Problems with subprime and some other nontraditional mortgages moved the Idaho Housing and Finance Association to market its post-purchase and foreclosure-prevention counseling services more aggressively. The nonprofit association about two years ago rolled out the services for anyone in Idaho, not just people who took out Idaho Housing and Finance loans. The Federal Housing Administration approved Idaho Housing as a counseling center.

Idaho Housing and Finance views the foreclosure-prevention counseling services as important given fresh concerns about subprime mortgage foreclosures and delinquencies, as well as the large number of borrowers facing upward-adjusting mortgage payments, President and Executive Director Gerald Hunter and Homeownership Lending Director Susan Semba said in an interview.

Semba said Idaho Housing foreclosure-prevention counselors assess the borrower's financial situation including ratios of monthly obligations to income. Idaho Housing can work with the borrower, the lender and a secondary lender to establish a payment plan or refinancing in many cases.