Tuesday 3rd December
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And Here’s to You Mr. & Mrs. Robinson – Will Quiet Title Hold Up in California?
Written on 29 Aug, 2014 at 20:33
I just want to point out that California homeowners should not be in any sort of hurry to follow in the footsteps of Robinson v. MERS. While I understand why many homeowners would describe this case in positive terms…... (Continue reading)
IF YOU’RE  62+ AND STILL PAYING A MORTGAGE… Here are 7 Reasons You Can End Up in Foreclosure and How to Protect Your Home Now
Written on 26 Aug, 2014 at 18:22
Now, I’m not saying that anyone should have known about any of this. The fact is that his article, and others I’ve written in the recent past, appear to be the first in the country to propose switching to... (Continue reading)
New York Launches New Foreclosure Avoidance Program… Hundreds Could be Saved?
Written on 29 Jun, 2014 at 8:03
The NYS MAP program will be available in Long Island only starting on September 15th, and elsewhere in the State of New York as of October 15th. Loans made under the program can, among other things, be used to... (Continue reading)
Major Media Misinforms, Scares Seniors on Reverse Mortgages
Written on 23 May, 2014 at 7:51
I can’t help but wonder how many seniors have made less favorable decisions as a result of biased and wholly inaccurate reporting on reverse mortgages, but it’s impossible for me to believe that it’s not quite a few. How... (Continue reading)
The blogger, lawyer, banker and borrower: A letter from home thanks to Bank of America.
Written on 20 May, 2014 at 8:04
All we ever wanted was a fixed loan. Between Martin and Nathan Fransen's time and dedication to my family we received a loan modification. The part that to this day will bring tears to my eyes is... (Continue reading)
We All Agree: We want to keep people in their homes if possible… sort of.
Written on 10 May, 2014 at 21:33
So, if Wells Fargo was now willing to allow Arthur to sell the home he’d built and lived in since 1988 for $375,000… why not sell the home to Arthur for $375,000, and Arthur would use a reverse mortgage for... (Continue reading)
Tom Deutsch of the ASF on Eminent Domain & Loan Modifications – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 15 Apr, 2014 at 12:34
If Professor Robert Hockett is the man behind the plan to use eminent domain to take over underwater loans and write them down for homeowners, Tom Deutsch is his arch nemesis. This is an opportunity to hear how the... (Continue reading)
It was an honor to help him get his loan modified…
Written on 14 Apr, 2014 at 21:18
It was an honor to help Arlie Matthews get his loan modified with Bank of America. At the times when I sit and wonder why I've done what I've done, and how I can possibly continue doing it for... (Continue reading)
Dear Fellow Travelers… a letter from a Mandelman Matters reader.
Written on 12 Apr, 2014 at 1:18
I was not involved in her foreclosure battle. She wrote to me because she wanted to tell other homeowners what she came to discover about Mandelman Matters after going through the same sort of journey that far to many... (Continue reading)
Garfield In & Garfield Out. Neil’s Wrong on Servicer Advances.
Written on 9 Apr, 2014 at 5:10
When it comes to legal theories related to foreclosure, Neil Garfield’s Living Lies Blog would have to be considered nothing short of jam packed. An attorney, now practicing law in Florida, his ideas about foreclosure defense could be described... (Continue reading)
Apparently White House is PLEASED with HAMP and Housing?
Written on 8 Apr, 2014 at 6:05
I’m actually relieved that the White House knows about the millions of delinquencies, underwater and effectively underwater loans… that sales have been “slowing†since last July, but slowing even more so since the first of the year. I’m so... (Continue reading)
Attorney Tom Cox on Christopher Whalen, Servicers, Loan Mods and Me – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 3 Apr, 2014 at 8:26
HousingWire posted Tom's response to Chris' piece, Chris responded with another post on HousingWire... then Tom came back with a post on Naked Capitalism, with commentary by Yves, and somewhere in there Adam Levitin responded too. Lord only knows... (Continue reading)
Christopher Whalen Quotes Me on HousingWire, Then Tom Cox Slams Me and Whalen on HousingWire
Written on 29 Mar, 2014 at 22:10
So, here’s how my day went today… It started with Christopher Whalen quoting me in his article on HousingWire. Chris had told me yesterday that he was planning on quoting me in an article, but I didn’t know when... (Continue reading)
Frank & Brian Try to Help Salespeople Overcome Call Reluctance
Written on 24 Mar, 2014 at 3:51
Call reluctance isn’t some psychological problem that you can cure by talking to yourself or by being coached to pick up the phone within 30 minutes. You know why you’re not calling your prospects… it’s because you have nothing... (Continue reading)
POWER TOOLS for Investor Denials, the NPV Discussion, and Pushing a Servicer to Modify a Loan
Written on 11 Mar, 2014 at 9:09
Unfortunately, as so many homeowners have learned the hard way, it’s not easy to figure out what’s right and what’s not about your loan modification application, and so many homeowners fail when they could have succeeded had they known what... (Continue reading)
Underwater and Unsolvable – A Lifetime of Homeowner Mortgage Debt
Written on 8 Mar, 2014 at 0:45
There should be no question in anyone’s mind that because our housing markets have not recovered neither has our economy. It’s not that we need jobs to improve the housing markets, it’s that we need to fix housing in... (Continue reading)
Pittsburgh in the 1970s – Terrible Times & Terrible Towels
Written on 3 Feb, 2014 at 8:40
But watching them... well, it's just never been the same as it once was, back in the days when the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the NFL, and commanded the attention, respect and adoration of a city to such a degree that... (Continue reading)
Why Can’t We FIX Something About the Loan Modification Process?
