It’s hard to not be emotional about your home. You probably were excited when you bought it, and envisioned years of a happy life the first day you moved in.

That’s why the cold business of adjustable ARM mortgages, dropping home values, and even the need to stop foreclosure are so out of whack from where your emotions are. Try dealing with a bank when you are behind in your mortgage, or trying to get them to recast your loan in better terms. You’ll likely deal with someone who is not interested in your emotions.

Federal loan modifications are now possible to help you hold onto the home you love. Still, it is hard to separate the emotional from the business side when your lender is using terminology you may not be familiar with. And when you’re not familiar with terms, you worry you may make a mistake that could ultimate lead to home foreclosure.

A loan modification firm is set up to negotiate between the emotional factors and the hard money lenders. They understand your circumstances – because everyone they deal with is underwater, in need of mortgage refinancing in some way – but with the solid knowledge of what lenders can and want to do.

Most important, a loan modification firm is your advocate.

But proceed with caution. You need to make sure you select a home modification firm that plays fair and transparent: reasonable fees (about $300), no money down until they have reviewed your case for viability, and a 100% money back guarantee if they are unable to find workout plans.