Bank Settles Military Foreclosure Claims
April 22, 2011
Stars and Stripes|by Bill Murphy Jr.
Banking giant JPMorgan Chase and Co., which admitted earlier this year that it had improperly overcharged thousands of military families on their mortgages and foreclosed on the homes of servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan, will pay $26 million to settle the class action lawsuit that brought the activity to light.
Marine Capt. Jonathan Rowles and his wife, Julia, filed the suit, which accused Chase of ignoring the protections they were due under a federal law known as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
“We are sorry and regret the mistakes our firm made on mortgages for members of the military, and we’d like to thank Capt. and Mrs. Rowles for helping us address them,” Chase's chief administrative officer, Frank Bisignano, said in a statement announcing the deal. “We hold ourselves accountable and responsible for these mistakes, and fixing them is just the beginning of a new way forward with the military and veteran community as we make serving them a core part of how we operate our business every day."
“My family and I thank Chase for resolving this matter,” Capt. Rowles said in the same statement.
“It is our hope that this settlement will result in greater attention by the entire financial services industry to the nation’s laws that protect our military families."
read more here
Bank Settles Military Foreclosure Claims
Showing posts with label foreclosure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foreclosure. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Two Tour Iraq Marine Veteran foreclosed on needs your help
Our hearts break every time we read about a homeless veteran. If you are like me, you always wonder how to help or what can be done to prevent them from becoming homeless. Well, here's a way to prevent one of them from becoming homeless. You can donate to save his apartment after the mortgage company kicked him out of his home.
If there are any lawyers you know about, pass this onto them so maybe he can get some help legally to get his house back.
If there are any lawyers you know about, pass this onto them so maybe he can get some help legally to get his house back.
A Voice of the Veterans
Sunday, March 20, 2011
All Hands on Deck
Veterans-For-Change is in need your help today to help another Veteran who came to us a week ago asking for help.
Marine GySgt. Don Rubin served two tours of duty in Iraq and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in September 2010 was one of the victims of the illegal mortgage banking foreclosures completely against the moratorium issued, lost his home he’d scrimped and saved to buy.
Don had maxed out all of his credit to save his home before the battle was lost, then creditor lawsuits started piling up on him and everything backfired on him.
Three weeks ago most of the creditors had gotten court orders to garnish his bank accounts leaving him with nothing and the next check coming in won’t be till sometime between the 1st & 3rd of the month.
Don has been living in a studio apartment since November and has been served an eviction notice.
After verification of Veteran Status, court garnishments, etc. we spoke with Don’s landlord and have negotiated for 3 additional days to allow our readers and members a chance to assist this Veteran.
Thankfully his studio apartment rent is relatively low so I come to you to ask your help to raise the $300 rent money needed and help keep this Veteran from losing his apartment.
As you know I’m sure we already have well over 140,000 homeless Veterans, with your help we can prevent one more from being in the same position.
We need to try and raise the $300 to help this Veteran as quickly as possible.
If you’re able to make a tax deductible donation of $25, $50, $100 or more, please click HERE to be taken direct to the PayPal site or copy and paste the link below!
PAYPAL LINK
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
U.S. Inquiry on Military Family Foreclosures Finally!
U.S. Inquiry on Military Family Foreclosures
By DIANA B. HENRIQUES
Published: March 11, 2011
The Justice Department is investigating allegations that a mortgage subsidiary of Morgan Stanley foreclosed on almost two dozen military families from 2006 to 2008 in violation of a longstanding law aimed at preventing such action.
A department spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that the Morgan Stanley unit, Saxon Mortgage Services, is one of several mortgage and lending companies being investigated by its civil rights division. The inquiry is focused on possible violations of a federal law that bars lenders from foreclosing on active-duty service members without a court hearing.
Mark Lake, a Morgan Stanley spokesman, declined on Friday to comment on the investigation. However, in the fine print of a recent regulatory filing, Morgan Stanley disclosed that it was “responding to subpoenas and requests for information” from various government and regulatory agencies concerning, among other issues, its “compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” the law that governs the actions creditors can take against service members on active duty.
