by James Robert Deal | Nov 10, 2013 | Mortgage Modification, Principal Reduction
JS is a hard working taxi driver. He came to us after a financial hardship, including a divorce. Ocwen is his servicer, however, the important fact is that Wells Fargo is the investor, the owner of his mortgage. Wells Fargo gives principal reductions because it was...
by James Robert Deal | Oct 13, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
It is a long story, which I will tell later. For now I will just share the link with you and tell you that this modification took three years to complete. Here is the link:...
by James Robert Deal | Oct 3, 2013 | Real Estate Broker
What is a Bankruptcy Preference? by KENT ANDERSON on AUGUST 16, 2010 A bankruptcy preference is a transfer made shortly before the case is filed that the trustee can take back from one creditor and share with all the other creditors. The transfer must be of money or...
by James Robert Deal | Oct 1, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
We just negotiated this excellent modification with Bank of America. The interest rate was reduced to 2.0%. The principal balance was reduced by $131,000.
by James Robert Deal | Oct 1, 2013 | Real Estate Broker
Carpe Domum! The Little City that Could: Richmond, California THANKS TO MARTIN ANDELMAN Come with me to the City of Richmond in Northern California. It’s a city that sits 16 miles northeast of San Francisco, directly across San Francisco Bay. It’s about a 30-minute...
by James Robert Deal | Sep 27, 2013 | Real Estate Broker
How Long Before I Can File Bankruptcy Again? There is no limit on the number of bankruptcy cases that one may file, nor on the time which must pass between filings. The only catch is that if insufficient time has past between filings, you will not receive a discharge....
by James Robert Deal | Sep 15, 2013 | Foreclosure
Deceptive Practices in Foreclosures Thanks to the New York Times September 13, 2013 In early 2012 when five big banks settled with state and federal officials over widespread foreclosure abuses, flagrant violations — including the seizure of homes without due process...
by James Robert Deal | Sep 3, 2013 | Fannie Mae, Mortgage Modification
This post comes from Martin Andelman. The low approval rate on modifications Martin discusses is the main reason why you should hire an attorney to do your modification. Our success rate on modifications is much higher, around 80%. Of course, part of the reason why...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2013 | Real Estate Broker
Bankruptcy Timeline Posted on August 21, 2013 by Jonathan Mitchell Thanks to Attorney Jonathan T. Mitchell. Caution: This timeline does not include all bankruptcy events. It is a summary description of bankruptcy and may not be accurate under all circumstances. You...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 19, 2013 | Foreclosure, Rental Modification
Renters in Foreclosure: What Are Their Rights? Federal law gives important rights to tenants whose landlords have lost their properties through foreclosure. Renters and tenants are now being affected by foreclosures almost as often as homeowners. The financial...
by James Robert Deal | Jul 30, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
A City Invokes Seizure Laws to Save Homes Peter DaSilva for The New York Times Thanks to New York Times. Robert and Patricia Castillo paid $420,000 for a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Richmond, Calif., in 2005. It is now worth $125,000. By SHAILA DEWAN...
by James Robert Deal | Jul 16, 2013 | Fannie Mae, Mortgage Modification
FHFA expands suite of loan mod tools By Kerri Ann Panchuk • March 27, 2013 • 9:00am Servicers dealing with loans guaranteed or owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will soon be required to offer eligible distressed borrowers ways to lower their monthly payments if the...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 16, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
We have found that Lenders often take advantage of those who apply for modification on their own. Lenders tell them they have not received certain documents and say their documents have “expired”. Often lenders decline modification and do not make the...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Mortgage investors raise alarm as eminent domain spreads By Christina Mlynski Thanks to HousingWire.com. • June 10, 2013 • 1:07pm A number of securitization trade groups sounded the alarm when Mortgage Resolution Partners entered into contracts with two additional...
by James Robert Deal | May 11, 2013 | HAMP 2
If you have obtained a HAMP modification and you have redefaulted, you may be eligible for a new modification under HAMP Tier 2. HAMP 2 allows a second HAMP modification if there is a new hardship. The Making Home Affordable Program was introduced in February, 2009....
by James Robert Deal | May 11, 2013 | HAMP 2
Three Years Later, One Third of HAMP Loan-Mods are Redefaulting Supposedly permanent loan modifications are defaulting at what the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) calls an “alarming rate”. The government’s Home...
