Higher Number of Homeowners Call to Avoid Foreclosure: 'Marketing efforts to assist those in need of counseling are paying off.'.

NEW YORK -- Homeownership counseling agencies seeing a new trend of significant growth in borrower efforts to avoid foreclosure are driven by market conditions along with higher awareness about financial counseling assistance and default prevention tools available.

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation of Minneapolis is one such agency reporting it received over 14,000 calls during the first quarter of 2007, a 30% increase over the fourth quarter 2006. It shows "a significant jump in the number of homeowners calling for assistance on its 888-995-HOPE hotline," the company said.

"Currently, more than 300 homeowners call 888-995-HOPE daily," said Colleen Hernandez, HPF president and executive director. "There are thousands of homeowners who are at serious risk of losing their homes unless they take action now."

Demand for services however also indicates that nationwide marketing efforts to assist those in need of counseling are paying off. Those who call the 888-995-HOPE number can receive free advice and counseling from nonprofit, HUD-certified organizations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

According to Ms. Hernandez, reasons behind the current increase in the number of calls are to a large extent a "direct result of the rising number of homeowners suddenly finding themselves in the position of potentially losing their homes, combined with the growing awareness of the hotline as a result of a nationwide public service campaign."

In its efforts to reach out to a larger number of homeowners in need of assistance about their mortgage troubles, HPF said it has relied on partnerships with other entities. It has partnered with mortgage lenders, community-based nonprofit organizations and city, county and state government agencies, federal government agencies and is open to ...