Written on 16 Jan, 2014 at 7:28
I’ve seen my government fail at lots of things over the years, but this failure is too important and too costly to allow it to continue. We’ve lost more than five million homes to-date… and recent forecasts show we’re... (Continue reading)
Bay Area Homeowner Writes to Say Thank You to Mandelman Matters and Bank of America
Written on 11 Dec, 2013 at 4:38
Ahsan Kushkaki discovered Mandelman Matters after Bank of America denied his loan modification. He was desperately seeking someone who might be able to help him explain the situation to the bank and after finding several of the thank you... (Continue reading)
NOW YOU CAN KNOW… How Much Your Investor is Losing by Foreclosing on Your Home.
Written on 30 Nov, 2013 at 5:06
I think the entire country is under the impression that servicers foreclose because it’s in the best financial interests of the investors, and perhaps sometimes they do… but data from this trust and others I’ve looked at, to my way... (Continue reading)
The Rush for Rentals by Investors Turns Into a Run for the Exit
Written on 26 Nov, 2013 at 23:55
In addition, spurned on by the Fed’s QE and zero-interest-rate policy, Lord knows how many smaller companies and individual investors also jumped on the bandwagon, and as it has the tendency to do, the insanity drove up home prices at... (Continue reading)
I SAY GIVE HIM TWO – Ernie Banks Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Written on 21 Nov, 2013 at 7:34
Today, Ernie Banks was at the White House being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. It is the highest civilian honor that this country bestows, and this year was the 50th anniversary of the award,... (Continue reading)
We’re Looking at a Retirement Crisis, Because We’re Gambling Unnecessarily
Written on 18 Nov, 2013 at 17:46
It’s like we’re “Risk Junkies.†What could be riskier than betting on the stock market going up and future tax rates staying the same or going down? Are we nuts? The answer is… we’ve been lied to. ... (Continue reading)
NOW AVAILABLE: The RMBS Trust/Modification Analysis Report for Homeowners
Written on 15 Nov, 2013 at 21:11
With this report, when your servicer says they can’t do something… you’ll know whether what they’ve said is accurate or not. Imagine the power of being able to show a mediator exactly what’s been done to modify the other... (Continue reading)
Realtors & Mortgage Brokers: Toughest Year for Housing Markets Since 2010 Ahead
Written on 11 Nov, 2013 at 16:51
This past September signified the fourth straight month of a decline in existing home sales, while mortgage interest rates hit two-year highs. The Mortgage Bankers Association index of mortgage activity is now at its lowest point since November of... (Continue reading)
The Discovery of Robo-Signing – Memorable Moments from the Foreclosure Crisis
Written on 6 Nov, 2013 at 20:24
By now the term "robo-signing" has practically become a household word. But it wasn't always that way. Just a few years ago no one had ever heard the term before. So, where did it all begin... and... (Continue reading)
The Weather In India – Memorable Moments from the Foreclosure Crisis
Written on 6 Nov, 2013 at 20:14
President Obama said that all I needed to do to avoid foreclosure was get my loan modified. He said to just call my bank directly so I did. And I had the most interesting cultural experience. That... (Continue reading)
Re-Default Redoux… The Debate Over Loan Mods is as Stupid as Ever.
Written on 5 Nov, 2013 at 19:38
Another SIGTARP report shows Treasury knows nothing about loan modifications. Big surprise. Look, stop bothering Treasury... they don't want to know, so leave them alone. ... (Continue reading)
PODCAST: Saving Homes from Foreclosure in Ohio Today… with Ohio’s Former Attorney General Marc Dann
Written on 30 Oct, 2013 at 10:28
Marc Dann Explains What Homeowners Need to Know About Foreclosure in Ohio... on this 12-Minute Documentary-style Video... When I visited with Marc this past year in his Cleveland offices, I interviewed him on camera in order to produce this 12-minute... (Continue reading)
You’re not STUCK with a low credit score. And you CAN’T afford to ignore it.
