Consumer News:
Foreclosure Prevention
 The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has a number of resources for consumers, community groups, and bankers to help them preserve their home ownership, avoid foreclosure, and protect themsleves against foreclosure and debt elimination scams.
Consumer Advisories Related to Home Ownership
Protect Your Family from Foreclosure Prevention Scams (April 2009)
Scams that promise to "rescue" you from foreclosure are popping up at an alarming rate nationwide, and you need to protect yourself and your home. This advisory provides tips on how to identify scams and what you should do. Download a printer-friendly version (PDF).
OCC Consumer Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure Rescue Scams (May 2008)
This Consumer Advisory from the OCC provides advice to help prevent borrowers from becoming victims of foreclosure rescue scams. It outlines what people should watch out for to avoid foreclosure rescue scams and provides a list of resources people can use to find qualified sources for help.
Additional Resources
 Making Home Affordable
President's Obama's "Making Home Affordable" plan provides responsible homeowners support to obtain affordable refinancing or loan modifiactions to help tem stay in their homes.
OCC Neighborhood Stabilization Resources
The OCC recently launched this Web page which contains a range of resources for bankers and consumers related to homeownership preservation and stabilizing neighborhoods affected by foreclosures.
Interest-Only Payments and Payment-Option ARMS: Are They For You?
Owning a home is part of the American dream, but exotic mortgages carry risks that consumers should understand. This brochure helps explain Interest-Only and Payment-Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages.
Borrowing against the equity in your home
Borrowing from an unscrupulous lender, especially one that offers a high-cost loan using the home as security, could result in the loss of the borrower's home and their money. This brochure, Putting Your Home on the Loan Line is Risky Business, warns that regardless of whether a home equity loan is for a home repair, bill consolidation or some other purpose, it is important to shop around. The Comparison Shopping for a Home Equity Loan worksheet, can be used to help you shop for the best deal.
OCC Anti-Fraud Resources
OCC's new feature provides Consumers and Bankers with information and resources to effectively identify, report, and combat fraud.
Foreclosure Prevention: Improving Contact with Borrowers
This Insights report reviews strategies that banks are using to prevent foreclosures to mitigate credit losses. The strategies presented in the report involve partnerships developed by banks, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and others who have a stake in keeping homeowners in their properties and maintaining the economic health of local communities.
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