by James Robert Deal | May 8, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
HMH came to me following a financial hardship. He faced high payments on his Bank of America serviced loan, with a rate of 5.625. The investor is Fannie Mae. HMH is self-employed as a taxi driver. He also owns a rental house in Brooklyn, which breaks even or makes a...
by James Robert Deal | May 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
Just 5 Banks Prohibit Use of Social Security Numbers By ANN CARRNS Thanks to New York Times. Despite the risk of fraud associated with the theft of Social Security numbers, just five of the nation’s largest 25 banks have stopped using the numbers to verify a...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 27, 2013 | Modification is the Practice of Law
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR Virtually all of my modification clients tried it on their own and were turned down. Servicers will turn a borrower down and not tell them why. There are many tricks and techniques which we have learned with are not commonly known. It is to...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 26, 2013 | Lenders
View PhotoReuters/Reuters – A statue is pictured in front of the former head quarters of Germany’s largest business bank, Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, January 28, 2013. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach Thanks to Yahoo. By Jessica Dye NEW YORK (Reuters) – A...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
Big Banks: Modern version of The Untouchables or victims of individuals Posted by Kerri Ann Panchuk on March 12, 2013 10:13 AM Thanks to HousingWire.com. You may be of the camp that big banks cannot be aggressively prosecuted because they are too-big-to-fail and will...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
Billionaire Speculators’ Greed Makes Life Hard For Renters and Would-Be Homebuyers Wealthy real estate speculators are snapping up homes with the same zeal that created the housing market bubble. March 3, 2013 | Thanks to Alternet The foreclosure crisis in...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 26, 2013 | Principal Reduction
The reason foreclosures will continue By Paul McMorrow Thanks to the Boston Globe February 19, 2013 A year ago, 49 states and the federal government brought five of the country’s biggest banks to heel. They crafted a nationwide foreclosure settlement that ended a...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 23, 2013 | Real Estate Broker
We are coming out of a decade where interest rates were very low, as low as 2.5% per year. Rates are now up over 7.0%. This makes it hard for buyers getting new loans to qualify. When they do qualify, they qualify for lower loan amounts. This in turn lowers sale...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 18, 2013 | Second Mortgages
The Second-Mortgage Shell Game By ELIZABETH M. LYNCH Thanks to the New York Times IN January, federal regulators announced an $8.5 billion agreement with 10 mortgage servicers to settle claims of foreclosure abuses, including bungled loan modifications and the...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
JAMES ROBERT DEAL ATTORNEY PLLC PO Box 2276, Lynnwood, Washington 98036-2276 Telephone 425-771-1110, Fax 425-776-8081 James@JamesRobertDeal.com February 15, 2013 Seattle Times Letters to the Editor PO Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111 Sent by fax to: 206-464-2261 Sent by...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 10, 2013 | Foreclosure
Where is the housing market going in 2013? Thanks to CBS News (MoneyWatch) The housing market in 2013 stands on a precipice. While there is hope that the slow, but real, housing recovery that took hold last year will continue, fear remains that a sudden...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 10, 2013 | Foreclosure, Mortgage Modification
The latest foreclosure horror: the zombie title By Michelle Conlin Thanks to Reuters. COLUMBUS, Ohio | Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:58pm EST (Reuters) – Joseph Keller doesn’t expect he’ll live to see the end of 2013. He blames the house at 190 Avondale...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 10, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
U.S. Consumer Watchdog to Issue Mortgage Rules By EDWARD WYATT Thanks to New York Times Published: January 10, 2013 WASHINGTON — Banks and other lenders will be prohibited from making home loans that offer deceptive teaser rates or require no documentation from...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 7, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
Independent Foreclosure Review to Provide $3.3 Billion in Payments, $5.2 Billion in Mortgage Assistance WASHINGTON–Ten mortgage servicing companies subject to enforcement actions for deficient practices in mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure processing have...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 6, 2013 | Mortgage Modification
I have only modified one Vericrest loan, and that one was non-owner occupied and way underwater and with a sky high minimum variable rate. And so Vericrest agreed to a reasonable modification. Vericrest has changed its name to Calibur, perhaps to escape its bad...
by James Robert Deal | Dec 29, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Beware of IRS Tax Whammy With Short Sales and Mortgage Modifications in 2013 Posted on Wednesday (December 26, 2012) at 6:00 pm to Mortgages & Sub-Prime Mortgage Meltdown Thanks to Long Island Bankruptcy Blog Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq. When a mortgage...
