Get help with a mortgage from the Washington Homeownership Resource Center.
- statewide non-profit agency, the Washington Homeownership Resource Center, connects both struggling homeowners and first-time buyers to free, vetted help. The programs they offer are available for low to moderate-income households, whether they want to buy a home or are behind on their mortgage.
Find more details below on how the Homeownership Resource Center(s) help with all types of housing needs. If someone does not qualify for help from WHRC based on their income, then staff will offer referrals to other resources that can help with a mortgage delinquency. The primary mission of the not-for profit agency is to both increase and preserve homeownership for people across the state. The fastest way to get help is the Washington State Homeownership Hotline at 1-877-894-4663; a navigator will screen your situation and route you to a HUD-certified housing counselor or legal aid partner near you.
What the Center does for current, struggling homeowners
If you’re behind on a mortgage, property taxes, HOA dues or even insurance on your home, or you’ve received a Notice of Default - WHRC counselors will review options, help you communicate with your servicer, and (when appropriate) refer you to mediation. The counselors from the agency want to help people both avoid receiving a foreclosure notice, or stop one that may be in progress. Counseling is free . The center also points homeowners to home-repair or modification programs and, where available, limited payment-assistance resources. They provide information about foreclosure prevention and homeownership assistance programs, address predatory lending, and help people get back on track with paying their mortgage. They also focus on offer mortgage help from forbearance programs , which is an effective solution. But there are other options. They also have information on mortgage relief programs from banks and lenders, and work closely with real estate professionals in the state. As part of this service, Mortgage Default Counselors from the Homeownership Resource Center will work one on one with low to moderate income homeowners to help them avoid foreclosure. If it turns out the home can’t be saved, then they will provide assistance during the process to help them find a new home to live in. Housing counselors can answer your questions and provide information on the foreclosure process and they will offer one-on-one assistance, including for people using a Deed in Lieu . The goal is to identify resources, programs, provide debt reduction programs, or help them household develop a budget. In addition, the mortgage counselor can negotiate directly with a lenders or servicers on the homeowners behalf for repayment strategies. You need to act quickly and early though to increase your chance for success. In addition, the specialists from the agency will collaborate and partner with lawyers . The main one is the Home Foreclosure Legal Aid Project of the Washington State Bar Association. Eligible homeowners can be connected to the this legal project for legal screening, foreclosure advice, and possible representation with a volunteer attorney. More on the foreclosure legal aid project .
Get help buying a home from WHRC
For first-time buyers, Washington Homeownership Resource Center
connects you to free pre-purchase counseling . This includes everything from homebuyer education classes, and down-payment assistance options offered through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) and local nonprofits. Referrals are given to from the center . The organization connects residents across Washington state to authorized housing counseling agencies, most if not all of which are HUD certified. Housing counselors will then assist residents who are thinking of buying a home
Contact information - and why use the Resource Center instead of going it alone
Note the service from the Center is free and safe. All counselors are independent and trained to spot scams. Second, Washington’s foreclosure process includes consumer protections under the Foreclosure Fairness Act, and counselors are the gateway to mediation when it applies. Third, the center’s network saves time: you get routed to the right class, down-payment program, or legal aid office without cold-calling dozens of places. Notify your lender as soon as you know your payment will be late and present your circumstances with a plan of action to your lender. Your mortgage servicer may agree to give you some payment options in order to provide you with time to catch up. Washington Homeownership Resource Center is based at 5101 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107. However as noted they partner with other local agencies and the main phone - hotline is 1-877-894-4663. You can also create a secure account and ask for help through WHRC’s portal if you prefer not to call first.