The last thing any homeowner wants to think about is losing the family home. No one expects to lose their house to foreclosure, but by understanding the foreclosure process and what may lead up to it, you can be in a better position to recognize and address potential problems that may impact your ability to make every mortgage payment on time.

If your first payment becomes 30 days delinquent and the next month's payment looks doubtful, collection attempts begin in earnest. If your payments fall 90 days behind, the servicer will likely refer your mortgage to an attorney or other entity that will initiate formal foreclosure proceedings.

Some options your lender may offer you if you miss a payment and want to avoid foreclosure.

Some of the measures that legal and non-legal advocates for the elderly can take to defend homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

Project Lifeline targets severely delinquent borrowers. It will stall foreclosure proceedings for all borrowers more than 90 days in arrears, allowing lenders to determine whether the borrowers can make payments under new terms.

The homeowners resource for information on deficiency judgments and your rights in a foreclosure

A Deed in lieu of foreclosure is a deed instrument in which a mortgagor (i.e. the borrower) conveys all interest in a real property to the mortgagee (i.e. the lender) to satisfy a loan that is in default and avoid foreclosure proceedings.

Online listings and research information on foreclosure properties: searchable by State and County.

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