Congressman Gus Bilirakis offers mortgage help

Having problems making your mortgage payment? Lenders and housing counselors will offer advice at a free home foreclosure assistance workshop Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Freedom High School.

The workshop is hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), who represents the 9th Congressional District. The district encompasses portions of Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The workshop will offer guidance on working with lenders and housing counselors, refinancing and loan modification options and information about HUD's loss mitigation program for FHA mortgages.

"Given the downturn in the Tampa area housing market, many families are concerned about their most important investment," Bilirakis said. "This event will provide families who are concerned about their current housing situation with the chance to sit down with banks and institutions that can help them navigate this uncertain time."

According to the latest report from RealtyTrac, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area ranks 26th in the nation among metropolitan areas for foreclosures, with a rate of one in every 69 housing units.

Representatives from the following organizations will provide counseling free of charge: Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, SunTrust, Fifth Third Bank, Ocwen Financial, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, HUD, VA Regional Loan Center, Bay Area Legal Services, Florida Department of Financial Services, Hillsborough County Tax Collector, Hillsborough County Government-Affordable Housing Unit, Catholic Charities, Center of Affordable Homeownership, Tampa Bay CDC Housing, St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing, Consumer Credit Counseling Service and Housing and Education Alliance.

If attendees plan to meet with a financial institution, they should bring copies of the following items: driver's license, W-2 for 2008 and 2008 (IRS Wage and Tax Statement), tax returns for the past 2 years, past due mortgage bill or any relevant mortgage information and pay stubs for the past three months.

To RSVP or for more information, call Bilirakis's Palm Harbor District Office at (727) 773-2871.