Debt and an underwater mortgage can equal a world of headaches if you're living in Miami Beach condos and are struggling to hold onto your property. Thankfully there are several options available to help you keep your home but most of these require that you write a “hardship letter” before you'll be evaluated for a possible loan modification. The key towards improving your odds is the tone of the letter itself.

Let's face it, writing a letter that's intended to be factual while simultaneously generating some empathy is easier said than done, and doing it with tact is even harder when you're in a tough economic situation. A key point towards writing an effective loan modification letter is to describe how you can “partner” with your Miami Beach real estate lender versus making them appear like a rival of sorts. It helps to include specific dates of events that led to your current hardship such as an illness or loss of employment but keep whatever health conditions you might be dealing with to a minimum.

You should already know that passive aggressive threats or even outright insults will not do you any favors so keep the letter professional. Also, refrain from turning the letter into a soap opera or a pity case. State your case, provide the crucial facts and there will be better odds of keeping your Miami Beach condos.