Need to refinance home loan-only work part time & 2 credit card accts have been turned to collections -help!?

Have lived in house 14 years, so there should be some equity and I have been late on house pymnt TWICE in 14 years.

You sound like the posterchild for the Overindulgent American. Why did you get into such a predicament? The only reason that would be satifactory is if you had medical bills. You are in real trouble with all that credit card debt! Try to pay that off as soon as possible. Start working full time. And go to the following link and find suitable non-profit debt consolidation service to help you get out of debt most efficently. Shop around.

If your home loan was taken out at a time when finances were better for you, chances are you will not be able to get a better deal now, if any.

I am afraid if they do a refi for you, rates will be awful.

You could of course lie, which I think many people do. Greedy mortgage brokers are always filling out mortgage applications with BS info.

btw - mortgage brokers love to place your kind of loan, because if they can swing a deal it is usually padded with plenty of extra profit for all involved.