Free foreclosure help in South Carolina

Who to call first, by situation

• You are not behind yet but expect to be

  As soon as you see trouble coming

  Call your servicer and ask about hardship options before you miss a payment. SC Housing: Avoid Foreclosure lists free HUD-approved counselors at 17 nonprofit or government agencies across South Carolina who can help with budgeting and talking to your servicer.

• You are behind but have not been sued

  Before you are 120 days behind

  Apply for loss mitigation with your servicer and keep copies of everything. If SC Housing services your loan, its Avoid Foreclosure page says to call its loss mitigation department at 800.476.0412, option 5. Otherwise, work with a counselor listed on SC Housing: Avoid Foreclosure.

• You were served with a summons and complaint

  Right away; you have 30 days to answer

  Apply to South Carolina Legal Services online or through its intake line at 1-888-346-5592. The South Carolina Judicial Branch: Self Help Resources page has general help for people going to court without a lawyer.

  SCRCP 12(a)

• A sale date is set

  Today; the sale ads run only three weeks

  Call the lender's attorney named on the complaint for a written payoff figure and the status of any application. Call the county master-in-equity's office to confirm the sale. For advice on stopping it, contact South Carolina Legal Services or find a licensed attorney through South Carolina Bar: Find a Lawyer or Mediator.

  S.C. Code Ann. § 15-39-650

• Your servicer is not following the rules

  Before the hearing or sale if possible

  If your servicer is a non-bank mortgage company, file a complaint with SC Board of Financial Institutions, Consumer Finance Division: File a Complaint after trying to fix it with the company. Problems with the amount claimed can also be raised in your answer, so talk to legal aid too.

• A foreclosure rescue company contacted you

  Before you sign or pay anything

  SC Housing says offers claiming a link to SC Homeowner Rescue are not endorsed by the agency. Never pay an upfront fee or sign over your deed. Report scams to South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs: Consumer Complaints or South Carolina Attorney General: Consumer Protection and Antitrust.

Official and nonprofit help in South Carolina

None of these charge homeowners for foreclosure help.

• SC Housing: Avoid Foreclosure

  State housing agency page with free HUD-approved counselors and resources for all South Carolina homeowners.

• SC Housing: South Carolina Homeowner Rescue

  Official notice that the Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed, with counseling referrals.

• South Carolina Attorney General: Consumer Protection and Antitrust

  Enforces the state Unfair Trade Practices Act.

• South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs: Consumer Complaints

  Takes consumer complaints about businesses, including scams aimed at homeowners.

• SC Board of Financial Institutions, Consumer Finance Division: File a Complaint

  Takes complaints about non-bank mortgage lenders and servicers after you have tried to resolve the problem with the company.

• South Carolina Legal Services

  Statewide free civil legal aid for eligible residents, including foreclosure defense.

• South Carolina Judicial Branch: Self Help Resources

  Court self-help resources for people without a lawyer.

• South Carolina Bar: Find a Lawyer or Mediator

  State bar lawyer referral and directory tools.

South Carolina Homeowner Rescue Program

SC Housing says the South Carolina Homeowner Rescue Program has closed because all U.S. Treasury funds for mortgage and utility help have been spent. Its page refers homeowners to their loan servicer, to free housing counselors, and to legal services through 211.

Check the program’s current status

Common questions in South Carolina