You've been making monthly mortgage payments for so long that the checks almost write themselves. But have you become financially complacent, failing to consider ways to decrease your payments or overall debt? Here are 5 secrets to paying off your mortgage in the shortest possible time. Get a us mortgage relief "Tune-Up" You take your car to your mechanic several times a year to keep it in optimum running condition. The same principle applies to your mortgage, according to Ron Chicaferro, president of Thornburg Mortgage Home Loans, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

These funds should be securely in place in case you lose your job, hours are cut, or you become ill. If you aren't prepared then it is going to be a huge factor for you should something occur that you have no control over. Make sure you are realistic when you take out a mortgage too. Give yourself plenty of extra room for things to change in your household circumstances. Evaluate your Budget- What is going on in your budget that is making is hard for you to pay your mortgage as you did before? It could be that you are spending more on food and fuel than you did before. Is it possible for you to cut back in these areas? For example can you feed your family for less by purchasing foods that aren't already prepared? Can you carpool or work from home to save on fuel?

By coincidence, I had met a man a few days before who was in business of offering alternatives to foreclosure and bankruptcy. His answer is called Short Selling. "That's right, just like the stock market," he replied to my questions. "It's also a chance for you to get your share of the bailout money," he explained, using his index finger to try to drive the point across. At no cost to the borrower, his firm of Professional Negotiators would get the best deal from all the Lien Holders, who also paid his fee.

Trouble in Paradise? Money problems and debt are key contributors to today's high divorce rate, and most families take a financial hit after a couple parts company. As the lawyers jockey for position, a critical question emerges: Who gets the house? (And the mortgage payments…) "If you own a home, the mortgage is likely your most significant monthly payment," says Brad Stroh, co-CEO of the San Mateo, California-based Freedom Financial Network, LLC, a company that specializes in debt resolution services. "Be certain you understand how you'll resolve monthly mortgage payments and how you'll divide the home's value–whether one partner buys out the other now or the home is to be sold after children are grown."

It gives the lender get the highest price for a quick sale at a market price if they agree to the sale. In order for this to take place the lender must accept a discounted payoff; meaning the bank gets paid less than the full loan amount owed but much more than they get in a foreclosure. In a short sale, the homeowners get complete relief from all of their mortgage debt.

Learn more about Obama Mortgage Relief Plan Qualifications.