Does it make sense for you to deal with the legal and financial complexities of your troubled mortgage by yourself?

Probably not. In fact, the root of many of the nation’s mortgage woes are because millions of borrowers either didn’t read the fine print or know what the words in the fine print meant. Huge monthly payment increases came as a surprise to many of them, as did the downturn in the market that puts their home “underwater,” worth less than what they are obligated to pay.

Loan modification programs are the answer. A loan modification firm is staffed by attorneys, accountants, and financial experts who understand not only the meanings of the terms, but also the financial position of the mortgage lender. Loan modification experts know that a bank loses in a foreclosure – the bank does not usually gain (particularly in a market such as we have now) by owning properties. The bank also spends money on the foreclosure process itself, therefore, the bank would rather not proceed with foreclosure.

A good loan modification firm can look at your case and determine if you can beat the system, so to speak. Your financial picture, the terms of your mortgage, and the condition of the lender are taken into account by the modification specialists, who then will give you a prognosis. If they think they can win – get you better mortgage payment terms, such as a lower monthly payment because of an overall lower interest rate – they will tell you they can with better than 90 percent certainty. And if the firm is any good, they will also offer a 100 percent money back guarantee.

There are situations where it pays to use a professional. For millions of homeowners, this is one of them. It can help them stop a home loan foreclosure dead in its tracks.