Help With Mortgage: 36 Ways to Lower Payments, Get Assistance, and Make Smarter Mortgage Decisions

Brian Page
1 hour ago
11 min read

As you can see from the Google Trends searches over the past 20+ years, if you’re searching for help with your mortgage, you’re not alone. People are hurting, and I want to help. I wrote this post to give you options to understand the best solution for your situation.

36 Ways to Get Help With a Mortgage

1. Help Making a Mortgage Payment

If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make your next mortgage payment, don’t wait until you miss it to ask for help. Contact your mortgage servicer immediately, explain what has changed financially, and ask what assistance options may be available; a HUD-approved housing counselor can also help you evaluate your situation at no cost.

2. Help After Falling Behind on Mortgage Payments

Missing a mortgage payment doesn’t mean foreclosure is inevitable, but ignoring the problem can limit your options. Depending on your mortgage and circumstances, your servicer may be able to discuss options such as a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification designed to address the delinquency.

3. Help Lowering Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

Start by identifying exactly what makes up your payment because the solution depends on what is driving the cost. Refinancing might reduce principal and interest under the right circumstances, while removing PMI, addressing an escrow shortage, shopping for homeowners insurance, or appealing a property tax assessment could reduce other portions of the payment.

4. Help Avoiding Foreclosure

If you have received foreclosure notices or are significantly behind on payments, act quickly rather than assuming it is too late. Contact your mortgage servicer and a HUD-approved housing counselor to understand possible loss-mitigation options and what deadlines may apply to your situation.

5. Help Understanding Mortgage Forbearance

Mortgage forbearance is an agreement between you and your lender that allows you to temporarily pause or reduce your monthly mortgage payments for a set time. It is designed for short-term financial troubles, like job loss, illness, or natural disasters. It does not erase your debt; you must repay the missed amount later. It does not typically erase the amount you owe, so make sure you understand the details before agreeing to a plan.

6. Help Getting a Mortgage Loan Modification

A loan modification changes one or more terms of your existing mortgage in an effort to create a more sustainable solution for an eligible borrower experiencing hardship. Contact your servicer to learn which loss-mitigation options are available for your loan, and be prepared to provide information explaining your financial hardship.

7. Help Refinancing a Mortgage

Refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a new one. It can provide a lower interest rate, a different loan term, or a different monthly payment. Don’t judge a refinance solely by the new payment—compare closing costs, the length of the new loan, total interest, and how long you expect to remain in the home.

8. Help Paying Off a Mortgage Faster

Adding extra money toward principal can reduce your mortgage balance faster and potentially save thousands of dollars of interest over time. Before accelerating your mortgage, however, make sure you aren’t sacrificing higher priorities such as an emergency fund, high-interest debt repayment, or valuable employer retirement contributions.

9. Help Deciding Whether to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

Paying off a mortgage early can provide financial security and eliminate a major monthly expense, but it isn’t automatically the best mathematical decision. Compare your mortgage interest rate with your other debts, investment opportunities, retirement savings, tax situation, liquidity needs, and your desire to be debt-free.

10. Help Understanding Your Mortgage Payment

Your mortgage bill may include much more than repayment of the money you borrowed. Depending on your loan, the payment can include principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, and other escrowed costs, so understanding each component can help you determine where savings might actually be possible. Tap into the CFPB Mortgage Key Terms Glossary to learn more.

11. Help When Your Mortgage Payment Suddenly Increases

A higher mortgage bill doesn’t necessarily mean your mortgage interest rate changed. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, escrow adjustments, fees, and adjustable-rate changes are among the reasons a monthly payment can increase, so start by reviewing your mortgage statement and recent notices from your servicer.

12. Help With an Escrow Shortage

An escrow shortage can occur when the amount collected for expenses such as property taxes and homeowners insurance isn’t enough to cover the actual bills. Your annual escrow analysis should explain what happened and how the shortage affects future payments; contact your servicer if anything appears incorrect or you need to understand your repayment options.

13. Help Removing PMI

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, generally protects the lender rather than the homeowner, and removing it when you become eligible can lower your monthly housing cost. For many conventional mortgages, homeowners may request PMI cancellation once the principal balance reaches 80% of the home’s original value, if applicable requirements are met; federal law also provides for automatic termination under certain circumstances.

14. Help Choosing Between Mortgage Options

Fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and other mortgage options can have very different qualification requirements, costs, risks, and benefits. Instead of asking which mortgage is universally “best,” ask which loan structure best fits your finances, expected time in the home, available cash, risk tolerance, and long-term plans.

