DHA was developed to help homeowners understand and take advantage of their available options pertaining to their mortgage and/or lien holders. Often people have experienced a hardship that make it difficult to make their mortgage payment.

DHA founder Ross Gahagan, has decades of real estate experience having started his career in 1989. He's still a Realtor, but keeps his Pennsylvania license active only to help stay knowledgeable on the “always changing world of real estate”. For almost 20 years, Ross has dedicated himself to helping other agents and their clients navigate the complexities of short sales through Short Sale Connection, LLC which he founded 18 years ago. Through his experiences working with lenders and borrowers with hardships, he's learned how to navigate lender's home retention processes and his experience with anyone needing help with their mortgage company whether they're trying to do a work out program with their lender or they want to sell and get out from under the mortgage.

Distressed Homeowner Alliance is a real estate company licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State. We do not list properties, and we don't represent buyers or sellers. We only refer homeowners to top agents throughout the country.

DHA never charges a homeowner anything for helping them keep or sell their property. We do accept referral fees from real estate agents when we help a homeowner that wants to sell. 

We're here to provide help and guidance in working with your lender. Banks don't always make things easy or provide accurate information. Often, the way they have to explain things makes it more complicated. We deal with homeowners every day who've tried unsuccessfully to keep their house by applying for a loan modification, forbearance plan, or another program, only to get so frustrated they stop working with the lender. We provide no nonsense information to help homeowners have success working with their lender. We tell homeowners specific dos and don'ts, how why banks need documents sent, how they set up and work their loss mitigation files, etc. We never try to convince a homeowner which option is best for them. We might make suggestions, but as they say, we have no dog in this hunt. We're trying to help you accomplish what you think is best for you and we'll help any way we can.

No, Distressed Homeowner Alliance is not a non-profit entity and is not affiliated with the government or any mortgage company.

We typically respond within 24–48 hours. From our first call, we assess your unique situation and guide you through loan options such as a modification, forbearance, reinstatement, deferment, partial claim, or even a short sale—we’ll try to help you determine whichever best fits your goals and situation.

Not at all. Whether you’re in pre-foreclosure or facing a foreclosure sale, DHA can still help. We’ll work with you and your lender to explore time-sensitive options.

Yes. We assist homeowners who are “underwater” on their mortgage by evaluating short sales, loan modifications, and potential debt forgiveness solutions.

DHA supports your goals—whether that’s staying in your home or selling it. We help you explore programs like loan modifications or forbearance if your priority is to retain ownership.

We’ve built a national network of top-performing real estate agents many of which are experienced in distressed, as-is situations. If your house doesn't need any work, we have an even broader pool of agents to select. Either way, we select local agents we know have a proven track record of providing homeowners with accurate, honest advice. We only keep agents in our network if their past experience has proven to us that they tell homeowners what they need to know, not what they want to hear or what the agent thinks will get them a listing. We screen those agents by asking them questions to determine which one would be the best fit for you and your situation. We only refer homeowners to vetted professionals with proven success.

Typically, lenders require:

- Proof of income (e.g., pay stubs or benefits statements)

- Bank statements

- A hardship letter

We guide you through compiling and submitting these documents efficiently.

Every option has different credit implications. While foreclosure has the most severe impact, alternatives like short sales or loan modifications usually affect your score less. We’ll walk you through the specifics.

Pros:

- Typically less damaging to credit than foreclosure

- May help avoid future debt liability

- You may qualify to buy again sooner

- Usually quicker than foreclosure

- Less messy and quieter than foreclosure since they don’t have to drag you through the mud advertising the property

auction.

Cons:

- Requires lender approval

- May still impact credit (though less than foreclosure)

We provide guidance to help you weigh your options.

Yes. We assist with both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied homes. Lenders may have different policies, but we help navigate those nuances with clarity.

Absolutely. Most lenders consider financial hardship a valid reason to offer relief. DHA will help you clearly communicate your hardship and present your case effectively.

Not usually. We would never recommend you not talk with an attorney, but most homeowners don’t opt for legal representation to pursue mortgage relief. If legal issues arise that are outside our scope of expertise, we can usually recommend one.

DHA is a real estate-based advocacy company—not a law firm or nonprofit agency. We focus on education, strategic referrals, and hands-on support to help you navigate lender negotiations and alternatives to foreclosure.

Our services are completely free to homeowners. We’re compensated through referral fees from real estate agents only when a transaction closes—so there’s no pressure, and no hidden costs.

If your application is denied, we help you understand why and what steps to take next. Often, it’s a matter of clarifying documents or trying an alternative solution.

Never. Our role is to educate, not persuade. We’ll outline all available options, but the decision is always yours—we support whichever direction you choose.

No. DHA is an independent real estate company. We are not affiliated with the government or any mortgage lender, which allows us to remain neutral and advocate for your best interests.

We can help. Whether you have a second mortgage, HELOC, or other liens, we assist in negotiating with all lien holders to find a workable solution or structured exit.

Yes. Many homeowners come to us after facing challenges with their lender. We help you repackage your file, avoid common mistakes, and explore new or escalated strategies.

Simply reach out through our website or call us directly. There’s no obligation, no cost, and your first consultation includes a full review of your current situation and options.