Know how Ohio 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 Ohio. 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 Ohio foreclosure laws and a glossary of common foreclosure terminology. ForeclosureS.com provides the contact information for the Attorney General’s Office in Ohio and links to specific legislation regarding foreclosure in Ohio.

Get assistance with Ohio 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. Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers an online tutorial through its CredabilityU website to help you keep your home, as well as many other financial tips.

Retain one of the many foreclosure attorneys in Ohio

You may need one of the available Ohio foreclosure lawyers to protect your interests, especially if you need to sign documents. If your regular attorney does not handle Ohio foreclosure law, he or she may be able to make a referral.

I recommend: Keith D. Weiner & Assoc., in Cleveland considers foreclosures to be a major part of its practice. Sam Thomas III is also in Cleveland and is an experienced bankruptcy, DUI & family law attorney with a specific concentration in home foreclosures.

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.