Avoid foreclosing

Nationally, foreclosures are up 38 percent, higher than in any quarter of last year, property tracker RealtyTrac Inc. said.

More details can be found in this article about increasing foreclosures, but in reading the article, much of the free foreclosure advice that we give at www.SaveMeFromForeclosure.com rings true.

Don't wait on the lender to offer you a workout agreement: do it yourself proactively. If you're unsure about how to get a workout packet from the bank, you can always talk with a service provider such as www.SaveMeFromForeclosure.com.

Homeowners should also keep an eye on their Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMS) so that they're aware of when payments might increase, and by how much. This can really help you avoid falling behind on payments, and getting into trouble with you lender