Q. My house has been on the market for two years, and I've stayed afloat until recently. I missed my last mortgage payment. I owe about $109,000, and the home is listed for $119,000, so I'd make practically nothing on a sale after commissions, fees, etc. Would the lender consider a short sale since there is some equity? Or would I be better off selling for, say, $105,000 and taking out a loan for my loss?

A. It's definitely worth a try. Many lenders won't do short sales because they aren't willing to lose a lot of money on the deal.

In your case, however, your lender probably would lose a lot less with a short sale than through foreclosure. So, talk to your lender.

Meanwhile, you can find out more by reading Interest.com's article on how to do a short sale.

As for Plan B: That would work if you could sell the house for $105,000 and borrow the difference from a relative or friend, or possibly have someone cosign a loan with you.

We don't know much about your financial situation, but we do know that a missed mortgage payment likely will lower your credit score to the point where it would be difficult to obtain a loan from a traditional lender, such as a bank. And don't even consider an auto title loan. You don't want to lose your vehicle, too!

Our advice on where to get cash right now may not have the perfect answer, but it could provide you with some options to consider.