Should I use a credit card to make the mortgage payment?

It is almost always a bad trade. You convert a secured debt into higher interest unsecured debt and delay the real conversation by one month. Talk to your servicer about loss mitigation instead.

Should I drain retirement savings to save the house?

Sometimes it is the right call, often it is not, and there can be taxes and penalties involved. This is a question for a financial or tax professional, and we will say so rather than guess.

Is credit counseling the same as debt settlement?

No. Nonprofit credit counseling typically works with your creditors on a structured repayment plan. Debt settlement companies often ask you to stop paying and save into an account instead, which can damage credit and, if a mortgage is involved, put the home at greater risk. Prefer HUD approved or NFCC affiliated agencies.

How much does foreclosure hurt my credit compared to selling?

A completed foreclosure is generally the more damaging and longer lasting entry. A sale you control usually leaves you better positioned to rent or buy again sooner. Ask a credit professional about your specific file.

Can you tell me whether to file bankruptcy?

No, and we will not pretend otherwise. We can tell you what we see in the numbers and help you arrive at an attorney's office with organized information instead of a shoebox.

What if the honest answer is that the house does not work?

Then knowing that early is a gift. Selling while you still have equity, on your own timeline, beats losing it at an auction date somebody else picked.

Debt and budget

Sometimes the mortgage is not the real problem

Plenty of homeowners we meet could carry their house comfortably if three other obligations were handled differently. Before deciding whether to keep or sell, it is worth looking at the whole picture honestly.

Book Free Consultation Call or Text (734) 244-8125

Free, confidential, and no pressure.

The honest question

Can this home work at your real numbers?

Not the numbers from when you bought it. The numbers today, including taxes, insurance, and the repairs you have been postponing.

Housing cost ratio

Add the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and any association dues, then compare that to your take home pay. When housing runs well past a third of income, something eventually breaks.

Order of priority

Secured debts, taxes, and insurance come before unsecured cards. Paying a credit card minimum while the mortgage falls behind is a common and costly instinct.

Deferred maintenance

A roof or furnace you cannot fund is a real cost even when it is not a monthly bill. It belongs in the keep or sell decision.

Common paths when debt is the underlying issue
Path	What it addresses	Who to talk to	Keeps the home
Budget restructuring	Cash flow, priority of payments, small recurring leaks	A HUD approved counselor, or us for the housing math	Often yes
Nonprofit credit counseling	Unsecured debt through a managed repayment plan	A HUD approved or NFCC affiliated agency	Often yes
Loan modification	A mortgage payment that is too high for current income	Your servicer's loss mitigation department	Yes if approved
Chapter 13 bankruptcy	Curing mortgage arrears over time while stopping collection	A bankruptcy attorney	Sometimes
Chapter 7 bankruptcy	Discharging unsecured debt to free up income	A bankruptcy attorney	Depends on the case
Selling with equity	Ending the pressure and keeping the equity you built	Us, as your brokerage	No

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Where our role starts and stops

We are a real estate brokerage. We are not attorneys, accountants, credit counselors, or tax advisors, and nothing here is advice in those fields. What Dave brings is years spent as a bankruptcy counselor for the U.S. Department of Justice, which means he can look at your numbers, tell you what he sees, and point you toward the right licensed professional before you make a decision you cannot undo.

Questions about debt, credit, and keeping the house

A Reality Real Estate Brokerage tool

Save or Sell My Home

Want to see the numbers yourself first? The free Save or Sell tool runs a private budget and equity snapshot in about two minutes, privately.

Use the free tool

A second set of eyes

Walk through your numbers with someone who has done this for years

No judgment, no lecture, and no cost. Just a clear read on whether this home works at your current income.

Bring rough figures. Precision is not required to start.
We will name the professional you should call if the issue is legal or tax related.
Confidential, and never shared with your lender without your permission.

Reality Real Estate Brokerage is a licensed Michigan real estate brokerage. We are not attorneys, accountants, or tax advisors, and nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice. Information here is based on our experience and is intended for general guidance. Please consult the appropriate licensed professional for your situation.

Clarity beats worry, every time.

One honest conversation about the numbers usually replaces months of guessing.

Free, confidential, and no pressure.

Book Free Consultation Call or Text (734) 244-8125