The investigation came to light in a document that Saxon’s lawyers filed on Tuesday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., during a trial to assess damages against Saxon and two co-defendants after a federal judge ruled late last year that they had illegally seized and sold the home of Sgt. James B. Hurley, a Michigan National Guard member who lost his home while he was serving in Iraq in 2005. That case was ultimately settled on Thursday.
read more here
U.S. Inquiry on Military Family Foreclosures
By DIANA B. HENRIQUES
Published: March 11, 2011
The Justice Department is investigating allegations that a mortgage subsidiary of Morgan Stanley foreclosed on almost two dozen military families from 2006 to 2008 in violation of a longstanding law aimed at preventing such action.
A department spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that the Morgan Stanley unit, Saxon Mortgage Services, is one of several mortgage and lending companies being investigated by its civil rights division. The inquiry is focused on possible violations of a federal law that bars lenders from foreclosing on active-duty service members without a court hearing.
Mark Lake, a Morgan Stanley spokesman, declined on Friday to comment on the investigation. However, in the fine print of a recent regulatory filing, Morgan Stanley disclosed that it was “responding to subpoenas and requests for information” from various government and regulatory agencies concerning, among other issues, its “compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” the law that governs the actions creditors can take against service members on active duty.
The investigation came to light in a document that Saxon’s lawyers filed on Tuesday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., during a trial to assess damages against Saxon and two co-defendants after a federal judge ruled late last year that they had illegally seized and sold the home of Sgt. James B. Hurley, a Michigan National Guard member who lost his home while he was serving in Iraq in 2005. That case was ultimately settled on Thursday.
read more here
U.S. Inquiry on Military Family Foreclosures
Friday, March 11, 2011
Patriot Guard organizer supports Iraq War vet who lost home while overseas
Who would have thought there would be a need for a group of people to join together so they could protect a family while burying one of their own? That's why the Patriot Guard Riders started. They decided that someone needs to protect the families of the fallen from Westboro and their hate. As bad as that is, who would think that a National Guardsman would deploy overseas and lose his home? Well that's what has been happening along with families having to go on food stamps and a lot of other stories you don't hear about from 24/7 Cable news. They show up when most people don't have a clue.
Patriot Guard organizer supports Iraq War vet who lost home while overseas
Published: Friday, March 11, 2011
By John Agar
The Grand Rapids Press
As an organizer for Patriot Guard Riders, Barb Mitchell showed her support at trial every day for James Hurley, the Van Buren County man who lost his house while he served overseas with the U.S. Army National Guard.
Hurley, 45, settled his lawsuit against Deutsche Bank Trust Co. and Saxon Mortgage Services during trial in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.
“I was there because I was concerned that Sgt. Hurley gets fair treatment from the court,” Mitchell, a Kalamazoo resident, said today. “As a citizen, I wanted to see the right thing done.”
read more here
Patriot Guard organizer supports Iraq War vet who lost home while overseas
Friday, March 4, 2011
National Guardsman, foreclosed on during active duty, fights back
Iraq veteran, who was foreclosed on during active duty, fights back
March 03, 2011
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A soldier from Van Buren County, a man who has served more than 25 years in the Michigan National Guard is now in the midst of a different battle here at home.
Sergeant James Hurley is suing the bank that foreclosed on his home while he was on active duty.
Hurley was deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005. While he was over there, he fell behind on his mortgage payments and Deutsche Bank and Saxon Mortgage foreclosed on his home near Hartford.
Hurley and his lawyers say that was in violation of the service members Civil Relief Act.
The trial began Thursday.
Inside the Grand Rapids Federal Courthouse, the battle is underway between Sgt. Hurley and the banks.
Outside, people were on hand, showing their support for Hurley through flags and signs.
Barb Mitchell is one of about ten people who lined up on the sidewalk Thursday.
“This is a soldier who answered his nation's call,” said Mitchell. “That this case should even reach this point is a sad commentary. We believe this man needs our support.”
read more here
Iraq veteran, foreclosed on during active duty, fights back
March 03, 2011
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A soldier from Van Buren County, a man who has served more than 25 years in the Michigan National Guard is now in the midst of a different battle here at home.
Sergeant James Hurley is suing the bank that foreclosed on his home while he was on active duty.
Hurley was deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005. While he was over there, he fell behind on his mortgage payments and Deutsche Bank and Saxon Mortgage foreclosed on his home near Hartford.
