It can be very difficult putting into words just how much you need help in getting out of your mortgage.  Weather you are trying to Save your Home and renegotiate with the Bank or your are asking them to let you sell the home in a Short Sale for less than you own, You will need to compose a moving Hardship Letter.

You really must think of the Hardship Letter as an essay in a non-fiction (Actual Events) writing contest.  There are thousands of entries and we need yours to stand out.  You could use any number of the templates out there, but will you stand out, or did you take a shortcut.

So, What makes a good Hardship Letter?

• Key information is included in letter and is easily found (Borrower Full Name, Address of Property, Account Number(s), and Borrower contact information)
• Describe the events that were out of your control that have caused you to become delinquent.You will need to provide documentation supporting your Hardship. (Sample Hardship Types - Adjustable Rate Mortgage Reset,Illness, Loss of Job, Reduced Income, Failed Business, Job Relocation, Death of Spouse or C0-Borrower, Death, Incarceration, Divorce, Marital Separation, Military Duty, Medical Bills, Damage to Property)
  
• Tell YOUR story - What did home ownership mean to YOU?  What does loosing your home do to YOUR family? How will getting lower payments/selling your home help? What will you be able to do once this ordeal is over?  How will you up hold and adhere to the new terms?
  
• Be Brief - Keep it to one page if possible but no more than two.
• Spellcheck-Spellcheck-Spellcheck
• Have someone read the letter and get their feedback
• Hand write the letter - I suggest typing your letter first so you have composed exactly what you want.  Then legibly hand write the letter.  If your writing is difficult to read then type the letter.
  

The letter should allow the Bank's Account Manager to get to know you and your situation.  A Good letter will help to create a connection between You and the Account Manager in charge of your loan.  If the letter creates enough of a connection then the Account Manager will work harder to help get a resolution that works out.

As you are writing the letter you should be moved.  The letter should be difficult for you to write.  Stick to the question format above and you should be able to get through it.

Most of the letters are scaned and faxed over to the Banks these days.  So don't write on colored paper or stationary with background images. Crying on the letter won't help either, but if you were honest and passionate in Your Story the reader will pick up on that.

I also suggest that you include a large faxable black and white photo of your family to include with the letter.  This makes you more real to the Account Manager and not just another file.

The prize for this contest is ...

Danke Schoen,

Nate Ellis

888-808-6283