by James Robert Deal | Dec 29, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
Filing for Bankruptcy Does Not Create Tax Consequences Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq. Thanks to Long Island Bankruptcy Attorney I was prompted to write this article by the unusually large number of calls that I received last month from old bankruptcy clients and...
by James Robert Deal | Dec 11, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
BYE-BYE DEMARCO! Obama to Replace Director of FHFA 3 You know, I was having kind of a crummy day… nothing serious, just dragging my feet a bit and grinding through some writing I’ve been working on for too long… and thinking about how nothing is changing… and then out...
by James Robert Deal | Dec 3, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
California State Bar RECENT Decision to Cause More Harm to Homeowners in Foreclosure Thanks to Martin Andelman It’s hard to imagine anything gone so totally wrong as the California State Bar’s interpretation and subsequent handling of SB 94, a law passed in...
by James Robert Deal | Dec 2, 2012 | Principal Reduction
If you owe more on your first mortgage than your home is worth, and if your mortgage is with Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, or Ally Financial, principal reductions are now possible. See this NY Times article.
by James Robert Deal | Nov 25, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Giving Up and Getting Out Foreclosures are no longer a last resort, and a growing percentage of americans think it’s ok to strategically default LISA IANNUCCI Years ago, homeowners viewed foreclosure as a last resort – after all other means had been exhausted to save...
by James Robert Deal | Nov 25, 2012 | Lenders, Mortgage Modification
A residential property where the first loan was more than around $729,000 at the time of the default is not eligible for modification under the Making Home Affordable program. However, home owners with jumbo-size loans should not despair – especially if their...
by James Robert Deal | Oct 17, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
The Trillion Dollar Mistake That Triggered the Economic Meltdown Thanks to Martin Andelman It was summer, 2006, and Fed Chair Alan Greenspan had just raised interest rates for the 17th consecutive time in an effort to cool off the over-heated U.S. housing market....
by James Robert Deal | Sep 15, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
FHFA Looking to Jail Strategic Defaulters by my friend Martin Andelman The Federal Housing Finance Administration (“FHFA”), which is the agency created to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac… the one run by perhaps the least popular man in America for his...
by James Robert Deal | Sep 2, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Still No Justice for Mortgage Abuses September 1, 2012 Thanks to New York Times It has been six months since the big banks settled with state and federal officials over evidence of widespread foreclosure fraud, promising to provide $25 billion in mortgage relief in...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 31, 2012 | Rental Modification
Under HAMP Tier 2, the Making Home Affordable program was extended to cover one to four unit residential rental properties. HAMP Tier 2 went into effect June 1, 2012. The government realized that foreclosing on a rental property was just as destructive of home values...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 31, 2012 | Lenders
8-31-12 VZ is a hardwood floor layer and general contractor. His business tanked when the Great Recession set in. He got behind on his home mortgage. Payments were high at 7.8%. However, in 2010 his income was recovering. His income turned out to be a little too high...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 22, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
What Happens When a Debtor Forgets to Schedule a Personal Injury Suit Thanks to Long Island Bankruptcy Blog Posted on Tuesday (August 21, 2012) at 3:43 pm to Bankruptcy Practice Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Personal Injury and Bankruptcy Recent Bankruptcy Court Decisions...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
On this modification with Citi there was no principal reduction because the property was not underwater. However, the interest rate was reduced from 6.375% to 2.0% for five years, 3.0% for one year, and then 3.875% for the next 35 years. Read the details here:...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | Lenders
We have several modifications going with EMC. So far EMC seems to be reasonable to work with. Meanwhile, EMC is being sued. A young couple came to us with a 7.0% negative amortization EMC loan. We were able to negotiate an interest rate of 2.0% for five years, 3.0%...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
We negotiated a good deal for Dennis and his wife. They went from a 9.5% rate to 2.0% for five years, then 3.0% for a year, and 3.875% for the balance of the loan. They also got a $24,000 principal reduction. Read the details here:...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
OCWEN Principal Reduction: We negotiated a $93,000 principal reduction for this couple, provided they remain current on their payments for three years. The rate is 2.0% fixed for 25 years. Read the modification documents here:...