15. Help Determining How Much Mortgage You Can Afford

The mortgage amount a lender is willing to approve, and the mortgage payment that comfortably fits your life are two different numbers. Build your housing budget around your complete financial picture—including retirement savings, childcare, debt payments, travel, maintenance, financial goals, and the lifestyle you want to maintain.

16. Help Buying a Home With a Small Down Payment

You don’t necessarily need a 20% down payment to purchase a home, although a smaller down payment can affect your loan options, monthly costs, mortgage insurance, and financial cushion after closing. Compare the tradeoffs between buying sooner and saving longer rather than assuming one strategy is right for everyone.

17. Help Finding Down-Payment Assistance

State and local governments, housing agencies, nonprofits, and certain employers may offer programs designed to assist qualifying homebuyers with down payments or closing costs. Eligibility can depend on factors such as income, location, occupation, home price, or first-time-buyer status, so investigate programs available specifically where you intend to purchase.

18. Help With Mortgage Closing Costs

The down payment isn’t the only cash you’ll need when buying a house. Closing costs include upfront expenses associated with obtaining the loan and transferring ownership, and your Loan Estimate can help you identify those costs before closing.

19. Help Improving Your Credit Before Applying for a Mortgage

Your credit profile can affect whether you qualify for a mortgage and the terms you’re offered. Before applying, review your credit reports for errors, pay bills on time, avoid unnecessary new debt, and reduce high credit-card balances where practical.

20. Help Getting a Mortgage When You Already Have Debt

Student loans, car payments, credit cards, personal loans, and other obligations don’t automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage, but lenders will consider your existing obligations when evaluating your application. More importantly, you should consider whether adding a mortgage leaves enough room in your budget for emergencies, savings, retirement, and everyday life.

21. Help Choosing a Mortgage Lender

Don’t compare mortgage offers based only on the advertised interest rate. Request Loan Estimates from multiple lenders and compare rates, lender fees, points, credits, closing costs, and loan terms side by side; the CFPB specifically encourages borrowers to compare multiple Loan Estimates.

22. Help Understanding Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates can vary based on the broader interest-rate environment, your loan type, loan term, credit profile, down payment, points, and other characteristics. The rate advertised online may not be the rate you receive, so loan estimates are more useful than advertisements when comparing lenders.

23. Help Deciding Whether to Buy Mortgage Points

Discount points let you pay more upfront in exchange for a lower mortgage interest rate. Calculate how much the points cost, how much they reduce your monthly payment, and how long it takes the monthly savings to recover that upfront expense—especially if you might sell or refinance before reaching the break-even point.

24. Help With a Mortgage After Divorce or Separation

A divorce decree, property title, and mortgage obligation are different issues, and simply agreeing that one spouse will keep the house may not automatically remove the other spouse from the mortgage. Couples separating should understand who owns the property, who remains legally responsible for the debt, whether refinancing or selling is necessary, and whether they need legal advice based on their state's laws.

25. Help Managing a Mortgage as a Married Couple

A mortgage shouldn’t simply be viewed as one partner’s bill when it supports a shared household. Couples should agree on how they'll fund housing expenses, which accounts they'll use, how much income they’re comfortable committing to housing, and how the mortgage fits alongside their other financial goals.

26. Help When One Spouse Can't Afford Half of the Mortgage

A 50/50 mortgage split might sound fair, but it can feel anything but fair when one spouse earns significantly more than the other. Couples can consider contributing proportionally based on income, combining finances more fully, or creating another system that provides both spouses with reasonable financial security and spending flexibility.

27. Help Deciding Whether Both Spouses Should Be on the Mortgage

Marriage doesn’t automatically mean both spouses must apply jointly for every mortgage. Before deciding, consider each spouse’s credit, income, debts, legal ownership, estate planning, and how qualification would change under different arrangements; also remember that being obligated on a mortgage and holding ownership interest in a property are distinct legal concepts.

28. Help With a Mortgage After Losing a Job

A job loss can turn a previously affordable mortgage into an immediate source of financial stress. Review your available cash, unemployment or severance income, household expenses, and insurance, and contact your mortgage servicer early to find out whether hardship assistance may be available.

29. Help With a Mortgage After a Major Financial Emergency

Medical expenses, disability, divorce, death in the family, and other unexpected events can dramatically alter a household’s ability to make its mortgage payment. Rather than paying bills randomly or based on which creditor is calling the loudest, assess your essential expenses, available cash, income, insurance, debt obligations, and mortgage assistance options as part of an emergency financial plan.

30. Help Deciding Whether to Sell Because Your Mortgage Is Too Expensive

Sometimes mortgage help isn’t about finding a way to keep the house—it’s about deciding whether keeping it still makes financial sense. Compare the financial and emotional costs of staying with alternatives such as refinancing, downsizing, relocating, or selling and renting, while accounting for transaction costs and your longer-term plans.

