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Immigrant HomeownerPreparedness & Protection
Planning Ahead Matters
Owning a home is an important achievement and a source of stability for many families. Many homeowners worry about what could happen to their employment, finances, or ability to maintain their home if they are detained, deported, or unable to return to the U.S. for a period of time.
Without proper legal and financial planning, your household may not be able to access bank accounts, make mortgage payments, manage or sell your property. Taking proactive steps now may help protect your home and finances.
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Homeownership Preparedness and Protection Plan
Planning ahead can help ensure your home and finances remain protected during unexpected situations. Consider identifying a trusted person who could help manage housing or financial matters if you are temporarily unable to do so. Use this checklist to make sure your important information is organized and accessible.
01
Protect Important Documents
Keeping key documents organized makes it easier to access them when needed. Here are some documents that you may want to look for.
- Property deed
- Mortgage loan documents
- Homeowners insurance policy
- Property tax records
- HOA agreements (if applicable)
- Important account information and logins
02
Know Your Home
Understanding how your home is structured legally and financially can help prevent unexpected challenges.
- Check who is listed on the deed (legal owner of the home)
- Check who is on the mortgage loan (responsible for payments)
- Review down payment assistance program requirements, if applicable
- Confirm who services your mortgage loan
03
Planning ahead helps protect your home and your loved ones.
Power of Attorney– Allows someone to act on your behalf for financial or medical decisions during your lifetime and ends immediately upon your death.
Living Trust– Manages assets placed in the trust during your lifetime, and controls how they are distributed after your death. This typically bypasses probate court.
Before creating a Power of Attorney або Living Trust, always consult with an attorney to determine what is best for your situation. The following organizations may be able to help Довідка закону Вашингтона, Північно-західний проект правосуддя, Washington Bar Association, Washington Pro bono Council.
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Financial institutions cannot discriminate against you based on immigration status, race or ethnicity, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. If you believe you are being treated unfairly, contact Washington Department of Financial Institutions.
Planning ahead is the best way to protect your home. Setting up a Power of Attorney або Living Trust can allow a trusted person to manage your home if you are unable to do so. Before creating a Power of Attorney or Living Trust, always consult with an attorney to determine what is best for your situation. The following organizations may be able to help Довідка закону Вашингтона, Washington Bar Association, Washington Pro bono Council. If planning was not completed beforehand, documents may sometimes still be arranged through a U.S. embassy or remote notarization services.
You can still plan ahead by creating a Living Trust or Power of Attorney so that someone you trust can help manage the home if necessary.
Yes, you can. If you have a Power of Attorney, your trusted person can handle that for you. If you are planning on selling your home then you will need to work with a third party, such as real estate brokers to list your home and go through the selling process.
You can have a trusted person, like a Power of Attorney (POA), who can make decisions on your behalf, including speaking to the lender if you fall behind.
Foreclosure in Washington is governed by the Foreclosure Fairness Act (FFA). Under this Act, loan servicers must send three notices to homeowners on a specific timeline before they can foreclose on a home. The notices are:
- The Notice of Pre-Foreclosure Options
- The Notice of Default
- The Notice of Trustee’s Sale
Homeowners have certain rights at different points in the process, including the right to meet with their loan servicer to discuss non-foreclosure options and the right to mediation with their loan servicer.
Washington Homeownership Resource Center (WHRC) can help you understand where you are in the process and what rights are available to you. Call WHRC at 877-894-4663 to get you connected to a HUD-certified housing counselor or legal aid attorney who can help you exercise your rights.
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