Hurley and his lawyers say that was in violation of the service members Civil Relief Act.
The trial began Thursday.
Inside the Grand Rapids Federal Courthouse, the battle is underway between Sgt. Hurley and the banks.
Outside, people were on hand, showing their support for Hurley through flags and signs.
Barb Mitchell is one of about ten people who lined up on the sidewalk Thursday.
“This is a soldier who answered his nation's call,” said Mitchell. “That this case should even reach this point is a sad commentary. We believe this man needs our support.”
read more here
Iraq veteran, foreclosed on during active duty, fights back
Saturday, February 5, 2011
20,000 service members, vets lost homes in 2010
20,000 service members, vets lost homes in 2010
Foreclosure rate in zip codes near military bases increased 32 percent
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Feb 3, 2011 22:24:48 EST
More than 20,000 veterans, active-duty troops and reservists who took out special government-backed mortgages lost their homes last year — the highest number since 2003.
The rate of foreclosure filings in 2010 among 163 zip codes located near military bases rose 32 percent over 2008, according to RealtyTrac, a foreclosure research firm. This compares with a 2010 increase in foreclosure filings nationally of 23 percent over 2008.
The housing crisis has hit military families particularly hard in part because of transfers and the loss of civilian jobs left behind by reservists.
About 12,000 military families applied to the Pentagon’s expanded Homeowners Assistance Program. It makes up most of the difference in price for service members who must transfer and sell their homes for less than they owe, or buys their houses outright.
“Our demand, in terms of (military) families coming to us for assistance, went up 19 percent in 2010 over the previous year,” says Bill Nelson, executive director of USA Cares, a charity that provides financial assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan war-era troops.
read more here
20,000 service members, vets lost homes in 2010
But that isn't the only bad news for veterans
Unemployment for young vets jumps to 15 percent
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 4, 2011 10:25:57 EST
The unemployment rate for veterans took an unexpected jump in January — even as the overall unemployment rate fell.
The Labor Department reported Friday that the national unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage point, to a new level of 9.0, but the rate for veterans climbed to 9.9 percent, up from 8.3 percent the previous month.
For Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans, the unemployment rate for January was 15.2 percent. This is a sharp increase from 9.4 percent in November and 11.7 percent in December, a clear trend of a worsening job market for younger veterans, many of them combat veterans.
“This should be a wakeup call for America,” said Paul Rieckoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans of America. “We have a definite employment problem and it is getting worse.”
Labor Department statistics for January show that 15.5 percent of male veterans and 13.5 percent of female veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan era are looking for work and cannot find it. But Rieckoff said IAVA polling shows the true unemployment rate for young veterans is 20 percent or higher.
read more here
Unemployment for young vets jumps to 15 percent
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Soldier's home foreclosed while she was serving abroad
Soldier's home foreclosed while she was serving abroad
"I couldn't believe it," Capt. Tania Garcia said. "I was in shock."
By Jeff Weiner and Gary Taylor, Orlando Sentinel
10:47 p.m. EDT, September 3, 2010
Army Capt. Tania Garcia said she was on active duty in South Korea when she got the news.
Garcia's Realtor informed her that her south Orange condominium had been foreclosed upon. Suddenly, a soldier serving abroad had no home to return to.
"I couldn't believe it," Garcia said. "I was in shock."
More shocking news was ahead. Court files from the foreclosure showed an affidavit had been filed that stated Garcia was not in the active military and that the notice of foreclosure was served on her husband.
Two problems: Garcia said this week she was on active duty — and she is not married. Now, Garcia is fighting to win back the home she thinks was taken from her unfairly.
Garcia fell victim to a foreclosure process in which the most important element is the time it takes from start to finish, said Jeff Kaufman, senior partner with KEL Attorneys.
Garcia's condo initially was bought back by Flagstar Bank and then resold, Kaufman said. But because of errors in serving notice in the case, his law firm was able to persuade a judge to throw out the sale, he said.
read more here
Soldier home foreclosed while she was serving abroad
"I couldn't believe it," Capt. Tania Garcia said. "I was in shock."
