When Helping a Homeowner Isn’t About the House

[David Litt]

I had a recent experience with a homeowner in pre-foreclosure that reminded me how complex these situations can be. At first, I thought it was all about the property — the numbers, the arrears, the equity. But after sitting down with them, it became clear the real issue wasn’t the house itself. It was the stress, the uncertainty, and not knowing who to trust.

The conversation ended up being less about contracts and more about clarity. We walked through the foreclosure timeline step by step, explained what options they still had, and helped them understand that they weren’t completely out of choices. By the end, they said it was the first time in months they felt like they could breathe.

It made me think: sometimes the most valuable thing we bring to a foreclosure situation isn’t money or strategy — it’s perspective.

For those of you who’ve worked with distressed homeowners:

• Do you find that education and reassurance are just as important as the deal itself?

• Have you ever seen a homeowner turn things around once they understood the process better?

• Do you think more investors should slow down and play the role of “translator” before rushing into a transaction?