We built this guide because homeowners deserve better than scattered links and confusing government acronyms. Whether you're facing foreclosure, getting harassed by cold callers, need emergency assistance, or just want to know your rights — everything you need is right here.
Important: Every resource listed on this page is free, government-verified, or operated by a major nonprofit. No paid services. No affiliate links. No hidden costs. Just help. We verify all links quarterly and update availability status as programs change.
Free Housing Counselors
HUD-approved housing counselors are trained and certified by the government to help you with buying, renting, defaults, foreclosure, credit counseling, and understanding your options — often at no cost.
Find a Housing Counselor
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's official tool to locate HUD-approved counseling agencies near you by ZIP code. Shows services offered, languages available, and whether the agency provides in-person or phone counseling. This is the single best starting point for any homeowner who needs guidance on any housing-related issue.
HOPE™ Hotline
Free 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week housing counseling hotline. Certified counselors help with mortgage default, foreclosure prevention, credit counseling, and understanding your options. Available in multiple languages. If you're in crisis, start here.
HUD Housing Counselor Locator
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's own search tool for finding participating housing counseling agencies. Search by ZIP code or state to connect with local HUD-approved counselors.
Housing Insecurity Portal
The CFPB's centralized hub for homeowners and renters experiencing housing insecurity — comprehensive coverage of foreclosure, eviction, mortgage servicer issues, and housing discrimination.
Financial Assistance Programs
Government programs that provide direct financial help with mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and other housing costs. Eligibility and availability vary by program and location.
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
A $9.961 billion federal program helping homeowners impacted by COVID-19 with mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and home repairs. Administered by individual states — check your state's availability as some programs have closed while others still have funds available. Scheduled to run through September 2026 or until funds are exhausted.
Government-Backed Loan Relief
If you have an FHA, VA, or USDA loan, you may qualify for special forbearance, payment deferrals, extended repayment plans, or loan modifications. Contact your loan servicer or visit the relevant agency website for current program details.
State Housing Finance Agencies
Every state has a housing finance agency that administers local assistance programs including down payment help, mortgage relief, and property tax assistance. Programs vary significantly by state and change frequently.
Critical Information: You should never pay for foreclosure prevention assistance or mortgage help. Legitimate counseling through HUD-approved agencies is always free. If someone asks you for money to help modify your loan or prevent foreclosure, it is very likely a scam. Report it immediately using the resources in the Scam Reporting section.
Foreclosure Prevention
If you're behind on payments or facing foreclosure, these resources can help you understand your options and connect with free help immediately. Time is critical — don't wait.
HOPE™ Hotline — Foreclosure Help
24/7, 365 days a year. Certified counselors help with mortgage default and foreclosure prevention. Free, confidential, and multilingual. If you're in crisis or have received a foreclosure notice, start here right now.
Avoiding Foreclosure (HUD)
HUD's official resource page for homeowners facing foreclosure — comprehensive coverage of your options including reinstatement, loan modification, forbearance, short sale, and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.
File a Mortgage Servicer Complaint
If your mortgage servicer is not helping you, not responding to your requests, or engaging in unfair practices, you can file a complaint directly with the CFPB. They will forward it to the company and work to get you a response.
Beware of foreclosure rescue scams. The FTC has documented numerous fake "mortgage relief" operations that target homeowners facing foreclosure. They promise loan modifications but steal your money. In January 2025, the FTC sent refunds to victims of one such scheme totaling millions of dollars. Never pay upfront for foreclosure help — real help is always free.
Emergency Housing Assistance
If you're facing immediate housing crisis, eviction, or homelessness — these resources provide emergency assistance, shelter referrals, and crisis intervention services.
211 — Community Resources
Dial 211 from any phone to connect with emergency assistance in your area. United Way's 211 service provides referrals to emergency housing, shelter, food assistance, utility help, and crisis intervention. Available 24/7 in most areas.
211.org — Find Local Resources
Search for emergency assistance programs in your community online if you can't call 211. Database includes emergency shelter, rental assistance, utility help, food banks, and crisis services.
Emergency Rental Assistance
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps with rent, utilities, and other housing costs. Check if your state or local program still has funding available through the CFPB portal.
For Veterans: If you're a veteran experiencing or at risk of homelessness, call the VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for immediate help. Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1.
Scam & Fraud Reporting
If you've encountered a scam, been targeted by fraud, or received deceptive communication from someone claiming to buy your home — report it here. Your report helps law enforcement identify patterns and protect other homeowners.
Report Fraud to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission's official portal for reporting fraud, scams, and deceptive business practices. Your report goes into a database used by law enforcement nationwide to identify patterns and take action against fraudulent operations.
File a State Consumer Complaint
Your state attorney general handles consumer protection issues. Use NAAG's directory to find your AG's office and file a complaint about real estate fraud, deceptive practices, or unlawful solicitation.
Better Business Bureau Complaint
File a complaint with the BBB about a company's practices. BBB tracks patterns, alerts the public, and mediates disputes. Always check a company's BBB rating before doing business with them.
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
For internet-based real estate fraud including wire fraud, phishing, and online scams. IC3 is the FBI's portal for reporting cybercrime — critical for reporting real estate wire fraud schemes.
Fair Housing Discrimination Complaint
If you believe you've been discriminated against in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability, file a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
Real Estate & Mortgage Scam Resources
The FTC's dedicated page for real estate and mortgage fraud — including recent enforcement actions, consumer alerts, and educational resources about common schemes targeting homeowners.
Stop Unwanted Cold Calls
Getting harassed by cold callers wanting to buy your house? These tools give you the power to fight back — and the legal standing to report violations with penalties up to $11,000 per illegal call.
