We Were Weeks from Retirement—Then Everything Changed”

We weren’t living lavishly. We never did.

My husband and I spent nearly 35 years doing the right things—or so we thought. Steady jobs, two kids, savings. We fixed our own gutters. Skipped new cars in favor of used ones. Paid down our mortgage a little extra each month. We were careful because we wanted to retire with peace, not problems.

But problems came anyway.

We were both nearing retirement. The plan was to finally slow down, take a trip or two, and enjoy the house we’d raised our family in. The oak tree in the front yard had grown tall enough to shade the entire driveway. We had plans to put a swing out there for grandkids—eventually.

Then, quietly and without warning, things started to unravel.

It started with a small notice from our mortgage company. Something about an escrow imbalance. Then another letter came—different tone, more urgent. When I called, I was put on hold for over an hour, only to be told there had been a change in our property tax estimate. Our payments had increased months earlier, and we were behind.

But no one had clearly told us.

I was angry—but mostly embarrassed. We were “those people” now. The ones falling behind.

A foreclosure notice arrived two weeks later.

It felt like a punch to the chest. I couldn’t even bring myself to tell my kids. We were the ones they called for advice. How could I tell them we might lose the house they grew up in?

I tried reaching out to the lender again. The person on the other end barely sounded older than our youngest grandchild. Every answer was vague. Everything was “under review.”

I spent nights at the dining room table going through paperwork. Reading the same pages over and over, hoping something would suddenly make sense. I just needed someone to explain what was actually happening and what—if anything—we could do.

I searched for help online, cautiously. So many websites made it feel like I was being hunted by vultures: “We’ll buy your house today!” “Avoid foreclosure in 24 hours!”

It was overwhelming.

But then I stumbled on a quiet mention in a homeowner’s forum. Someone had shared their story—very calmly and without drama—and mentioned getting help from a man named David Litt. They said he helped them understand their rights and walked them through options. Not a magic solution, just… guidance.

They included a number: 224-344-5700.

I sat on that number for two days. Then I called.

David didn’t sound like a salesman or a lawyer. He sounded like someone who’d spent years having difficult conversations with people who never thought they’d be in this position.

He walked us through our situation—patiently. He asked the right questions, then offered us a plan. Not a pitch. A plan.

With his help and guidance from 4Closure Rescue, we challenged the escrow error and got the foreclosure process paused. We were able to restructure our mortgage and keep the house. No threats. No shame. Just steps forward.

We took our retirement trip after all. It wasn’t a cruise or anything extravagant. Just a weekend by the lake with a couple of books and no deadlines.

Sometimes peace looks like that.

If you’re nearing retirement—or you’ve been the “responsible one” all your life—and you suddenly find yourself on shaky ground, please know you’re not alone.

There are people who will treat you like a person—not a case number.

📞 I’m glad we called David Litt at 4Closure Rescue: 224-344-5700.

That phone call gave us back more than just our home—it gave us back our calm.