Loan Forbearance

Irvine Attorney/Realtor for Loan Forbearance

Professional Relief Guidance in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties

When you suddenly lose your job or experience an abrupt rise in expenses, you may be fairly concerned about how you will make your regular mortgage payments. A serious injury requiring costly medical care or a natural disaster that results in substantial damage to your property can also leave you in a vulnerable financial position.

Many lending institutions and mortgage servicers offer forbearance options. This allows homeowners experiencing hardship to pause or temporarily reduce mortgage payments.

It is important to understand, however, that forbearance does not erase or lower the total amount owed on your mortgage. You will eventually have to repay whatever payments were deferred, so it is important to have a plan for safely exiting a mortgage forbearance.

Our Irvine loan forbearance Attorney/Realtor at Lawyers Realty Group has over 30 years of experience can provide the professional guidance that you need when navigating these difficult situations. We can help you understand your options and develop a strategy that will help you keep your home.

How Requesting a Loan Forbearance Works

If you have been regularly making your mortgage payments, obtaining mortgage forbearance is often relatively easy. In many cases, you need only speak to your servicer – the bank or lending institution that manages your payments – and inquire about forbearance options.

Typically, you will need to provide some explanation for why you are requesting forbearance. Common reasons include:

  • A sudden loss of income
  • An injury or illness requiring medical care
  • A disaster like a flood, tornado, hurricane, or earthquake

You should avoid entering a mortgage forbearance program without understanding how you will eventually exit it and resume regular payments. Many servicers will allow forbearance but will not inform homeowners of the terms, conditions, and caveats of delaying or reducing payments. This failure is a violation of federal law and you need and Attorney/Realtor to assist in securing your rights.

Safely Exiting a Loan Forbearance

Forbearance does not last forever. Most forbearance options last for 6 months with the ability to extend for another 6 months. Sooner or later, you will need to make up the missed or reduced payments.

If you can't repay the missed amounts, you will need to seek a loan modification to allow for those payments to be addressed over time. This is not always possible, and the servicer does not have to agree to any modification.

As you consider whether to ask for forbearance, you may be wondering:

  • Do I have to cure missed payments in one large lump sum after the forbearance period ends?
  • Will my monthly mortgage payment amount change as a result of forbearance?
  • What if I suffer a semi-permanent loss of regular income during the forbearance period?
  • Will the delayed payments be counted as “late” and be subject to interest and late fees?
  • What impact does forbearance have on my property taxes and insurance?

How We Can Help

Our Attorney/Realtor can help you understand the implications of pursuing and exiting forbearance. We can assist you in negotiating with your servicer and explore all potential exit options.

Safe exit strategies for mortgage forbearance that we can help you explore include:

  • Lump-sum payments - If you have available funds from savings, investments, a retirement account, or some other source, you can pay the entirety of the forbearance amount in a single transaction. After the forbearance amount is settled, you will resume paying your previous, regular monthly mortgage payment amount. For many, this option is not feasible. Note that California homeowners cannot be required to make a lump sum payment if their mortgage is held by a GSE, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mac.
  • Repayment plans - Another arrangement involves augmenting your regular monthly mortgage payment with a portion of your forbearance amount. Increased payments continue until the entirety of the forbearance amount is settled, after which you resume making payments at your previous rate. These plans can vary wildly in length and amount and are often negotiable.

If you are struggling to make mortgage payments or are concerned about how to exit your forbearance, call (949) 264-0966 or contact us online to speak to our Attorney/Realtor today.

  • Payment deferral and partial claims - A portion or the entirety of your forbearance amount can sometimes be deferred to a maturity date as a non-interest-bearing balance. This means that your deferred forbearance amount will not collect interest until it becomes due on the negotiated maturity date. You may need to settle a deferred forbearance amount earlier if you sell, refinance, or otherwise pay off your home. Once the deferred forbearance amount is paid, you will resume making your regular monthly mortgage payments.
  • Loan modifications - When lump-sum payments, repayment plans, or payment deferrals are not viable options, you may need to explore modifying the terms of your mortgage loan with your servicer. This will involve adding the forbearance amount into the revised mortgage terms. Loan modifications can involve new payment structures, changing interest rates, and extended mortgage terms so that the regular monthly payment amounts are affordable and sustainable.
  • Combo plans - Servicers will sometimes allow for some combination of the above options. This might include paying a portion of your forbearance amount in a lump sum before incorporating the remainder into a repayment plan. It could also involve a loan modification on the condition that some of the forbearance amounts be paid upfront.

Schedule a free initial consultation to explore whether forbearance makes sense for you. Contact us online or call (949) 264-0966 today!

Plan Ahead with the Help of Our Attorney Realtor

It is always advisable to plan ahead. You will need to contact your loan servicer to begin planning your exit strategy before your forbearance period ends.

If you are concerned about managing your looming forbearance amount, we want to help. Our Irvine loan forbearance Attorney/Realtor at Lawyers Realty Group can counsel and oversee your forbearance exit plan. Our number one goal is to protect homeowners and help you save your home. We have handled thousands of cases and can assist you in understanding all of your relief options.

Committed to Going Above & Beyond for Our Clients

  • “He worked with us in our case and we felt as if he was on the front battle lines with us taking charge.”

    - Julia R.

  • “His commitment and professionalism handling complex and critical real estate matters is top notch!”

  • “A short-sale can be a long, unpleasant dance with the banks, but this team makes it so much easier.”

    - Arnold B.

  • “I can't emphasize how important it is to have legal representation on your side in dealing with the banks, but if you want real representation that's tenacious, honest, professional and successful, you must work with Derik and his team.”

    - Macko M.

  • “I have used several realty companies before and Derik is by far the most professional and exceptional businessman I have dealt with.”

    - Jeremy S.
/

Exceptional Representation

Unprecedented Protection
  • FREE Real Estate Attorney Homeowner Advocate

    Call the attorney directly and get answers now.

  • FREE Foreclosure Postponement and Trustee Delay Services

    Stop any active foreclosure immediately.

  • FREE Lien Avoidance Motion to Remove Liens and Judgments

    Clear your title so you can refinance in the future.

  • FREE Short Sale Legal Counsel, including MLS Listing and Full-Service Brokerage

    Sell your home and put money in your pocket.

Get the Experienced Representation of an Attorney/Realtor®

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please enter an address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.