How I Hid Foreclosure From Everyone I Loved

Nobody knew. Not my sister, not my coworkers, not even my best friend.

On the outside, I looked fine. I went to work every day. I paid for coffee with my debit card. I posted photos of my dog and shared memes like everyone else.

But inside, I was drowning.

I had missed two mortgage payments already. A third was coming due. And I didn’t have it.

It didn’t happen because of one bad decision. It was a combination of things. My hours were reduced at work. My car needed a new transmission. I took care of my aunt for three months when she broke her hip and couldn’t manage on her own. None of those things felt catastrophic at the time—but they added up fast.

Suddenly I was juggling late fees, minimum payments, and a sinking feeling every time I logged into my bank account.

Then the letter came.

A formal notice that foreclosure proceedings could begin if I didn’t act immediately. The kind of letter that arrives in a larger envelope with heavier paper and colder language. I remember holding it unopened for almost two days—just seeing the return address made me feel like I’d been branded.

That weekend, I lied to friends and said I had plans. I didn’t. I stayed in and tried to figure out what to do. I searched phrases like “can I stop a foreclosure if I’m behind 3 months?” and “what happens after a default notice?”

Most of the results weren’t helpful. Some were clearly ads. Some were legal blogs filled with confusing terms. A lot of them made me feel worse—like I had already failed by not acting sooner.

I came across a story posted by someone who had been in the same spot. They mentioned getting help from someone named David Litt at 4Closure Rescue. What struck me was how they described him—not as a financial savior, but as someone who just listened and made things make sense.

They said, “He didn’t make me feel stupid or desperate. He just helped.”

They included a number: 224-344-5700.

I didn’t call right away. I kept it on a Post-it next to my laptop for almost a week. But eventually, I worked up the nerve. I figured it couldn’t be worse than what I was already feeling.

David answered the phone himself.

I stumbled through my situation, not sure what to leave out or emphasize. I expected judgment. I expected bureaucracy.

What I got was kindness.

He said, “You’re not the only one who’s ever been here. Let’s talk about where you are—and where you want to be.”

He walked me through how mortgage companies handle delinquent payments. He explained the timeline I was actually working with—not just what the letters made it feel like. He helped me organize my financial paperwork and draft a letter explaining my situation.

With his help, I applied for a loan modification. I didn’t know if it would be approved. But it was worth trying. At the very least, I was finally doing something instead of just hiding.

Three weeks later, I got the call: my application was accepted. My monthly payment was reduced, and the foreclosure process was halted.

I took a deep breath for the first time in months.

Even now, very few people in my life know what I went through. Maybe one day I’ll share it with them. But right now, I just want anyone reading this who feels that same silence closing in to know:

There’s a way forward. Even if you’re behind. Even if you’re scared.

📞 Call David Litt at 4Closure Rescue: 224-344-5700.

You don’t have to tell the world. Just tell one person who can actually help.