Are you a worried homeowner who has missed mortgage payments and fears that foreclosure may be in your future? If so, there may be options and possibilities that you have not yet considered. Although it can be difficult to halt foreclosure proceedings that have already been initiated by the lender, you have a number of options at your disposal to arrange alternate solutions at every phase of the process. The easiest way to avoid foreclosure is to make arrangements with your lender before formal foreclosure proceedings have been filed with state authorities. If you have missed one or two payments, you may still be able to arrange a repayment plan or enter into another agreement to avoid foreclosure. If your lender has already filed the official paperwork to begin foreclosure, there are several options available to try to steer the proceedings to a close. Discuss the option of a short sale with your lender and consider the viability of putting your house on the market. You may also want to check into state and federal foreclosure prevention programs that are designed to help homeowners in your situation.