RED ALERT! AVOID THE LOAN MODIFICATION PREDATOR

There are always people ready to take advantage of other people in desperate situations and the current home foreclosure situation is no different.  A whole cottage industry has sprung up made up of predators prepared to charge large fees for helping someone avoid foreclosure through a loan modification. 
The vast majority of these people simply take a person's money and perform no service whatsoever.  I am sure that there must be a few people who actually attempt to do what they have been hired to accomplish and I am sure that on occasion a loan actually gets modified. 
The truth is there is no reason to pay anyone for this type of help.  There are non-profit companies all across the country that has qualified people ready to lend a hand for no charge of any kind.  In short, there are no fees or other charges for obtaining their help.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") offers a variety of services and assistance in avoiding foreclosure through a variety of resources, both new and old.  Trying to understand these programs by going directly to HUD is difficult and confusing.  This agency actually understands the problem and has come up with a solution that really works.   On one of their web pages the following statement is made by HUD:
"Foreclosure prevention counseling services are provided free of charge by nonprofit housing counseling agencies working in partnership with the Federal Government. These agencies are funded, in part, by HUD and NeighborWorks® America. There is no need to pay a private company for these services...."
Finding a reliable free agency is now easy; just go to http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/.  Find the pull down menu on the page which allows you to pick your state. That selection then takes you to a web page that allows you to narrow your search by city; with several other choices such as your preferred language.
I am located in El Paso, Texas.  I went through the search instructions and came up with four (4) agencies.  Much to my delight I was familiar with all four.  I have referred clients to each.  I can vouch for each agency having highly trained, qualified and very courteous people to address a full range of problems.  While they do not always succeed, one can rest assured that they have made a maximum effort to help.