Mortgage Problems Hitting Home

By: Peter Larson, WHS Director of Annual Giving and Special Events
(Photo below of Peter holding Barth, a dog rescued by WHS Humane Law Enforcement Officers from a neglectful home, who Peter fostered back to health before he was adopted into his forever home)

Like a lot of people living in the area I used to think that our region was immune to the problems affecting the mortgage industry.I tended to think that since our area is supported by recession-proof industries, and bolstered by the ever-increasing spending of our area’s largest employer – the Federal Government – that there was no need to be concerned about the mortgage problems affecting the rest of the country.I was shocked to learn that the numbers of foreclosures were steadily on the rise in my home county.According to county figures, Fairfax County saw five times the number of foreclosures in the first six months of 2007 as it had during the first six months of 2006. The hidden statistic in all of this is the number of companion animals also being affected!  Other parts of the country are reporting a rise in the number of animals surrendered at their animal shelters because the family home had been lost to foreclosure.  The family dog or cat, often considered more than a pet, is also finding themselves forced from their homes because of foreclosures.  These poor animals are also sadly being separated from their families, who are forced to move into apartments that don’t accept pets, or move in with friends or family members who don’t have the room for animals.  “Some areas of the country have been hit harder by foreclosures than others,” says Stephanie Shain, Director of Outreach for Companion Animals at The Humane Society of the United States,"There are resources available to people in this situation, but homeowners must take the time and energy to research and plan ahead.” Here are six helpful ideas if mortgage problems are causing you and your pet to lose sleep at night:

1. Before your problem gets too big, seek the professional guidance of a certified nonprofit housing counselor.  A good place to start is the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

2. Talk to your mortgage lender.  Many times lenders are willing to work with you to make the mortgage work for both parties.  Their first choice is for you to stay in your home and not have to accept another foreclosure, so find out if they have any options.

3. Talk with friends and family about your situation.  Maybe you have a friend that needs a place to live, who could help you with your mortgage payments.  Or perhaps you have a family member who has money to put into an investment like your home.  You’ll never know unless you ask.

 

4. If you are afraid that you might loose your home, start looking for a pet-friendly place to live as soon as you can.  There is no time like the present to start calling around to locate pet-friendly apartment buildings or rental homes.  Some real estate professionals specialize in rentals, and some cater to clients with animals – find one that can help you with both.

 

5. Check with your local animal shelter or rescue group before you have to move.  Shelters and rescue groups often have lists of pet-friendly apartments or other resources to help you find a new place to live with your animal.  Some may also have foster care or short term care programs that could help you as you transition to a new living space that will accommodate your dog or cat.  Others may have assistance programs that could provide you with pet food, discounted vaccines, or other short term pet expenses to get you over a temporary financial hurdle. Visit our web site, www.washhumane.org for a list of pet-friendly places to live in and around the DC area.

 

6. No matter what, don’t leave your pet behind when you pack up and leave.  Leaving an animal in your house when you move is the wrong thing to do and a form of animal cruelty.  If you can’t find a new family for your pet, call and make arrangements with an animal shelter or rescue group. 

 

 

Comments

[Watson]

Beset by financial problems in 2002, Eunice Anderson fell months behind in the mortgage payments on her four-bedroom ranch in Redford Township, Mich., near Detroit.

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Watson

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