By Jeff Weiner and Gary Taylor, Orlando Sentinel
10:47 p.m. EDT, September 3, 2010
Army Capt. Tania Garcia said she was on active duty in South Korea when she got the news.
Garcia's Realtor informed her that her south Orange condominium had been foreclosed upon. Suddenly, a soldier serving abroad had no home to return to.
"I couldn't believe it," Garcia said. "I was in shock."
More shocking news was ahead. Court files from the foreclosure showed an affidavit had been filed that stated Garcia was not in the active military and that the notice of foreclosure was served on her husband.
Two problems: Garcia said this week she was on active duty — and she is not married. Now, Garcia is fighting to win back the home she thinks was taken from her unfairly.
Garcia fell victim to a foreclosure process in which the most important element is the time it takes from start to finish, said Jeff Kaufman, senior partner with KEL Attorneys.
Garcia's condo initially was bought back by Flagstar Bank and then resold, Kaufman said. But because of errors in serving notice in the case, his law firm was able to persuade a judge to throw out the sale, he said.
read more here
Soldier home foreclosed while she was serving abroad
Thursday, July 29, 2010
National Guardsman foreclosured on while in Iraq gets home back
Frisco soldier who lost home to foreclosure while in Iraq gets it back
07:21 AM CDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010
By VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH and ERINN CONNOR / The Dallas Morning News
The Frisco soldier and his family who lost their home to foreclosure while he was serving in Iraq will get the house back.
Army National Guard Capt. Michael Clauer and his wife, May, lost their $315,000 southwest Frisco home in May 2008 after falling behind on Heritage Lakes Homeowners Association dues.
The Clauers sued the association and subsequent buyers in federal court. A court-ordered settlement conference led to an agreement this week that gives the house back to the Clauers.
read more here
Frisco soldier who lost home to foreclosure
07:21 AM CDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010
By VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH and ERINN CONNOR / The Dallas Morning News
The Frisco soldier and his family who lost their home to foreclosure while he was serving in Iraq will get the house back.
Army National Guard Capt. Michael Clauer and his wife, May, lost their $315,000 southwest Frisco home in May 2008 after falling behind on Heritage Lakes Homeowners Association dues.
The Clauers sued the association and subsequent buyers in federal court. A court-ordered settlement conference led to an agreement this week that gives the house back to the Clauers.
read more here
Frisco soldier who lost home to foreclosure
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Texas National Guard soldier's home taken by HOA while he was deployed
Soldier Loses Home While Deployed
June 26, 2010
The Dallas Morning News
A Soldier serving in Iraq lost his Frisco home to foreclosure over late homeowners association dues, renewing a debate over the power of HOAs in Texas.
The case, which has boiled over to involve federal judge, a publicist and death threats, began when Michael and May Clauer lost their $315,000 home to foreclosure in May 2008 after falling behind on their association dues.
The Heritage Lakes Homeowners Association was initially owed $977.55 and sent multiple notices by certified mail demanding payment. All went unanswered, said David Margulies, spokesman for the association and its management company, Select Management.
The problem, according to a lawyer for the Clauers, was that Michael Clauer -- U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Michael Clauer -- was deployed to Iraq.
His wife, suffering from depression over her husband's absence, had let mail pile up and didn't open any of the certified letters. May Clauer and her parents owned the house mortgage-free.
go here for more
Soldier Loses Home While Deployed
June 26, 2010
The Dallas Morning News
A Soldier serving in Iraq lost his Frisco home to foreclosure over late homeowners association dues, renewing a debate over the power of HOAs in Texas.
The case, which has boiled over to involve federal judge, a publicist and death threats, began when Michael and May Clauer lost their $315,000 home to foreclosure in May 2008 after falling behind on their association dues.
The Heritage Lakes Homeowners Association was initially owed $977.55 and sent multiple notices by certified mail demanding payment. All went unanswered, said David Margulies, spokesman for the association and its management company, Select Management.
The problem, according to a lawyer for the Clauers, was that Michael Clauer -- U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Michael Clauer -- was deployed to Iraq.
His wife, suffering from depression over her husband's absence, had let mail pile up and didn't open any of the certified letters. May Clauer and her parents owned the house mortgage-free.
go here for more
Soldier Loses Home While Deployed
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Foreclosure help in Orlando: Millions in federal money unspent
Foreclosure help in Orlando: Millions in federal money unspent
Federal funds aim to help neighborhoods hit by foreclosures in the Orlando area.
