Who should we retain, or speak with?

[flipQuip]

I have to start by saying how appreciative I am of this site, especially after the effort I have spent wading through uninformative, unreliable, or untrustworthy sites. After spending only a moderate amount of time here, I can see that there is a wealth of useful advice. I intend to read as much as I can so I ask your indulgence if am jumping the gun by posting here now.

OUR REASON FOR NEEDING HELP:
After being out of work for several months, I accepted a job requiring that my wife, 3yr-old and I move to Boston. In a year's time we have yet to get an offer on our house in D.C. After, in total, lowering the price by 15% we are at the point where any transaction costs (realtor's commissions) put us in a short-sale situation.

Up until 1-2 months ago my income allowed us to pay the mortgage on time (1st: 4.75%, 5-1 ARM; 2cd heloc refi, $50k above original 2cd). But approaching the point where we've nearly exhausted our $20k credit card limit, we're desperate for as soft of a landing as possible, so long as we can feel the ground below our feet.

I would be entirely grateful for advice on finding someone who could help us discern the likely outcomes so that we can weigh our options. We are very willing to enlist professional help, but who can:

• A) represent us in probative discussions with the bank's (CITI for both) loss mitigation dept - we are willing to assume some portion of their loss so long as we can see light at the end of the tunnel.
• B) failing success with A, tell us definitively, within reason, whether CITI can/will pursue any deficiency after foreclosure, and what the tax liabilities we would face
• C) determine when or if a bankruptcy is warranted - our consultation w/ one ambulance chaser was 1 too many (sure, to whom do we make out the check?)

Thank you in advance. And if, after making it through the extensive explanation, you are interested enough in further context, allow me to explain that from beginning to end, we thought that we were acting responsibly.

First, being trained and having worked as an economist, I was convinced that we were in the midst, in mid-2004, of a bubble (though not at the peak). But we were, unexpectedly, presented with an opportunity to adopt. Suddenly an apartment was too small for my wife, son and home office.

The house we bought was very affordable at the time. Our plan was to stay 2 or 3 yrs or before the bear run. All the while I spent full-time hours and more putting in sweat-equity. Unfortunately, while working and getting the house finished, I couldn't make the transition from the insecure world of public-sector consulting, where my contract was drying, up in time.

I figure 3 months of extra job searching cost us about $150k plus 2000hrs free labor. We've grudgingly come to accept that. Live and Learn. We just need to find a way to move on.