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Read Richard Fonfrias on Seven Costly Misconceptions About Mortgage Loan Modifications: http://washingtonattorneybroker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/richard-fonfrias-7-costly-misconceptions-about-mortgage-loan-modifications.pdf
by James Robert Deal | Aug 21, 2012 | MERS
MERS Loans In Washington Must Now Be Foreclosed JudiciallyIn Bain vs. MERS, August 16, 2012, the Washington Supreme Court states: A plain reading of the statute leads us to conclude that only the actual holder of the promissory note or other instrument evidencing the...
by James Robert Deal | Jul 16, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Business credit cards and the individual bankruptcy case by Cathy Moran, California Bankruptcy Lawyer Small corporations may have their names on the shareholder’s credit card, but likely are not actually liable for the charges made on the card.� Clients come with...
by James Robert Deal | Jul 16, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
Can I keep a credit card out of my bankruptcy? by Chip Parker, Jacksonville Bankruptcy Attorney Can I keep a credit card out of my bankruptcy? The Bankruptcy Code requires a debtor to list all creditors in his bankruptcy schedules. However, a “creditor” is typically...
by James Robert Deal | Jul 12, 2012 | Mortgage Modification, Principal Reduction, Second Mortgages
I only post a quarter of the modifications we complete, and I have not posted any of them for some time.I will get caught up on that job when we get back from our road trip vacation. But I just have to post this letter from a client regarding a modification that is...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 20, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Homeowners: Don’t Be Scammed by Forensic Audit of Mortgage Docs Posted: 19 Jun 2012 10:00 PM PDT Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq. Unfortunately, homeowners who can barely afford their monthly mortgage payments or who are in foreclosure are in a very vulnerable...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 14, 2012 | HAMP 2
Things I think homeowners should know about loan modifications & HAMP-2 If you already know who I am… great. If you don’t, you can find out after you read this, but for the moment suffice it to say that I’ve had a front row seat for the foreclosure crisis. Over...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 13, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Should You Reaffirm a Mortgage in Bankruptcy? 12 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq. Reaffirming a debt in bankruptcy means that you continue to be obligated on the debt as if you hadn’t sought bankruptcy protection. Debtors sometimes reaffirm their...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 10, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
Life Estates and Remainder Interests Are Exempt in Bankruptcy Cases Posted: 09 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT United States District Court, In Case of First Impression, Permits Homestead Exemption to be Used to Protect Future Interests in Real Estate Used as a Home Written by...
by James Robert Deal | Jun 9, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
HAMP 2 is HERE Some say it’s the best HAMP yet, and they’re probably right about that. by Martin Andelman This past year has been transformational as far as the foreclosure crisis was concerned, although we weren’t sure what was being transformed much of the time, and...
by James Robert Deal | May 28, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
Can I Strip A Second Mortgage In A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? by Carmen Dellutri, Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Attorney A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Debtor can strip a second mortgage in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy if they live in a jurisdiction under the 11th Circuit Federal Court...
by James Robert Deal | May 22, 2012 | Principal Reduction
Current law relieves mortgage debtors from having to report forgiveness of mortgage debt through principal reduction as income – even if the mortgage debtor has gotten a discharge on the mortgage through bankruptcy. However, this law expires at the end of 2012....
by James Robert Deal | May 19, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
When Can I File Bankruptcy Again? by Bankruptcy Law Network There is no limit on the number of bankruptcy cases that one may file. In fact, there is no limit in between time frames to file bankruptcy. Nevertheless, if sufficient time between filings does not take...
by James Robert Deal | May 18, 2012 | Principal Reduction
The five biggest lenders – Bank of America, Chase, GMAC, Citi, and Wells Fargo – have $25 billion to use giving principal reductions. If your property is worth less than what you owe on your first mortgage and if you have had a hardship, you may qualify....
by James Robert Deal | May 15, 2012 | HOA
50 Ways To Surrender Your Property In Bankruptcy by Eugene S. Melchionne, Connecticut Bankruptcy Lawyer With apologies to Paul Simon: You Just slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan You don’t need to be coy, Roy Just get yourself free ...
by James Robert Deal | May 13, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Don’t File Bankruptcy! by Douglas Jacobs, California Bankruptcy Attorney That’s the cry of the “debt settlement” industry. They claim that they will help you rid yourself of debt without bankruptcy. If you avoid the out-right crooked companies, can they do it? Sure…...
by James Robert Deal | May 8, 2012 | Principal Reduction
Iceland forgives mortgage debt to save its economy by J. D. Heyes (NaturalNews) It’s probably not a concept that most U.S. banks and lawmakers want to think about, but the fact is, Iceland’s economy has grown by leaps and bounds since the government there...
