Montgomery County Homeowners Invited to One-on-One Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

September 12, 2011

by Maryland RealEstateRama

Category: Press Releases || Foreclosures, Mortgage, News | No Comments

September 12, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), in partnership with the Montgomery County Housing Fair Planning Committee and the City of Gaithersburg, invites all county homeowners who are falling behind in their mortgage payments or are facing foreclosure to attend a free foreclosure prevention counseling event on Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg.

Homeowners will receive one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling offered by trained representatives from the following government-approved housing counseling agencies in Montgomery County: Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, HomeFree USA, Housing Initiative Partnership and the Latino Economic Development Corporation.

Free legal advice on housing-related issues will be available at the event. Attorneys from Civil Justice, Maryland Legal Aid and the Pro Bono Legal Resource Center of Maryland will be on hand to answer questions. Representatives from the Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen will also be present to help homeowners.

Many Montgomery County residents have been affected by the foreclosure crisis and weakened economy. Those who fear they may fall behind in their mortgage payments, as well as those who are already months behind, are encouraged to attend. Information will be available about loan modifications, short sales, bankruptcy, the mediation process, and other housing topics of interest.

“Loan modification scammers are everywhere, taking ruthless advantage of anxious homeowners desperate to modify their loans,” said DHCA Administrator of Community Programs Myriam Torrico. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for county residents to receive free, reliable information from trained foreclosure prevention counselors.”

Montgomery County will be holding its next annual Housing Fair on April 28, 2012. The annual housing fair features practical advice on how to manage money, improve credit, talk to lenders, avoid foreclosures, prepare for the job market, identify housing scams and take advantage of federal, state and local housing programs and resources. The fair is organized by the Montgomery Department of Housing and Community Affair in partnership with the Housing Fair Planning Committee, whose members include: the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park; Asian-American Home Ownership Counseling; HomeFree USA; Housing and Community Initiatives; Housing Initiative Partnership; the Latino Economic Development Corporation; the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County; the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and the Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

For more information about the October 1 foreclosure counseling event or the Housing Fair in the spring, call 240-777-3602, or email myriam.torrico (at) montgomerycountymd (dot) gov.

# # #

Media Contact: Sue Tucker, 240-777-6507
Program Contact: Myriam Torrico, 240-777-3600