Housing Counselors

What is a housing counselor?

A HUD-approved housing counselor is an experienced, trained professional who can advise you on preventing foreclosure, buying a home, protecting your credit, and other issues. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) [1] sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country and counseling is available in many languages.

Why work with a counselor?

A Housing Counselor Will:

Explain what documents you will need to provide to your mortgage company and may be able to contact the mortgage company on your behalf
Help you make a budget so that you can meet your monthly mortgage payment and other expenses
Provide information about local resources that may be helpful to you

A housing counselor can talk to you about your situation and help you decide what mortgage options are best for you, whether you are concerned about falling behind on your mortgage or are preparing to buy a home. There is no charge to work with a HUD-approved housing counselor—help is free!

If you have missed any mortgage payments, are about to miss a payment, or if your loan already has been referred to an attorney for foreclosure, a HUD-approved housing counselor can help you assess your circumstances, identify your options and prepare you to talk with your mortgage company.

Find a counselor

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country and counseling is available in many languages.

Remember, there is no charge to work with a HUD-approved counseling agency—help is free!

Before you call

Gather your financial information	Make sure you have your basic financial and loan information on hand when you call. You’ll need: Your mortgage statements, including information on a second mortgage (if applicable) Your other monthly debt payments (e.g., car or student loans, credit card payments), and Your income details (paystubs and income tax returns).
Explain your current situation	Be ready to outline your current hardship and explain why you are having trouble making your mortgage payment, and if this is a short-term or long-term problem. Your mortgage company will need to understand the reasons why you are having difficulty in order to find the right solution for you.

Use the helpful forms [4] to help you prepare