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Foreclosure Counseling

Southwest Economic Solutions’ foreclosure prevention services are free of charge. Our counselors work with homeowners facing financial hardship to submit the necessary documents to obtain property tax or mortgage default assistance. These arrangements benefit not only the homeowners, but lenders and the neighborhoods too, because they preserve equity and property values.

Rev. Larry in front of his home

Mortgage Default Services

Our counselors can guide you in determining what options are available for direct assistance to prevent mortgage foreclosure or in navigating your mortgage servicer’s application for mortgage assistance. The most important first step is always to communicate with the mortgage servicer immediately, at the first sign that you are about to fall behind with your mortgage payments or if you are already one or more months behind. DO NOT WAIT to contact your mortgage servicer to find out what assistance is available and how to apply for it. Once you are connected with a foreclosure prevention counselor at Southwest Economic Solutions, they can provide guidance wherever you are in that process and also connect you to any other assistance that may be available.

Property Tax Foreclosure Services

If you an owner/occupant of a home and live in the City of Detroit, you may be eligible for the Homeowner Property Exemption (HOPE). This is an annual property tax exemption that income-eligible owner/occupants can apply for. Our team can help you complete and submit this application to the Board of Review at the City of Detroit. Please see the table below for the income guidelines

We must have ALL documents before the appointment. Here is the list of required documents needed:

  • Registered proof of ownership (Deed, land contract, probate court order, divorce judgment etc.)
  •  Any form of government ID with address and picture of the homeowner and all residents over the age of 18
  • Proof of income for ALL members of the household (this includes any minor children). Examples: W2’s, paystubs, SSI/SSD, pension FIA/DHS, child support, self-employment, signed and notarized letter from who is helping you financially, etc.
  • 2021 Federal and State tax returns for all adults, if filed (if are not required to file a tax return, the adult must complete a Michigan Treasury Form 4988 Poverty Exemption Affidavit and IRS 4506-T and can provide W2’s, social security statements, or any other document that proves the past year’s income)
  • Proof of residency for all minors in the household (such as FIA Statement, Report Card, Transcript, minor listed on tax return, etc.)

If you are behind on you property taxes or a low-income homeowner, please schedule an appointment with us through your My Home account today! 

Want some more information on property taxes? Our Homeowners Property Tax Management Course occurs bi-monthly on Zoom. The Homeowners Property Tax Management Course will cover the annual property tax timeline, paperwork and more! We will also cover the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) application and how that can benefit you and your home. As well as strategies to help you pay off or eliminate your delinquent property taxes at the Wayne County Treasurers Office and save your home from foreclosure! Sign up here to attend our next workshop. 

Michigan Homeownership Assistance Fund (MIHAF)

The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) is a statewide program offered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) that uses federal resources to provide financial assistance to homeowners who have fallen behind on homeownership-related expenses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please read MSHDAs FAQ for more information on the program and eligibility.

With up to a $25,000 grant, MIHAF can help homeowners with financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help pay delinquent:

  • mortgage/housing expenses and escrow shortages
  • land contracts, mobile home consumer loans, park lot fees
  • property taxes
  • condominium/homeowner’s association fees
  • homeowner’s property insurances, hazard, flood,
  • or mortgage insurance
  • utilities, gas, electric, water, sewer
  • internet broadband services

Our team can help eligible owner/occupants complete the MIHAF application. If you are behind on any of the above housing expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please schedule an appointment with us through your My Home account today!

house

How do I get started?

Please read the instructions: How to set up your My Home account.

Create your account within our My Home website portal to access our counselors and services. Go to the Home Preservation dropdown menu to choose either the property tax or mortgage foreclosure prevention service option. The My Home system will ask you to provide some basic information to allow counselors to help you.      

*Be sure to fill in all information fields when prompted to enable the start of service* 

Results

In 2022, we helped over 150 Detroit Homeowners apply for the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE).

We have been a partner of the Rocket Community Fund for over 5 years and we are a part of the HOPE network of non-profit counseling agencies in the City of Detroit.

Our work with the HOPE program with the City of Detroit and Rocket Community Investment Fund is vital to preserving the homeownership of over 60,000 Detroit Residents who have been illegally overcharged taxes for years.

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