storm are taking the longest to recover. Florida, being one of these states, is still struggling with record home foreclosure rates. If you are a homeowner trying to stay afloat in Florida, foreclosure consultation may be your life preserver.

Leave Nothing to Chance

Let's be honest for a moment: this is your home, your sanctuary, the place where you relax with your family, your real-world expression of the American dream, and you are at risk of losing it.

If keeping your home is your goal when dealing with the New Jersey foreclosure process, you've got to be proactive. There is a sharp contrast in the length of the foreclosure timeline between those those that jump right into the fight and those that are a bit slow out of the gate. Dealing with foreclosure can be overwhelming, considering that it is often yet another crisis in a series of unfortunate events.

After all, most people facing foreclosure have been through some sort of financial, medical, or personal turmoil, and it is difficult to act when you're unsure of exactly what to do. However, in New Jersey, failing to act fast is risky; it can cost you your home.

The state of Florida had been recognized as a leader in real estate and mortgage fraud long before the mortgage crisis took hold of U.S. real estate markets. The combination of easy profits available from inflated formulas for calculating property valuation and appreciation and the relatively lax requirements necessary to qualify for a mortgage broker's license made Florida an attractive market for unscrupulous individuals at every level of the real estate financing process. Unfortunately, many Floridians fell victims to scams which made others rich and left homeowners holding the bag. To add insult to injury, loan modification scams in Florida are taking further advantage of desperate homeowners.

Many Americans have heard their fill of stories about big banks and corporations that took  hundreds of billions in funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP, which became law in October 2008.

TARP was billed as a critical component desperately needed to stabilize the U.S. economy in the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis. The program allowed the U.S. government to strengthen the financial sector by purchasing assets and equity from banks and other financial companies.

Not All Institutions Took The Money

Unlike many banks and mortgage lenders, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and its founder and CEO Joe Tomkinson refused to take TARP monies or any funds from American taxpayers.

How Mortgage Fraud, Bad Loans, and Predatory Lending Caused The Great Recession

The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation both point to mortgage fraud as being one of the primary causes of the housing market crash and mortgage lending meltdown that tipped the United States and the world into recession. In fact, in 2004, the FBI specifically warned that the exponential increase of mortgage fraud could cause banking industry losses and failures comparable to those experienced during the S & L crisis, which cost American taxpayers $132 billion.

Pennsylvania's Foreclosure Process, Explained

In comparison to many other states, the Pennsylvania foreclosure process is fairly straightforward. In fact, Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that has a state-funded loan program designed to help homeowners who, because of extenuating circumstances, have found themselves trapped in the foreclosure process and are worried about losing their homes. If you live in Pennsylvania and have just missed your first mortgage payment, or are already deep into the Pennsylvania foreclosure process, do not lose hope. Whether you have found yourself facing foreclosure because of sudden increased interest rates or internal hardships like a death in the family, debilitating illness, or unanticipated loss of wages, there are options to help homeowners get back on their feet. The first step on this path is the understanding of the Pennsylvania foreclosure process.

According to online real estate marketplace Zillow, there are approximately 13 million US homes with mortgages in a negative equity situation. In addition to negative equity, hardships and rising interest rates have left many homeowners unable to afford their monthly mortgage payments. For many families, the only hope they have of keeping their homes is to secure a loan modification that reduces their payments and makes their home affordable.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has attempted to ease the foreclosure crisis with programs designed to encourage lenders to modify loans and provide homeowners with tools and resources to assist them in obtaining a loan modification.

Loan Modification and the Homeowner: What You Need to Know About Loan Modification Packages

If you have received a a foreclosure notice or missed a few mortgage payments, know that you are not alone. In 2012, an estimated 2.1 million foreclosure filings were made in the United States. More than ever, Americans are finding themselves facing the repossession of their homes due to any number of reasons, including a sudden fall in property value paired with increased interest rates and unanticipated hardships including a loss or decrease in wages, debilitating illnesses, death in the family, or adjustable rate increases. If you have received a home foreclosure notice, or are about to miss a mortgage payment, don’t panic just yet. Contacting your mortgage lender and seeking professional counsel regarding a loan modification package can significantly improve your chances of escaping foreclosure and creating a sustainable payment plan.

Foreclosure Process in New York

If you live in New York and are facing a foreclosure or are in the process of foreclosure, do not give up hope of keeping your home. The foreclosure process is New York is lengthy, taking generally 445 days, or 15 months, from the date the owner misses the first mortgage payment to the foreclosed sale of the home. Throughout this period, lender or loan servicers must file and send the proper paperwork, giving the homeowner plenty of time to find alternative and viable options to regaining control of the process.