A conversation about options
Having trouble with your mortgage? Know your options.
If you are behind on payments or worried about foreclosure, it can feel as if the clock is the only thing moving. You may have more options than you realize. John J. Mauro, a full-time Iowa REALTOR® with more than 20 years in the Des Moines market, offers a confidential, no-pressure conversation about the real estate paths that may be available to you.
The name of this page is not a promise. No realtor can guarantee that foreclosure will be avoided, that you will stay in your home, or that your credit will be protected. John is not an attorney or a financial or credit advisor. Please also talk with your lender, a HUD‑approved housing counselor, or an attorney.
Experience in hard situations
When the situation looks darkest, experience matters most.
John has guided dozens of Des Moines families through what felt like impossible circumstances, and every one of them walked away in a stronger position than a sheriff’s sale would have left them.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every situation is different.
Nice guy, non-pressure, Very responsive... would recommend! ... Talked about possibilities as to what to do with the house, as well as troubles I may run into. Appreciated the honesty he provided.
Was very patient and took the time to show me homes that fit my budget and taste. He didn't waste my time by showing me 300k plus houses I couldn't afford and wasn't pushy. He was also very honest and upfront with the properties he was showing us as well.
I am particular with what I like and don't like. John was very patient. Each time we would look at a house he would check to see if this is what we liked, could we see ourselves in the home. Any concerns I had, John was always prompt to follow up with me. I felt like at the time I was his only client.
Options, in plain words
Here are paths people often ask about.
Which of these, if any, might apply to you depends on your loan, your equity, your lender, and your timing. This is general information, not advice, and not a complete list.
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Talk to your lender early
Reach out to your loan servicer as soon as you can, even if you are not sure what to ask. Lenders would rather hear from you before more payments are missed. Keep notes of whom you spoke with and what was said. A HUD‑approved housing counselor can also help you prepare for that conversation.
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Loan modification, forbearance, or a repayment plan
These are options that come through your lender — not through a realtor. A loan modification may change the terms of your loan. Forbearance may temporarily pause or reduce payments. A repayment plan may let you catch up over time. Ask your lender, a HUD‑approved housing counselor, or an attorney whether any of these might be available in your situation.
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Selling before foreclosure
If the home could sell for enough to pay what you owe, listing it in the usual way — before a foreclosure sale — may be one path to consider. A timely sale is not guaranteed, and market conditions matter. John can talk with you about the Des Moines-area market and what a sale would involve, without pressure to list.
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A short sale
A short sale is when your lender agrees to let you sell the home for less than the remaining mortgage balance. It is a real estate transaction that requires the lender’s approval. Approval, timing, and terms are entirely up to the lender. If you want to explore this, John can explain the process and represent you in the sale, working with you and the lender along the way.
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Deed in lieu of foreclosure
In some cases, a lender may agree to accept the property back and release you from the mortgage instead of completing a foreclosure. This is arranged with your lender, often with help from an attorney or a housing counselor — not as a listing. John can help you understand how this differs from a sale, but the decision and paperwork sit with you and your lender.
How John can help
The real estate side, handled with care.
John’s role is the real estate conversation and, if you choose to move forward, the sale itself. With more than 20 years in the Des Moines market, he can sit down with you privately, listen to where things stand, and explain short sale and pre-foreclosure sale options in plain language. If it would be useful, he can prepare a complimentary market analysis of your home. If you decide to pursue a short sale or a sale before foreclosure, he can represent you, work with your lender as the transaction requires, and keep you informed — without pressure and without promising a result.
He cannot give legal, tax, credit, or financial advice, and he cannot promise to stop a foreclosure or protect your credit.
Get in touch
Free, Confidential Options Review
Share a little about your situation and John will follow up privately. There is no obligation, and no one will pressure you to sell. A review is a conversation — not a promise that foreclosure can be avoided.
(515) 975-9594
john@realestateconcepts.net
John J. Mauro
Iowa REALTOR® · Confidential, no obligation