31. Help When You're House Poor

You can make every mortgage payment on time and still have too much of your financial life wrapped up in your house. If housing expenses leave little money for saving, retirement, emergencies, family experiences, or other priorities, review your total housing costs and decide whether you can reduce them or whether a larger housing change is worth considering.

32. Help With an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

Unlike a fixed-rate mortgage, an adjustable-rate mortgage can change over time based on the loan terms, potentially changing the required payment. Know when your rate can adjust, how frequently it can change, what caps apply, and what a higher future payment could mean for your household budget before deciding whether to keep the loan or explore refinancing.

33. Help After Receiving a Mortgage Assistance or Foreclosure Letter

Unfortunately, financial hardship can make homeowners targets for mortgage and foreclosure-relief scams. Be cautious of unsolicited companies promising to “save” your home or guarantee a loan modification, verify assistance through trusted sources, and communicate directly with your mortgage servicer or a HUD-approved housing counselor.

34. Help for First-Time Homebuyers

First-time buyers often focus on qualifying for the mortgage and accumulating the down payment while overlooking the rest of the financial transition into homeownership. Build a plan that includes closing costs, moving, furnishings, repairs, maintenance, taxes, insurance, possible HOA expenses, and an emergency fund after you purchase the home.

35. Help Calculating the True Cost of a Mortgage

Your monthly principal-and-interest payment doesn’t tell you the true cost of owning the home. Consider interest over the life of the loan along with property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA fees, maintenance, repairs, utilities, closing costs, and the cash you have invested in the property.

36. Help Figuring Out Who to Contact About a Mortgage Problem

Different mortgage problems require different types of expertise. Your mortgage servicer should generally be your first contact for issues involving your existing loan or difficulty paying it, while HUD-approved housing counselors can provide independent assistance navigating mortgage problems and foreclosure-prevention options; legal, tax, financial planning, or credit issues may require professionals in those respective areas.

Click here to explore options shared by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Mortgage Help for Couples: Solve the Problem Together

For married couples, a mortgage problem is rarely just a mortgage problem. Your housing decision affects your monthly cash flow, retirement savings, emergency fund, careers, childcare choices, lifestyle, and sometimes even how much pressure each spouse feels to keep earning at their current level.

That’s why I encourage couples to approach a mortgage decision as a team decision, even when only one spouse is technically on the mortgage.

Start with four questions:

Can we comfortably afford our current payment?

Don't limit the conversation to whether you can technically make the payment each month. Ask whether the mortgage allows both of you to save, prepare for emergencies, contribute toward retirement, enjoy your lives, and pursue the other goals you say are important.

Is our current way of paying the mortgage fair?

Splitting the mortgage 50/50 isn't the only option. If one spouse earns substantially more, proportional contributions or a larger shared financial system may form a more equitable arrangement while preventing the lower-earning spouse from being left with significantly less discretionary money.

What would we be giving up to keep this house?

Every housing decision has an opportunity cost. Keeping an expensive home might mean saving less for retirement, working longer hours, postponing travel, limiting career flexibility, or spending less time with your family—and those tradeoffs deserve to be discussed explicitly.

What outcome are we actually trying to achieve?

Don't begin with “How do we keep this house?” Begin with “What housing situation best supports the life we're trying to build?” Sometimes the answer will be refinancing or adjusting the budget, and sometimes it may be accepting that selling is the healthier financial decision.

Most importantly, avoid turning financial stress into a search for someone to blame. If your mortgage has become difficult to afford, treat the problem as the two of you versus the problem, put the numbers on the table, agree on the outcome you're working toward, and divide responsibility for the next steps.

Where to Start If You Need Mortgage Help Right Now

If you're simply trying to optimize your mortgage, start by reviewing your statement, interest rate, remaining balance, loan term, escrow costs, mortgage insurance, and overall household budget.

If you're worried about missing a payment, already behind, or facing foreclosure, act quickly. Contact your mortgage servicer as soon as possible and consider contacting a HUD-approved housing counselor; the CFPB specifically recommends both steps for homeowners having difficulty making mortgage payments.

A mortgage can feel overwhelming because the numbers are large and the consequences matter. But “help with mortgage” isn't one problem with one solution—the right next step starts with identifying what you need help with, understanding your options, and making the decision in the context of your entire financial life.

Professional Support

If your challenges are limited to help with your mortgage and you still need support, I recommend clicking here and reaching out to a specialist.

That said, I'm the only Certified Financial Therapist™, Accredited Financial Counselor®, and Fair Play Facilitator®, empowering high-achieving couples with systems to manage money and the home as a team—drawn from decades of national leadership and lived experience.

Click here for more details about how and when I can support you.

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