Know how Maine foreclosure laws will affect you

Laws on foreclosure vary considerably by state so you should be familiar with at least a summary of foreclosure laws in Maine. You should also read your loan documents to know what your lender can do if you can't make your payments.

I recommend: Foreclosurelaw.org offers a summary of Maine foreclosure laws and a glossary of common foreclosure terminology. Advantage Mitigation Services summarizes the foreclosure laws in Maine and outlines the foreclosure recovery process.

Get assistance with Maine foreclosure recovery information

There are housing counselors and online resources available to help you understand your options, assist you in organizing your finances and negotiate with your lender if needed.

I recommend: The Homeownership Preservation Foundation offers a hotline that provides free foreclosure prevention counseling by HUD-approved agencies. The Home Loan Learning Center offers extensive resources, including an online quiz for assessing your risk of losing your home.

Retain one of many foreclosure attorneys in Maine

You may need a Maine foreclosure lawyer to protect your interests, especially if you need to sign documents. If your regular attorney does not handle Maine foreclosure law, he or she may be able to make a referral.

I recommend: Lee Anne Graybeal in Kennebunk specializes in bankruptcy cases including residential foreclosures. Shankman & Associates has several offices throughout Maine and practices personal bankruptcy law in addition to other types of law.

Watch out for mortgage recovery scams

The Federal Trade Commission warns that there are plenty of bad guys operating in the foreclosure recovery business who will take your money and provide no service. Some warning signs, according to the FTC: advertising terms like "guarantee" and "97% success rate", upfront fees before services and company names or websites designed to make you think you're dealing with a government or nonprofit agency.

I recommend: Educate yourself about foreclosure recovery scams through the Federal Trade Commission.  The FTC recommends you only seek foreclosure help from government sanctioned counseling agencies like the ones recommended by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the federal Making Home Affordable program.