Free foreclosure help in Washington

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, then call the Washington Homeownership Resource Center (state foreclosure hotline) at 1-877-894-4663. The Washington Attorney General: Foreclosure and Mortgage Assistance page says a certified counselor can help you even before you face foreclosure, for free. The Washington Department of Financial Institutions: Foreclosure Assistance page also points seniors and people with disabilities to county property tax postponement programs.

• You got the pre-foreclosure letter

  Within 30 days of the letter

  Respond to the lender and call the Washington Homeownership Resource Center (state foreclosure hotline), which the Washington State Housing Finance Commission recommends. A counselor can contact your lender for you and attend the meeting.

  RCW 61.24.031

• You got a notice of default

  At least 90 days before the sale date; sooner is better

  Ask a housing counselor or attorney whether to refer you to mediation. The Washington Department of Commerce: Foreclosure Fairness Program runs mediation, assigns the mediator and can answer program questions at 360-725-3040.

  RCW 61.24.163

• A sale date is set

  Today; the reinstatement cutoff is 11 days before the sale

  Contact Northwest Justice Project: Get Legal Help for free civil legal aid; the Commerce page lists the statewide civil legal aid line at 1-800-606-4819. Washington Law Help: Foreclosure has plain-language guides. If you do not qualify, Washington State Bar Association: Find Legal Help explains how to find a lawyer.

  RCW 61.24.090

• Your servicer is not following the rules

  Before the sale if possible

  File a complaint with the Washington Department of Financial Institutions: File a Complaint. Skipping the pre-foreclosure contact or failing to mediate in good faith is an unfair practice under state law, so also talk to legal aid about your options.

  RCW 61.24.135(2)

• A foreclosure rescue company contacted you

  Before you sign or pay anything

  Washington calls these distressed home consultants. Their contract must be in writing, list every fee and carry a notice that they cannot guarantee you will keep your home, and they owe you a duty to act in your best interest. A housing counselor does the same work for free. The Department of Commerce points homeowners to the Attorney General's office for consumer complaints, and the Washington Attorney General: Foreclosure and Mortgage Assistance page explains its foreclosure help.

  RCW 61.34.050, 61.34.060

• You inherited the home or were awarded it in a divorce

  As soon as you learn of the foreclosure

  A counselor or attorney can refer a successor of a deceased borrower, or a person awarded the home in a divorce or legal separation, to mediation as if they were the borrower. Call the Washington Homeownership Resource Center (state foreclosure hotline) to start.

  RCW 61.24.165(4), (5)

Official and nonprofit help in Washington

None of these charge homeowners for foreclosure help.

• Washington State Housing Finance Commission

  The state housing finance commission, which recommends the statewide foreclosure hotline.

• Washington Homeownership Resource Center (state foreclosure hotline)

  Runs the statewide hotline that connects homeowners with free housing counselors who can refer you to mediation.

  1-877-894-4663

• Washington Department of Commerce: Foreclosure Fairness Program

  Runs the state foreclosure mediation program and explains who can refer you and when.

  360-725-3040

• Washington Attorney General: Foreclosure and Mortgage Assistance

  The Attorney General's page on foreclosure help and avoiding scams.

• Washington Law Help: Foreclosure

  Free legal information on foreclosure from Washington's civil legal aid programs.

• Northwest Justice Project: Get Legal Help

  Statewide free civil legal aid for low-income residents, including homeowners in foreclosure.

• Washington Department of Financial Institutions: Foreclosure Assistance

  The mortgage regulator's page on foreclosure help and resources.

• Washington Department of Financial Institutions: File a Complaint

  Takes complaints about mortgage lenders, brokers and servicers.

• Washington State Bar Association: Find Legal Help

  The state bar's page on finding a lawyer and legal help programs.

Washington Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)

The Washington Homeowner Assistance Fund website says the HAF program has ended. It directs homeowners to the state foreclosure prevention hotline at 877-894-4663, which connects you with free housing counseling. The Department of Revenue also lists property tax exemption and deferral programs for some homeowners.

Check the program’s current status

Common questions in Washington