Greetings Dear Reader--I'm still here!
I have been buried in paperwork. I'm working on a loan modification for my primary residence, a short sale on our condo in Tahoe and a Deed in Lieu for our rental in Sacramento.
I faxed 86 pages of documents to our bank on Tuesday. They were actually impressed! Now they are the ones buried in paperwork--ha ha!
I faxed 38 pages to the bank for the condo yesterday for the short sale. My agent just emailed me that he's getting an offer on our condo today! I called the bank to tell them. Well, they are selling our condo at auction on March 24, 2010! I didn't even know that. However, they will postpone the auction if we get all the details about the offer to them asap. So now my real estate agent is buried in paperwork! I'm just keeping people employed all over the place!!
So I'm a layman's "expert" on bankruptcy, foreclosure, modifications and short sales now. I never wanted to be an expert on these things! The learning curve has literally hurt my brain. Just dealing with all of this has been like having a job--so time consuming! I've just been keeping my head above water with my other responsibilities--kids, family, PTA, homework, sports teams, friendships, cooking, animals, 4H, choir, piano, blog, blah, blah, blah! I am truly living one day at a time!
I have a handful of experts helping me--my wonderful, smart and respected lawyer, my patient real estate agent (we've been trying to sell this condo for almost two years!!!!) and now my new friend--a lady at Consumer Credit Counseling. She is my ally. She's on my side--we all need someone with us when we go up against a bank!!! Her company is a non-profit. She helps me for FREE! I guess Obama and HUD pay the bills over at CCCS.
Here is the phone number for any of my dear readers who might need assistance--CCCS of San Francisco 800-777-7526. They have an office on Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa. Also, the Housing Education Program number is 800-777-PLAN. These organizations work together. Either one of them can help you with mortgage issues. CCCS also helps with all other kinds of credit or debt. The lady helping me has a Masters degree in finance. She knows her stuff--these aren't volunteers. All help is FREE!
I meet with my gal weekly. We call the banks together. I get more respect from my bank when I call with her. They know that I am serious. They know that I'm getting professional help. She helped me present my modification in the best light. She knows how the banks operate. She also knows my rights and which government programs I qualify for regarding mortgage assistance. I don't feel alone anymore. I don't feel small.
They also call credit card companies for people. If you need help consolidating consumer debt, reducing interest rates or anything--that is why they are there.
I wrote before that healing comes from facing my issues head on and revealing them to another. These people truly are counselors. You meet in a private office and you spill your financial guts on the table. NOTHING will shock them! You don't have to go on TV and stand on a scale, you can do this privately. But, like the Biggest Loser contestants, you aren't left hanging. Your counselor is your Bob or Jillian. They are there to whip to into shape! It might not be fun, you might cry--but they will be honest with you, they will help you and they will educate you! You will regain control of your finances.
So many of us have experienced a drop in income during this Recession. There are lay-offs, reduced hours and reduced benefits. So many of us have income problems, not debt problems. However, one can lead to the other as it did with us. What was once manageable becomes unmanageable.
Even if you aren't struggling yet, you might be living on the edge of disaster. If you are living paycheck to paycheck and you have no cushion or surplus to handle unexpected expenses (car, medical etc.), I encourage you to seek help. You might be making all your payments now, but if you're that vulnerable, there are programs that can help you BEFORE you are in trouble! For instance, there is a government program out there which helps people who are NOT behind on their mortgage to refinance to a lower rate. If you call one of the numbers I listed, you can find out about this.
Anyway, I feel like I'm back in the driver's seat. Not because I'm in control of everything, but because I'm controlling what I can. I'm doing the footwork that I need to do to help us. Even though dealing with the bank and the paperwork can be exhausting and confusing--I'm determined to plug away at it. I just wake up every day and do what I need to do. I don't look at the big, draining picture--I just look at the daily baby steps. I've turned the rest over to God. No matter what happens with the houses, I can go to sleep at night knowing that I did my best. Nobody can ask any more of me than that!
It's David and Goliath when you deal with the bank. It can feel like a place devoid of human compassion, devoid of God--a place that wields its power without mercy. The bank stands strong in the valley daring anyone, daring just one soul, to defy it. Its policies are its armor, money is its shield, lawyers are its hands and feet, fees are its weapons and greed is its brain. It demands that you fight it on its terms. Its bigger than I am.
There is one who can defeat it. There is one who is not afraid of it.
We probably all know the story, but I'm not talking about David. David could not defeat Goliath alone.
I'm talking about God.
If you think I pray before every single phone call to the bank, you are correct. Not just me either! My prayer chain at church and my friends. I am not alone. I have my experts. I have an army behind me and God beside me. If this giant is meant to be slain, he will be slain. I don't have to fear Goliath. I don't have to believe that Goliath determines the size of my problem. I only have to know that God is bigger.
His will be done!
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