National Do Not Call Registry
Register your home or cell phone number for free. Once registered, most commercial telemarketers are legally required to stop calling within 31 days. Registration is permanent and protects over 221 million phone numbers. While it won't stop illegal scam calls, it gives you legal standing to report violators with penalties up to $11,000 per call.
Block Robocalls & Spam
The FTC's comprehensive guide to using built-in phone features and third-party apps to block robocalls and spam. Covers iPhone, Android, and landline solutions with step-by-step instructions.
Do Not Call Registry FAQ
Everything you need to know: what the registry covers, who's exempt from the rules, how to check if you're registered, and what to do when companies violate the rules.
Know your rights: When a cold caller contacts you, ask them to add you to their company's internal do-not-call list — they are legally required to maintain one. If they call again after you've made this request, it's an additional violation you can report. Document the caller's name, phone number, company name, and date of each call. Keep records for potential enforcement action.
Free Legal Aid for Homeowners
If you need legal help with foreclosure, predatory contracts, title fraud, housing discrimination, or any housing-related legal issue — these organizations provide free representation to eligible homeowners nationwide.
Legal Services Corporation — Find Legal Aid
The Legal Services Corporation is the nation's single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. Their search tool connects you with local legal aid offices that provide free representation for housing issues including foreclosure, eviction, predatory lending, title disputes, and housing discrimination.
American Bar Association — Free Legal Help
The ABA maintains a comprehensive directory of free legal help resources organized by state. Includes pro bono programs, legal aid societies, law school clinics, and bar association referral services.
LawHelp.org — State-by-State Resources
An online resource that helps low and moderate-income people find free legal aid programs in their community, understand their legal rights, and access court information organized by state.
For military servicemembers: Active duty military can access free legal assistance through their local Legal Assistance Office. Military OneSource also provides free legal consultations at 800-342-9647 or visit militaryonesource.mil.
Consumer Protection Resources
Tools and resources to help you understand your rights as a homeowner, verify the legitimacy of companies, and protect yourself from predatory practices.
Submit a Consumer Complaint
File complaints about mortgage servicers, lenders, debt collectors, credit reporting agencies, and other financial companies. The CFPB forwards complaints to companies and works to get you responses.
Verify Business Registration
Check if a company is legitimately registered in your state. Every state maintains a searchable database of registered businesses. Use NASS to find your state's Secretary of State office.
Avoiding Real Estate Scams
The FTC's consumer guide to common real estate scams including foreclosure rescue scams, wire fraud, title fraud, and predatory home buying operations.
Why We Built This Guide
We created this comprehensive resource because we believe homeowners deserve honest, accessible information — whether or not they ever work with us. At Local Home Buyers USA, our Bee's Knees Partnership Program is built on the principle that homeowners should be empowered with knowledge, not exploited by predatory practices.
If you're here because you got a cold call from someone using a name similar to ours — that wasn't us, and we explain why here. If you're trying to figure out whether a home buyer is legitimate — we wrote a detailed guide for that too. And if you just needed these resources, we're glad you found them.
This guide is updated quarterly. Every link is verified. Every program status is current as of the publication date. We believe transparency and education should be the foundation of the real estate industry — not the exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
A HUD-approved housing counselor is a government-certified professional who provides free or low-cost help with buying a home, renting, mortgage defaults, foreclosure prevention, and credit issues. Find one using the CFPB tool at consumerfinance.gov/find-a-housing-counselor, by calling the HOPE Hotline at 888-995-4673 (available 24/7), or by calling the CFPB directly at 855-411-2372.
The federal HAF program is scheduled to run through September 2026 or until funds are exhausted. However, availability varies significantly by state — some state programs have already closed while others still have funds available. Check your state's current status through the NCSHA directory or the CFPB's HAF page linked in the Financial Assistance section above.
Visit donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. Registration is free and permanent. Most commercial callers must stop calling within 31 days. You can register up to three numbers at a time online. The registry won't stop illegal scam calls, but it gives you legal standing to report violations with penalties up to $11,000 per call.
Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, file a complaint with your state attorney general (find them at naag.org), and report to the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. For internet-based fraud or wire fraud, report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Document everything: phone numbers, names, dates, and all written communication. Your reports help law enforcement identify patterns and protect other homeowners.
The Legal Services Corporation at lsc.gov connects low-income homeowners with free legal aid offices nationwide. LawHelp.org provides state-by-state directories of free legal resources. The American Bar Association maintains a free legal help directory. Many state bar associations also offer pro bono referrals and free foreclosure prevention clinics.
Call the HOPE Hotline immediately at 888-995-4673 — it's free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Then contact a HUD-approved housing counselor using the CFPB tool. Check if your state's Homeowner Assistance Fund has funding available. Contact your mortgage servicer to discuss forbearance, modification, or repayment options. Seek free legal help through the Legal Services Corporation. Never pay anyone who promises to help with foreclosure — legitimate services are always free.
Yes. Dial 211 from any phone to connect with emergency assistance in your area. United Way's 211 service provides referrals to emergency shelter, rental assistance, utility help, and crisis services. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program may have funds available in your state — check the CFPB portal linked in the Emergency Housing Assistance section above.
Check their business registration with your Secretary of State, verify their physical address exists, search for reviews and complaints on BBB.org, ask for references from recent transactions, never sign contracts under pressure, and get everything in writing. If they refuse to provide verifiable business details, pressure you to sign quickly, or ask for money upfront, walk away. Consult a HUD-approved housing counselor before signing any agreement to sell your home.
There's a Better Way to Sell Your Home
If you're considering selling, our Bee's Knees Partnership is built to maximize your outcome — not minimize it. Radical transparency. Real partnership. Better results.
Learn About the Partnership