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If you're worried about losing your home, drowning in debt, or just falling behind — start here. Everything is free. No ads, no paywalls, no judgment. The latest default rate data and financial hardship indicators show millions of households behind on some bill — you're not alone. Take the Exposure Check to see which parts of your finances are under the most pressure.

Behind on a payment? Tell me what's going on.

Answer a few quick questions and I'll connect you with someone who can help where you live. It's free.

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It's free. I don't sell your information, and no one pays me for your request. I share your details only with the one attorney, agent or provider I connect you with. Privacy · Prefer to call? (888) 602-4161

Quick Assessment

Not sure where to start?

Four quick questions. We'll point you to the most relevant guides.

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Are you worried about keeping up with housing payments?

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Are bills or debts piling up?

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How are everyday costs affecting you?

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How secure do you feel about your income?

Foreclosure

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Foreclosure Laws by State

How long do you have? What are your rights? Look up your state's foreclosure rules — timelines, protections, and free legal resources.

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Facing Foreclosure?

Step-by-step guide to the process, your rights, and what to do right now.

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Behind on Payments?

Missed a payment — or about to? Here's what to do before foreclosure starts. Forbearance, modification, and emergency programs.

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Mortgage Forbearance

Need a pause on your payments? How long forbearance lasts by loan type, what it costs, and how you repay it when it ends.

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Loan Modification

Changing your loan terms to fit what you can pay. The rules by loan type, the trial payments, and your servicer's deadlines.

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Mortgage Relief Programs

The Homeowner Assistance Fund has hit its deadline. What federal help is left, and how to spot a relief scam.

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Short Sales

Owe more than your home is worth? A short sale might be a better exit than foreclosure. How it works, what it costs you.

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Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

Thinking about handing the house back to your lender? Whether you'd still owe the rest, what it does to your credit, and moving money.

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After a Foreclosure Sale

The sale happened, or it's coming. How long you have to move out, whether you can buy it back, if you still owe the rest, and surplus money.

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Debt & Bankruptcy

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Should I File Bankruptcy?

It's a legal tool, not a moral failure. Chapter 7 vs. 13, the automatic stay, and when filing is the right call.

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Dealing With Debt Collectors

They have rules. You have rights. What collectors can't do, how to dispute, and how to make them stop calling.

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Tools & Worksheets

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All Free Tools

Hardship letter generator, foreclosure timeline calculator, servicer report card, financial worksheet, and more.

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Financial Exposure Check

A 6-question assessment that maps your household financial stress to the same five dimensions the ADI tracks.

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Data & Research

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Statistics & Data

The latest numbers on foreclosures, consumer debt, bankruptcy, and more. Every figure sourced and updated.

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All 105 Indicators

The economic data behind the American Distress Index — savings, debt, housing costs, and labor markets.

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Protect yourself from scams

People in financial distress are prime targets for fraud. Know these rules:

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Check before paying upfront for mortgage or debt relief. FTC rules generally bar covered mortgage-relief providers from collecting a fee before you accept a written offer from your lender or servicer, and bar covered telemarketed debt-relief services from collecting before they resolve at least one debt and you make a payment under the agreement. A lawyer may collect an advance fee for mortgage-relief services only under a narrow exception: the work must be part of the practice of law, the lawyer must be licensed to practice law in the state where the client or dwelling is located and follow that state's rules, and the money must stay in a compliant client trust account until earned or expenses are incurred.
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HUD-approved foreclosure-prevention counseling is free. Call 1-800-569-4287 or visit the CFPB counselor finder. Be cautious if someone charges for services that a HUD-approved counselor provides for free; verify the provider and written terms.
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Signing over your deed can cost you the house. "Equity stripping" and "sale-leaseback" scams trick homeowners into transferring their title, and you could lose your home permanently. A lawyer can review the papers before you sign.

Report fraud: CFPB · FTC · your state attorney general's office.

Ross Kilburn, creator of American Default Research

Who made this

Ross Kilburn

Last checked

Former COO of Ark Law Group, a foreclosure defense firm serving five states · founder of Seattle Short Sales · author of Short Sale Your Home

I built American Default Research to track household financial distress with public data — and to make sure the people behind the numbers can find real help. Every guide on this site is written to be clear and useful, sourced from federal agencies, and free to use. No ads, no paywalls, no data sold.

About this project · Our methodology

Ask a question about your mortgage or debts

General information, not legal advice.

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If this affects you, we can help. Get a free action plan · Call (888) 602-4161 Find help near you · Browse the Glossary Prefer a nonprofit? HUD-approved housing counselors offer free foreclosure-prevention counseling (1-800-569-4287).