Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

home retention

Western MA Short Sale and Foreclosure Help

Did you know that I maintain another blog about home retention, foreclosure and short sale advice?

If you or someone you know is in a home hardship situation where I could be helpful, please reach out. I have a lot of experience in short sales, home retention, foreclosure prevention and pre-foreclosure. I know how to help and who to connect homeowners in distressed home situations with to help get the problem resolved.

My most recent post is about Bank of America joining GMAC and other lenders in halting foreclosures in 23 states.

Take a look at www.westfieldhomehelp.com and please let me know if I can help. I understand.

Short Sales May be Getting Easier

I am hearing rumors that the short sale process is going to be streamlined. With the proposed changes the short sale process will be expedited and home retention options will improve.

To read more visit this story at Agent Genius.

If you need help with a distressed situation like a short sale then I hope you will contact me. I have the experience, patience and empathy to help you move on with your life.

Angels and Demons

Last year I decided to work as a home retention consultant. This was one of the most difficult things I had ever taken on because I was going to have to show up unannounced and knock on the doors of people who were in pre-foreclosure and in danger of losing their home.

All About Stopping Foreclosure

Not the most comfortable feeling, but since I had just been through the process I knew that I could help people if I got over my fear of knocking on doors.

Day one arrives and I pull up to the first house. I steel myself with reassurances that I have a service and a will to help. The nerves don’t subside, but I find the strength to knock on the door.

The woman that comes to the door is a beautiful, petite latina and is obviously not expecting me. She meets me on the porch and as I explain to her why I am there and what I hope to help with-she starts crying. The story that I hear includes a cheating husband she is kicking out, an attempt to finish her college degree, a tenant that doesn’t pay rent and all of this is her secret.

We make an appointment to fill out the loss mitigation paperwork and she reaches out to hug me. I have to paraphrase, but she said something like: “I will always remember this day and the way you looked when you showed up to help. You are my angel.”

Inflated and excited by the success of my first stop, I head to my next home.

This time I am met by a short middle aged man with lots of tattoos and a military buzz cut. I begin by explaining that I have an already designated loan modification that will reduce his principle, reduce his rate, restart the loan with no foreclosure and knock $600 a month off the payments. He responds with a tirade and the words “shotgun, burn the *&#()0($#’ing house down and they will have to get me first”.

He tells me to leave and I say that I am sorry I couldn’t help. I head back to the car to program the GPS and I see him heading towards my car. NOW I am nervous as can be. I roll down the window a half inch and let him talk.

He apologizes: I am collateral damage after he has spent countless hours on the phone trying to resolve his issues. He says, “I am sure I am the last person you would want to help after my outburst, but if you would accept my apology and come in, I sure would appreciate that.”

An hour, a pile of paperwork and a phone call later and his loan modification was in process and his house saved.

Vác Gates & Doors - The "Portrait" Collection

Every door is answered by a new story, but they are all so real and they all need help. These are two of the families that will be able to stay in their home because of the home retention program… it is a wonderful feeling to be part of that mission.