by James Robert Deal | May 8, 2012 | Principal Reduction
HUD secretary says some homeowners received $100K+ in principal reductions By Justin T. Hilley May 8, 2012 • 12:12pm Some families living in the most deeply underwater states such as Nevada and California are receiving principal reductions exceeding $100,000 from the...
by James Robert Deal | May 8, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Bank of America has started sending letters to thousands of homeowners in the United States, offering to forgive a portion of the principal balance on their mortgages by an average of $150,000 each. The reduction for qualifying homeowners could amount to monthly...
by James Robert Deal | May 1, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
Divorce during Bankruptcy by Andy Miofsky, Illinois Bankruptcy Attorney One of the leading causes of marital conflict involves money, or lack thereof. If you and your spouse filed a joint bankruptcy and you are now considering divorce, your respective financial...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 30, 2012 | Foreclosure
Foreclosure and Its Income Tax Consequences (TheNicheReport) — In a recent issue of The Niche Report I wrote an article on how to safely “walk away” from your mortgage. That article discussed consumer protection statutes, enacted by such states as California, known to...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
By Travis Waldron, Think Progress Posted on April 20, 2012, Printed on April 21, 2012 http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/907008/wells_fargo_insiders_detail_foreclosure_fraud_practices%3A_%E2%80%98it%E2%80%99s_exactly_like_an_assembly_line%E2%80%99 That Wells...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 5, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Is consumer protection enough to fix housing? HW Magazine April 2012 by Christopher Whalen It is an election year and, no surprise, President Barack Obama is pushing his new Homeowner Bill of Rights that would slow or curb foreclosures when mortgage holders fall...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 2, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
WA State Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case Against MERS “May a party be a lawful ‘beneficiary’ under Washington’s Deed of Trust Act if it never held the promissory note secured by the Deed of Trust?” That’s the key question the Washington State’s...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 2, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
4-1-12 Thanks to Paul Lamoreaux of Port Angeles who tracked down the information I needed: I wanted to know how many kids there are in the US age 12 – 15, because this is the group of which 41% has some degree of fluorosis. I wanted to show in plain numbers how...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 1, 2012 | Principal Reduction
Principal write-down talk leaves out taxpayers Posted by Jessica Huseman on 3/30/12 at 12:32pm All of this talk about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reconsidering principal reductions seems to be leaving out one major thing: Taxpayers. Wasn’t it the stance of Ed DeMarco,...
by James Robert Deal | Apr 1, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Making Home Affordable Encourages But Does Not Require Principal Reductions HAMP has increased financial incentives to servicers for principal reductions. However, servicers are not required to give principal reductions. See HAMP Supplemental Directive 12-01, issued...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 25, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Freddie CEO signals GSE principal reduction could be soon By Jon Prior • March 23, 2012 • 11:14am Freddie Mac CEO Charles “Ed” Haldeman gave a strong signal Friday that new incentives from the Treasury Department may be enough to start principal reduction...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 22, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Filing Bankruptcy And Getting Your Free House by Jay Fleischman, New York Bankruptcy Lawyer I’ve been meaning to tell you something for awhile now. It’s going to be a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s better that you know now rather than later. Someone’s be spreading...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 21, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
GUEST POST: Good for the Banks, Good for the Borrowers by Law Professor, Lauren E. Willis Good for the Banks, Good for the Borrowers By Lauren E. Willis, Professor of Law, Loyola Law School Los Angeles February 17, 2012 Beginning in 2007, the federal government took...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 20, 2012 | Uncategorized
Suze Orman Recommends Bankrupting Retiree – Without The Benefits by Wendell Sherk, Missouri Bankruptcy Attorney Bankruptcy is a last resort of course. But it is an option. Paying back debt when you barely have enough money to survive is usually a horrible...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 18, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
FHA refinancing program means savings for those who can qualify The Obama administration’s new plan to stimulate refinancings of FHA mortgages is likely to help large numbers of homeowners cut their monthly… By Kenneth R. Harney Syndicated columnist...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 1, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Ralph Nader: Minimum Wage Needs To Catch Up With 1968 – OpEd Written by: Ralph Nader March 1, 2012 How inert can the Democratic Party be? Do they really want to defeat the Congressional Republicans in the fall by doing the right thing? A winning issue is to raise the...