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel
7:47 a.m. EDT, March 31, 2010
Florida and several local governments within Central Florida are way behind in spending $91 million statewide in federal funds aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods shaken by foreclosures.
Florida trails all but three other states in putting the foreclosure-relief dollars to work and could lose any funds not committed to projects by the end of September, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report this month on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
"It's obvious that the state … was unprepared to handle processing of those kind of grant resources and has dropped the ball," said U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, a Republican who represents parts of Polk, Osceola and Hillsborough counties.
read more here
Millions in federal money unspent
Federal funds aim to help neighborhoods hit by foreclosures in the Orlando area.
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel
7:47 a.m. EDT, March 31, 2010
Florida and several local governments within Central Florida are way behind in spending $91 million statewide in federal funds aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods shaken by foreclosures.
Florida trails all but three other states in putting the foreclosure-relief dollars to work and could lose any funds not committed to projects by the end of September, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report this month on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
"It's obvious that the state … was unprepared to handle processing of those kind of grant resources and has dropped the ball," said U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, a Republican who represents parts of Polk, Osceola and Hillsborough counties.
read more here
Millions in federal money unspent
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Two decades in the Army, woman wondered why no one helped her before she died
She said she had served her country, and she didn't know why nobody would help her.
How many others are left to wonder the same thing? What did they do wrong? They not only worked for their living, this wife served the country for two decades in the Army. Everything they worked for was gone and now their lives are. According to this report, the police are not saying who shot who but that doesn't really matter because this never should have happened.
Julie Fay, neighbors said, worked at Fort Belvoir and at pharmacies. Army records show that Fay, 56, retired in 2001 after two decades in the service. She spent six years serving in Germany and received commendation medals, achievement medals, a national defense service medal and a sharpshooter marksmanship qualification badge with grenade bar, officials said.
Couple Shot in Murder-Suicide, Police Say
Home in Dumfries Had Been Lost, and Husband's Job Transfer Had Fallen Through
By Maria Glod and Meg Smith
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Wallis and Julie Fay said life seemed to be closing in on them. They lost the Prince William County home, where they lived for more than 15 years, to foreclosure. Eviction was looming. And on Tuesday, Wallis Fay learned that the job transfer he was counting on had fallen through.
"He said: 'I don't know what to do. I'm at my last straw,' " said Bernice Fortune, a neighbor who answered a call from a shaken Wallis Fay just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. "I said: 'Hold on to your faith. Hand it over to God.' "
Fortune, who was at a prayer group at a nearby IHOP, promised to call when she got home. There was no answer at the Fays a half-hour later. Assuming they had gone to sleep, Fortune left a prayer on their answering machine.
But by then, Fortune said, the couple might have been dead.
Prince William police ruled that the Fays were shot to death in a murder-suicide. Police are not revealing who pulled the trigger or why, but friends are blaming the tragedy on the stress and upheaval of financial turmoil. Property records show their red-brick townhouse was foreclosed on in June.
"She came to me and said the bank had took their house from them," recalled Abigail Robertson, a neighbor who had been helping the couple pack. "She seemed stressed out. She said all this moving, it was too much for her. She said she had served her country, and she didn't know why nobody would help her."
read more here
Couple Shot in Murder Suicide, Police Say
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Woman in shock after home sold as foreclosure, when it wasn't
My Bad! Woman's House Mistakenly Auctioned by Bank
A Homestead woman's home was auctioned to the highest bidder
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 5:38 PM EDT, Wed, Aug 19, 2009
You know times are tough when people are getting kicked out of their house when it’s not even for sale.
That’s what happened to Anna Ramirez after she found all of her stuff out on the front lawn of her Homestead home last week and a strange man demanding she get out of his newly purchased house.
The eviction came after Ramirez’s home was mistakenly auctioned off to the highest bidder by her bank, Washington Mutual (yes, we know WaMu is now Chase, but we're in denial). Usually, you get a warning before you get the boot. A foreclosure letter. Maybe a sign saying your house is up for sale. Not Ramirez, who found her belongings bashed and battered in the street.
