Mortgage Help Center Opens in St. Louis

Fannie Mae Center Provides Free Education and Counseling to Local Homeowners Facing Hardship

Andrew Wilson

202-752-5168

WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae today announced the opening of the St. Louis Mortgage Help Center to provide free education and counseling services to struggling homeowners. The St. Louis Center is the eleventh Mortgage Help Center to open across the country, and is part of Fannie Mae’s ongoing effort to ensure that homeowners facing foreclosure understand their options, have access to assistance and receive timely resolutions. The Center was developed in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, local community and elected officials, and area mortgage servicers. 

The Mortgage Help Center will offer one-on-one consultations in person or over the phone with experienced housing counselors to review mortgage loans and financing options, explain the range of options available, and help borrowers apply for loan workouts and other alternatives to foreclosure. Services are offered in both English and Spanish, and will be available to residents in the entire St. Louis region.

“The housing crisis has hit neighborhoods in St. Louis hard, and we know that many homeowners need assistance,” said Jeff Hayward, Senior Vice President, National Servicing Organization, Fannie Mae.  “Any homeowner with a Fannie Mae loan who is having difficulty paying their mortgage should reach out for help, and they should reach out as soon as possible.  The Help Center counselors will look at each loan individually with the goal of finding a solution that will help the homeowner avoid foreclosure.”

“The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. is proud to partner with the Fannie Mae Mortgage Help Center. Through this initiative, the help center will offer an excellent opportunity for struggling St. Louis residents to find the help they need to maintain their homeownership,” said James H. Buford, president and C.E.O. of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc.  

“It is great to see Fannie Mae making efforts to help St. Louis County residents.  The more information and assistance that can be provided to homeowners in need, the less likely they will experience further hardship.  As we work through the downturn in the real estate market, efforts such as the Mortgage Help Center are a step in the right direction,” said St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.

"Owner-occupied housing is vitally important to the stability of our City's neighborhoods," said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay. "We should do everything we can to keep our residents in their homes. I'm glad that the Urban League is partnering with the Fannie Mae Mortgage Help Center. I hope this partnership provides St. Louisans the help they need to stay in their homes."

In addition to providing counseling and access to mortgage education and financial literacy resources, the Mortgage Help Center staff will help homeowners coordinate with their mortgage servicers and ensure an efficient response time.  The Center will also help to combat mortgage fraud and abuse in the St. Louis area. 

The free services offered by the Mortgage Help Center are available for families who have a mortgage owned by Fannie Mae.  Homeowners can determine if Fannie Mae owns their loan by visiting knowyouroptions.com/loanlookup or by contacting Fannie Mae at 1-800-7FANNIE.  The Mortgage Help Center is available by appointment only and homeowners wishing to schedule a visit or a phone appointment should call the toll-free number 1-866-442-9375.

Fannie Mae exists to expand affordable housing and bring global capital to local communities in order to serve the U.S. housing market. Fannie Mae has a federal charter and operates in America's secondary mortgage market to enhance the liquidity of the mortgage market by providing funds to mortgage bankers and other lenders so that they may lend to home buyers. Our job is to help those who house America.

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The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is the fourth largest National Urban League affiliate with a $23 million budget and 210 employees. Each year, the Urban League works to fulfill its mission of Empowering Communities and Changing Lives of over 50,000 residents in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Educational Quality and Equality, Meeting Basic Needs, Civic Engagement and Social Justice. The Urban League is certified by the Better Business Bureau and is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.