Getting behind in your mortgage payments doesn't have to mean the end of the world, or the end of your home. Depending on your circumstances, there are ways to delay a lender trying to sell the very roof from over your head.
1. Seek help from a financial counsellor
Financial counsellors can help to evaluate your situation and provide a range of options. They provide free, independent and confidential advice to borrowers who are experiencing financial worries.
2. Establish early contact with your lender
The best person to discuss your problems with is often your lender. Lenders understand the difficulties borrowers can have with repayments and are keen to resolve the situation in a way which suits both parties.
3. Put your unsecured creditors last
According to experts, unsecured creditors rank last when deciding whom to pay. Unlike creditors who have security over your house or car, their only recovery weapons are to threaten you with legal action and try to bluff you into paying.
4. Don't take on extra debt, don't consolidate, don't use credit cards
Consolidating debts may give temporary respite in terms of reduced monthly repayments, but they come at a cost. If you lump debt on top of debt, throw in interest over a fixed term and you could come out with a much larger debt than you started with.
5. Explore your mortgage options
There are a number of options which lenders can exercise to help borrowers when they're having difficulty repaying their home loan.
For the complete article and other practical tips on how to manage your mortgage and ride the economic uncertainties, read the latest issue of Your Mortgage magazine, on sale now.