"This came out of nowhere," Ramirez said. "The bank took the house from right under my feet."
read more here
A Homestead woman home was auctioned to the highest bidder
linked from RawStory
A Homestead woman's home was auctioned to the highest bidder
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 5:38 PM EDT, Wed, Aug 19, 2009
You know times are tough when people are getting kicked out of their house when it’s not even for sale.
That’s what happened to Anna Ramirez after she found all of her stuff out on the front lawn of her Homestead home last week and a strange man demanding she get out of his newly purchased house.
The eviction came after Ramirez’s home was mistakenly auctioned off to the highest bidder by her bank, Washington Mutual (yes, we know WaMu is now Chase, but we're in denial). Usually, you get a warning before you get the boot. A foreclosure letter. Maybe a sign saying your house is up for sale. Not Ramirez, who found her belongings bashed and battered in the street.
"This came out of nowhere," Ramirez said. "The bank took the house from right under my feet."
read more here
A Homestead woman home was auctioned to the highest bidder
linked from RawStory
Monday, December 22, 2008
Family's house saved because of Internet strangers
Internet strangers save family's home
Saved by the click 1:51
Photojournalist Oliver Janney introduces us to a couple giving thanks for people's generosity over the Internet.
• Focus On Giving
Saved by the click 1:51
Photojournalist Oliver Janney introduces us to a couple giving thanks for people's generosity over the Internet.
• Focus On Giving
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Marilyn Mock, Foreclosure Angel, not done helping
Reaching out to foreclosure victims
WFAA-TV
Marilyn Mock, the "foreclosure angel" who helped a Pottsboro woman keep her home last month, wants to help others facing the same fate.
WFAA-TV
Marilyn Mock, the "foreclosure angel" who helped a Pottsboro woman keep her home last month, wants to help others facing the same fate.
"People need to help each other, that's all there is to it," Mock said last month.
Weeks later, she kept her promise and signed the papers so Orr can move in.
"She is going to make payments on whatever she can afford," Mock explained.
And now, Marilyn Mock wants to reach out to others who are facing foreclosure. She has launched the Foreclosure Angel Foundation, a non-profit organization to help struggling homeowners.
"I am trying to set up so people can actually meet and see the people they are going to be helping," Mock said.
One by one, she hopes to bring more families back home.
click link for the rest and for the video to remind you of what happened.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Woman goes to auction, buys house back for owner. WOW
Foreclosure angel 2:21
A woman buys a stranger's foreclosed home... and gives it back to her. WFAA has the story.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/10/26/diaz.tx.foreclosure.angel.wfaa
Looks like CNN just had another person to add to their list of heroes!
A woman buys a stranger's foreclosed home... and gives it back to her. WFAA has the story.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/10/26/diaz.tx.foreclosure.angel.wfaa
Looks like CNN just had another person to add to their list of heroes!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
With new court procedures, Cook County to resume evictions
With new court procedures, Cook County to resume evictions
Sheriff Tom Dart seeks and gets assurances that tenants in foreclosed buildings are notified
By Azam Ahmed Chicago Tribune reporter
October 17, 2008
After suspending all evictions related to mortgage foreclosures in Cook County, Sheriff Tom Dart announced Thursday that he would resume those evictions starting next Monday.
The reversal comes after a week of discussions with the court officials responsible for handling mortgage foreclosures to create language that would ensure the rights of good-standing tenants in foreclosed buildings.
"After these extensive discussions, we've been assured that we're not going to be asked to evict innocent tenants," Dart said. "But if we find it going on again, we will halt evictions again if necessary."
Dart suspended all mortgage-foreclosure evictions Oct. 9 because his sheriff's deputies, who are responsible for evictions, were showing up at properties where tenants had not been informed that the buildings they were renting in were in foreclosure.
click post title for more
Sheriff Tom Dart seeks and gets assurances that tenants in foreclosed buildings are notified
By Azam Ahmed Chicago Tribune reporter
October 17, 2008
After suspending all evictions related to mortgage foreclosures in Cook County, Sheriff Tom Dart announced Thursday that he would resume those evictions starting next Monday.
The reversal comes after a week of discussions with the court officials responsible for handling mortgage foreclosures to create language that would ensure the rights of good-standing tenants in foreclosed buildings.
