The walls are bare, the closets are empty, and Connie and Timothy Pent and their two teenage children are living out of boxes as they wait for a dreaded knock at the door of their three-bedroom house in Ocala, Fla.They’ve fallen behind in payments on a their home loan, and their lender told them in July that foreclosure was imminent.

“We thought we were fine,” said Connie regretfully. “You never know.”

An increasing number of homeowners and prospective homeowners are getting caught up in the fast-spreading mortgage crisis that is claiming victims from all income levels and demographic groups. Like the Pents, many are trying desperately to get their loan terms reworked but are finding it’s not possible in a tightened market.

If you are having a hard time making your monthly mortgage payments, head off the trouble quickly by reaching out to your lender rather than hiding from the situation.Make sure to know the state of your finances before contacting your lender, said Ray Hooper, the education and housing director at credit counseling service CCCS of Greater Dallas. Determine how much income you’re bringing in each month, how much you’re paying in bills and where you can cut costs.

Hooper suggests seeking out a nonprofit counseling service to help put together this financial analysis for free. The counselor will also help to negotiate with your lender.