When you're behind on your mortgage and foreclosure feels like it's closing in, the last thing you need is to spend money you don't have trying to figure out what to do. The good news? There is a lot of genuinely free help available to Utah homeowners — you just need to know where to look.

We've put together this list of 10 real, accessible resources — from government programs to local Utah nonprofits — that can help you understand your options, speak with a counselor, get legal guidance, and start taking steps forward without paying out of pocket.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds a network of certified housing counselors across Utah who can review your situation, explain all your options, and help you navigate conversations with your lender — completely free of charge. To find a counselor near you, call (800) 569-4287 or visit hud.gov. This is the single most important call you can make if you're behind on your mortgage.

📞 Call: (800) 569-4287

The HOPE NOW Alliance operates a free, around-the-clock hotline staffed by HUD-certified counselors who specialize in foreclosure prevention. They can help you understand your rights, communicate with your lender, and explore alternatives like loan modifications, forbearance, and short sales.

📞 Call: 1-888-995-HOPE (4673)

CDCU offers free monthly classes specifically designed to educate homeowners facing foreclosure. Their HUD-certified counselors can help you understand the foreclosure process, your legal rights as a Utah homeowner, and what options are realistically available to you based on your mortgage type and financial situation.

🌐 cdcutah.org

If you need legal guidance but can't afford an attorney, Utah Legal Services provides free legal assistance to low-income Utahns. They can help you understand the legal foreclosure timeline, your rights, and whether you have any grounds to challenge or delay the process.

🌐 utahlegalservices.org

Salt Lake Community Action Program offers free monthly foreclosure classes and one-on-one counseling sessions. They can help you contact your lender, review your loan documents, and explore modification or repayment options. Available to homeowners across the Salt Lake Valley.

📞 Call: 801-359-2444

If you're in Utah County — including areas like Lehi, American Fork, Highland, and surrounding communities — NeighborWorks Provo provides free housing counseling and foreclosure intervention services. They work directly with homeowners to find solutions before the situation becomes irreversible.

🌐 neighborworksprovo.org

AAA Fair Credit Foundation runs free online and in-person foreclosure prevention clinics across the state. These are a great first step if you want to understand your situation before committing to anything — no pressure, no cost, just information.

🌐 aaafaircredit.org

If you're facing an acute financial crisis, the Utah Department of Workforce Services offers a once-per-year emergency assistance program that can help with mortgage payments, utilities, and other essential expenses for qualifying households. This is designed to prevent homelessness, not as a long-term solution — but it can buy you critical breathing room.

🌐 jobs.utah.gov

The CFPB offers a free, comprehensive guide to your rights as a homeowner facing foreclosure — including what your lender is legally required to do before starting the foreclosure process, what loss mitigation options they must offer, and how to file a complaint if your servicer isn't following the law. Knowledge is power, and this resource is an excellent starting point.

🌐 consumerfinance.gov/housing

If you've explored your options and a short sale might be the right path for you, our team offers a completely free, no-pressure consultation. We'll review your situation, explain whether a short sale makes sense, and walk you through exactly what the process looks like from start to finish — at no cost to you, ever.

🌐 utahshortsale.help

⚠️ Watch Out for Foreclosure Scams: If anyone charges you upfront fees for foreclosure help, promises to 'guarantee' stopping your foreclosure, or asks you to sign over your deed — walk away. Legitimate counselors and real estate professionals do not charge upfront fees for foreclosure assistance. When in doubt, call HUD at (800) 569-4287 to verify any organization.

As soon as possible. Utah is a non-judicial foreclosure state, which means the process can move quickly — sometimes within 3-4 months of a recorded Notice of Default. The earlier you reach out, the more options you'll have.

No. HUD-approved housing counseling is completely free. If anyone claiming to be a HUD counselor asks you to pay for their services, they are not a legitimate HUD-approved counselor.

A foreclosure counselor helps you understand your rights and explore options like loan modifications, forbearance, and repayment plans. A short sale agent — like our team at Artemis Home Group — specializes in negotiating with your lender to approve a sale of your home for less than what's owed. Both serve important but different roles, and many homeowners benefit from speaking with both.

Yes. In Utah, you can take action at almost any point before the trustee's sale. Even after a Notice of Default has been filed, you have options — including pursuing a short sale, requesting a loan modification, or reinstating the loan by catching up on payments.

Facing potential foreclosure is one of the most stressful experiences a family can go through — but it's also one where the right information and the right people can make an enormous difference. These resources exist because you deserve support, not judgment.

If you're a Utah homeowner wondering whether a short sale might be the right path for your situation, reach out to our team at Artemis Home Group for a free, confidential conversation. No pressure, no obligation — just honest answers.

You still have options. Let's find the right one together.