"After these extensive discussions, we've been assured that we're not going to be asked to evict innocent tenants," Dart said. "But if we find it going on again, we will halt evictions again if necessary."
Dart suspended all mortgage-foreclosure evictions Oct. 9 because his sheriff's deputies, who are responsible for evictions, were showing up at properties where tenants had not been informed that the buildings they were renting in were in foreclosure.
click post title for more
Friday, October 17, 2008
US Troops can find help when evicted from foreclosed rentals
Help available for military renters
Those forced out by landlord’s foreclosure are eligible for assistance
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, October 17, 2008
The government is helping some military families who have been caught up in the housing crisis sweeping America.
A change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulations now allows the government to pay local moving costs for members of the military living in rented homes that go into foreclosure.
However, not everyone affected by the crisis is eligible for this assistance.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58200
Those forced out by landlord’s foreclosure are eligible for assistance
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, October 17, 2008
The government is helping some military families who have been caught up in the housing crisis sweeping America.
A change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulations now allows the government to pay local moving costs for members of the military living in rented homes that go into foreclosure.
However, not everyone affected by the crisis is eligible for this assistance.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58200
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Renters below the radar on foreclosure mess
Sheriff Dart sees the people who paid their bills, lived within their means yet had to pay the price for someone else's mistakes. They were innocent. Renters across the country have been below the radar on their suffering in this mess from Wall Street with no one paying attention to them.
They could not afford to buy a house, so they rented houses, apartments and condos. Each and every month, they wrote out their rent check believing that if they paid their rent, they were safe. They took care of the property they were renting. Mowing lawns in front of the home they rented and being a good neighbor. They put their kids in school and they developed friendships. Yet someone else decided they were no one who mattered in all of this.
Some owners treated the property as a gain when they bought properties in order to flip them. The renter then had to worry about who would buy the property and increase their rent or evict them. It didn't matter if it was an apartment or a single family home. It happens to renters everyday. Imagine that renter happened to be you and your family?
Some owners took great care of their properties and treated the renters with respect. Yet they fell on hard times and could no longer make their mortgage payments. Again, it didn't matter to the bank that the people living in the property did the right, responsible thing every month.
Neighborhoods have been devastated in the process. Good neighbors suddenly gone leaving behind an empty property with grass growing wildly next to their freshly mowed lawn. Boarded up windows replace broken glass because vandals strike an easy target. The house sits empty for month after month.
Instead of the bank collecting the rent that was able to be paid until the property could be sold, the bank just let the property go to hell. Makes no sense at all. Empty houses decrease property value but the banks fail to understand this. Aside from the moral issue of evicting someone who has been paying their bills, there is the best interests of the share holders of the bank itself. No one wins when a property is left vacant.
Sheriff Dart, I say BRAVO!!!
They could not afford to buy a house, so they rented houses, apartments and condos. Each and every month, they wrote out their rent check believing that if they paid their rent, they were safe. They took care of the property they were renting. Mowing lawns in front of the home they rented and being a good neighbor. They put their kids in school and they developed friendships. Yet someone else decided they were no one who mattered in all of this.
Some owners treated the property as a gain when they bought properties in order to flip them. The renter then had to worry about who would buy the property and increase their rent or evict them. It didn't matter if it was an apartment or a single family home. It happens to renters everyday. Imagine that renter happened to be you and your family?
Some owners took great care of their properties and treated the renters with respect. Yet they fell on hard times and could no longer make their mortgage payments. Again, it didn't matter to the bank that the people living in the property did the right, responsible thing every month.
Neighborhoods have been devastated in the process. Good neighbors suddenly gone leaving behind an empty property with grass growing wildly next to their freshly mowed lawn. Boarded up windows replace broken glass because vandals strike an easy target. The house sits empty for month after month.
Instead of the bank collecting the rent that was able to be paid until the property could be sold, the bank just let the property go to hell. Makes no sense at all. Empty houses decrease property value but the banks fail to understand this. Aside from the moral issue of evicting someone who has been paying their bills, there is the best interests of the share holders of the bank itself. No one wins when a property is left vacant.
Sheriff Dart, I say BRAVO!!!
