Posts tagged House

Question: What to do after my house fire?
On Tuesday this week, my house caught fire. Our family of 5, including 3 children escaped unharmed. The damage was pretty extensive and the fire marshall and the insurance adjuster are calling the structure a total loss. We were buying the house on contract and there was only enough insurance to cover the mortgage on the house and the demolition. Our possessions were not covered by renter’s insurance. Basically, everything we had is gone. There are some scraps of wood furniture that might survive the water damage but all our clothes, electronics, mattresses, couches, etc are ruined. The bright side is our landlord says he will give us the land the house set on after the mortgage is paid by the insurance company so we will own it free and clear.
My question is what to do now? Is there any assistance, grants, etc available to victims of fires to help with what insurance does not cover? Are there any forgiving mortgage companies out there that can use the value of the land as a down payment and look past bad credit so we can rebuild on the same land? Do any of you have any advice on anything we might be overlooking? The American Red Cross has given us a small food and clothing allowance and my father’s church has paid for a hotel room until a week from Sunday.
Any assistance, guidance or advice during this trying time would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
american family renters insurance

Best answer:

Answer by just_facts_mam
in this economy I’m not too sure you will find the type of mortgage company you are looking for.
That said, first my condolences for your misfortune and I’ll just tell you what I have seen work for folks in your situation that live in my area.
First I would contact your County’s Human Services Office. They have resources to help especially for any children involved.
Next I would contact the local United Way, they will offer the same type of help the Red Cross does, the difference being if they will offer help, it will be more long term than the Red Cross and more personal hands on help.
Another source that works very well at least in my area is to have someone help with a benefit.
I say have someone help with one because people seem to frown upon a family throwing their own benefit.
A benefit is usually held in a local church hall, restaurant or a bar. (Despite perhaps not liking the idea of a bar, they are usually the most successful). It takes some footwork but usually businesses will donate things to auction off or just plain donate things you might need. ( i.e. clothing, blankets, food etc.) Also plenty of fliers will be in order, explaining what the benefit is for and some businesses will even allow Donation “jars” right at the check-out counter. People, strangers in fact, are usually very generous and donations etc usually end up between $ 9000.00 to around $ 24,000.00 it won’t buy a new house but it should help. Usually a pot-luck meal is served and sometimes an auction for items donated by businesses, often a local band is recruited, anything to draw a crowd! I wish I was in a financial position to help you out myself, hate to see things like this but unfortunately it is more common than a person might think. Friends of mine lost their house last year and the local community helped tremendously.
Not knowing what state or area you are in kind of limits knowing what type of assistance your state might offer.

As for the land, and housing… Several things come to mind, perhaps selling the land will raise enough funds to purchase a Trailer House. Or perhaps your land is zoned for a trailer house, used trailer homes can be extremely cheap. I was given one a few years back just to move it off the property it was on. It cost $ 4500.00 to move it, money I did not have but found a family that needed it and they raised enough money to have it moved on their in-laws’ property and they still live there.
I know these are not ideal suggestions but just trying to offer ideas..

Best Wishes to you and your family, I hope at least some of these things help out a little.