Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreclosure : the big picture. What to expect ; Your options : an overview ; How you can stay in your house payment free ; Why foreclosure doesn't have to be so bad ; Don't get scammed by a foreclosure "Rescue" company ; Beware of property preservation companies -- Foreclosure nuts and bolts. How much time you'll have to respond ; In or out of court? ; Deficiency judgments : will you still owe money after the foreclosure? ; Taxes -- Can you keep your house? Should you? The emotional part of foreclosure ; The economics of foreclosure : what you need to know ; When it makes sense to keep your house ; When it makes sense to give up your house -- Negotiating a workout. Do you have enough time to work out an alternative to foreclosure? ; Using a HUD-approved housing counselor ; The Making Home Affordable Program ; Basic workout options ; Remedies and workouts under national settlements with mortgage servicers ; Workouts for government-backed mortgages ; Foreclosure avoidance mediation programs ; Hardest hit fund programs ; Special protections for service members on active duty -- How Chapter 13 bankruptcy can delay or stop foreclosure. Using Chapter 13 to keep your house ; Using Chapter 13 to delay foreclosure ; Coming up with a repayment plan ; An overview of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy process ; Will you need a lawyer? -- How Chapter 7 bankruptcy can delay or stop foreclosure. How Chapter 7 bankruptcy helps you ; Using Chapter 7 bankruptcy to keep your house ; Using Chapter 7 bankruptcy to delay a foreclosure sale ; The Chapter 7 bankruptcy process : an overview ; Do you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy? ; Will you need a lawyer? -- Fighting foreclosure in court. How long can you delay the sale of your house? ; When it may be worth fighting ; When you can sue for money ; How to fight a foreclosure -- If you decide to leave your house. Let the foreclosure proceed ; Be community minded ; Be wary of leaving the home before the foreclosure sale ; Sell the house in a short sale ; Offer the lender a deed in lieu of foreclosure ; Avoiding deficiency judgments ; Income tax liability for deficiencies -- How long can you stay in your house for free? When you miss your first payment ; After you receive a formal notice of intent to foreclose ; The redemption period ; After the sale ; After you get a notice to leave -- Resources beyond the book. HUD-approved housing counselors ; Real estate brokers ; Mortgage brokers ; Lawyers ; Foreclosure websites ; Books ; Looking up foreclosure statutes.