Illinois sheriff: No foreclosure evictions on my watch
Story Highlights
Sheriff Thomas Dart says he is suspending foreclosure evictions in Cook County
Dart: "These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people."
Illinois Bankers Association opposes plan, says sheriff could be found in contempt
Cook County expected to exceed 43,000 foreclosure cases this year
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said Wednesday he is suspending foreclosure evictions in Cook County, which had been on track to reach a record number of evictions, many because of mortgage foreclosures.
He said many of the evictions involve renters who are paying their rent on time but are being thrown out because the landlord has fallen behind on mortgage payments.
Mortgage companies are supposed to identify a building's occupants before asking for an eviction, but sheriff's deputies routinely find that the mortgage companies have not done so, he said.
"These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people, and don't care who's in the building," Dart said. "They simply want their money and don't care who gets hurt along the way.
"On top of it all, they want taxpayers to fund their investigative work for them. We're not going to do their jobs for them anymore. We're just not going to evict innocent tenants. It stops today."
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/08/chicago.evictions/index.html
Friday, October 3, 2008
Fannie Mae "Mortgage forgiven for 90 year old who shot herself"
Mortgage forgiven for woman who shot self
Fannie Mae said today it will set aside the loan of a woman who shot herself as sheriff's deputies tried to evict her from her foreclosed home. Addie Polk of Akron, Ohio, became a symbol of the nation's home mortgage crisis when she was hospitalized after shooting herself at least twice in the upper body Wednesday afternoon. full story
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No comment from me aside from I wonder how many other people have done the same thing for the same reason.
Fannie Mae said today it will set aside the loan of a woman who shot herself as sheriff's deputies tried to evict her from her foreclosed home. Addie Polk of Akron, Ohio, became a symbol of the nation's home mortgage crisis when she was hospitalized after shooting herself at least twice in the upper body Wednesday afternoon. full story
click link for more
No comment from me aside from I wonder how many other people have done the same thing for the same reason.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
VA Can Help Veterans Avoid Foreclosure
VA Can Help Veterans Avoid Foreclosure
Wednesday June 25, 2008
The Veterans Administration (VA) is making a special effort to assist veterans who are having trouble making their home mortgage payments.
"VA is reaching out to veterans -- both those who use our home-loan guaranty program and those who don’t take advantage of our guaranties -- to keep people in their homes," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake in a press release. "I’m proud of our solid record of success in helping veterans and active-duty personnel deal with financial crises."
By beefing up the staff at its regional loan centers, VA can now provide financial counselors to personally offer advice and even work out special financing arrangements to help veterans and active duty personnel with VA-guarantied loans avoid foreclosure.
The VA can work directly with the lenders on the veteran’s behalf to establish repayment plans, forbearance, and loan modifications that can help veterans keep their homes.
To obtain help from a VA financial counselor, veterans can call VA toll-free at 1-877-827-3702 or visit the VA's home loan guaranty program Web site.
Also See:
VA Releases 2008 Veterans Benefits Booklet
Veteran's Suicide Prevention Hotline Begins Operation
http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2008/06/25/va-can-help-veterans-avoid-foreclosure.htm
Wednesday June 25, 2008
The Veterans Administration (VA) is making a special effort to assist veterans who are having trouble making their home mortgage payments.
"VA is reaching out to veterans -- both those who use our home-loan guaranty program and those who don’t take advantage of our guaranties -- to keep people in their homes," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake in a press release. "I’m proud of our solid record of success in helping veterans and active-duty personnel deal with financial crises."
By beefing up the staff at its regional loan centers, VA can now provide financial counselors to personally offer advice and even work out special financing arrangements to help veterans and active duty personnel with VA-guarantied loans avoid foreclosure.
The VA can work directly with the lenders on the veteran’s behalf to establish repayment plans, forbearance, and loan modifications that can help veterans keep their homes.
To obtain help from a VA financial counselor, veterans can call VA toll-free at 1-877-827-3702 or visit the VA's home loan guaranty program Web site.
Also See:
VA Releases 2008 Veterans Benefits Booklet
Veteran's Suicide Prevention Hotline Begins Operation
http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2008/06/25/va-can-help-veterans-avoid-foreclosure.htm
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