by James Robert Deal | Mar 1, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris ASKS Fannie and Freddie to Stop Foreclosing Did you hear about this? California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris has asked the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, which is the government agency that is acting as conservator for failed...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 28, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
HOW TO FIND YOUR POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT It may be very valuable to your case for you to have a certified copy of your Pooling and Servicing Agreement (“PSA”), your Prospectus and your Prospectus Supplement. The bank worked hard to hide it from you, and their...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 20, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Arizona’s SB 1451 – Does Arizona Have the Right to Save Itself from Drowning in Underwater Loans? Drowning in the desert. The irony alone could kill you. Arizona’s Senator Michele Reagan (R-Scottsdale) is a very courageous politician. This year she has introduced SB...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 20, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
America has 40 million McMansions that no one wants By Christopher Mims 9 Feb 2012 11:12 AM Americans, especially generations X and Y, want shorter commutes, walkability and a car-free existence. Which means that around 40 million large-lot exurban McMansions,...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 15, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Time Bomb: Mortgage Modification by Eugene S. Melchionne, Connecticut Bankruptcy Lawyer One of the major benefits of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is the ability to avoid second mortgages that are not secured by any value in your home. By following...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 12, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Ocwen Backs Principal Reductions, Mandatory Outsourcing to Improve HAMP By: Carrie Bay 03/03/2010 Ocwen Financial Corporation has one of the industry’s most impressive track records when it comes to restructuring loans under the federal guidelines of the Home...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 11, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Chapter 12 Bankruptcy 2inShare by Douglas Jacobs, California Bankruptcy Attorney A largely forgotten form of Consumer bankruptcy is Chapter 12. Although geared for a family farmer or fisherman, they are designed to be filed by consumers rather than companies. A...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 10, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Mortgage Settlement Reached: A Beginning, Not an End George Zornick on February 9, 2012 – 11:05am ET It’s finally here: a massive settlement, worth $25 billion, with five major banks over mortgage fraud abuses. The federal government and forty-nine state...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 7, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Company Faces Forgery Charges in Missouri Foreclosures By GRETCHEN MORGENSON Published: February 6, 2012 One of the largest companies that provided home foreclosure services to lenders across the nation, DocX, has been indicted on forgery charges by a Missouri grand...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 7, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
February 4, 2012 An Easier Path to Refinancing It is only a first step toward healing the economy’s biggest open wound, but President Obama’s new mortgage refinancing plan could provide considerable relief for millions of homeowners shackled to high interest rates. If...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 4, 2012 | MERS
February 3, 2012 New York Sues 3 Big Banks Over Mortgage Database By REUTERS Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York sued three major banks on Friday, accusing them of fraud in their use of an electronic mortgage database that he said resulted in deceptive...
by James Robert Deal | Feb 2, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Bankruptcy: What Are You Waiting For? by Dana Wilkinson, Attorney at Law Happy Groundhog Day! Lately the same refrain keeps cropping up in my practice: why did you wait so long? I understand that very few people want to file bankruptcy, and I agree that the...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 31, 2012 | Foreclosure, Foreclosure Defense
Facing Foreclosure? You May Have Options If yours is one of the nation’s estimated 14 million troubled mortgages, it can seem as though you are running out of options. But help may be on the way: “Homeowners unable to meet their current mortgage payments may...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 31, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Top 15 Lies About Bankruptcy by Brett Weiss, Maryland Bankruptcy Attorney Bankruptcy is an area of the law that people avoid. They don’t want to think that they might need its protections one day, and as a result, lies about what it can and can’t do, and what happens...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 31, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
January 30, 2012 Treasury Investigates Freddie Mac Investment By SHAILA DEWAN The Treasury Department is investigating a report that Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, bet against homeowners’ ability to refinance their loans even as it was making it more difficult for...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 17, 2012 | Real Estate Broker
What Can I Do When Bankruptcy Doesn’t Get Rid Of The Tax? by Kent Anderson, Oregon Bankruptcy Attorney Bankruptcy can stop collection and eliminate tax debt in many situations. For more details on tax discharge see the article I wrote about Bankruptcy Tax...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 17, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
No Modification for You! by Chip Parker, Jacksonville Bankruptcy Attorney For the last few years, I have witnessed a steady stream of homeowners flowing through my office who are dumbfounded by their inability to get a mortgage modification. And for years, I have...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 5, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
Background The Federal Reserve Board issued enforcement actions against four large mortgage servicers –GMAC Mortgage, HSBC Finance Corporation, SunTrust Mortgage, and EMC Mortgage Corporation–in April 2011. Under those actions, the four servicers were...
by James Robert Deal | Jan 2, 2012 | Mortgage Modification