Written on 29 Oct, 2013 at 16:48
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group showed that nearly 80 percent of credit reports contained inaccuracies, and the mistakes in a quarter of those could result in the individual being denied for credit. 60 Minutes reported that a government study... (Continue reading)
Straightening Out the LA Times, Fannie, Freddie, Strategic Defaults and Deficiency Judgments
Written on 22 Oct, 2013 at 19:59
Writing about strategic defaults for the LA Times this time out was Lew Sichelman, whose ability to remain oblivious to his interweaving of unrelated facts throughout the article was truly something to behold. ... (Continue reading)
SECURITIZATION: How our society changed when we learned to turn lead into gold.
Written on 30 Sep, 2013 at 13:07
Before securitization children were raised receiving fewer presents for their birthdays and holidays and I don’t need a source for that statistic. Water is wet, the sky is blue, and that’s a fact. Hotel rooms never cost $600... (Continue reading)
Loan Modifications: Selling Loans Means Being Sold Down the River
Written on 25 Sep, 2013 at 17:24
Chase sold the woman’s loan to PennyMac. Simple as that. Had her modification already been made permanent, PennyMac would have had to honor the modified payment amount, but because she was only in a trial modification, Chase is... (Continue reading)
New Abuses in the Foreclosure Process Make the Dire… Dreadful
Written on 23 Sep, 2013 at 9:09
More than any other single factor, shame has made it possible for this country to lose over six million homes to foreclosure... and relative to the number of homes lost, they’ve been lost without a peep uttered in protest. ... (Continue reading)
Two -Year Housing Recovery Mirage Now Over… Bernanke Hoping to Retire Before Everyone Notices
Written on 23 Aug, 2013 at 20:42
At the end of 2010, the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage was just under 5 percent... 4.97% to be more precise. Over the next 28 months actions taken by the Fed pushed that rate down as low as... (Continue reading)
The National Debate Over Loan Modification Re-defaults is Stupid
Written on 30 Jul, 2013 at 8:45
Not surprisingly, the combined effect of the three high-profile reports on borrower performance after having their loans modified, made headlines that have sparked a national debate... yet again. It was a stupid debate back in 2009, and it’s an even... (Continue reading)
Why I haven’t written about the declarations by ex-Bank of America employees.
Written on 22 Jul, 2013 at 8:30
I’m watching a fight for millions in cash that involves banks, pissed off ex-bank employees, and class action lawyers... and I’m supposed to be able to pick out which one is telling the most truth? Isn’t that like asking... (Continue reading)
A Sword in a Field – Correlation is Not Causation
Written on 16 Jul, 2013 at 12:57
It’s easy to misinterpret something about this crisis. But, it’s important that we try to guard against that happening whenever possible for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is that being wrong means wasting time that... (Continue reading)
Foreclosures Impact One in 10 Children in this Country Today, Report Shows
Written on 10 Jul, 2013 at 14:49
No matter, the more important conclusion reached by the report is that, “Nearly four years later, the problem shows no signs of abating.†And isn’t that just a lovely thought that made me throw up in my mouth a... (Continue reading)
My Experience with Bank of America, Martin Andelman and Getting My Loan Modified
Written on 8 Jul, 2013 at 20:26
I wrote this to you and other homeowners because I’ve been a witness to what Martin’s help can lead to and what a homeowner can accomplish even when that homeowner has stopped believing that anything can work. Just because... (Continue reading)
What people NEED to know about the foreclosure crisis in 2013 & 2014
Written on 27 Jun, 2013 at 5:50
My point is that the increasing sales volume of non-performing loans means the unthinkable... that it’s going to get even worse for homeowners who are seriously delinquent and need to get their loans modified in order to keep their homes.... (Continue reading)
Ohio Foreclosures Accelerate… Now Third Highest in Nation
Written on 26 Jun, 2013 at 2:40
And that’s not even the worst of it. Sheriff’s auctions in Ohio were up 73 percent in April compared with a year ago reaching the HIGHEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS.... (Continue reading)
Using the California Homeowner Bill of Rights to Fight Foreclosure
Written on 23 Jun, 2013 at 22:45
So... for California homeowners facing foreclosure... who know the facts and have been unable to get a resolution to their situation... there's the California Homeowner Bill of Rights. Other states are considering adopting the same sort of legislation and... (Continue reading)
I’m Not a Total Idiot, You Know.
Written on 10 Jun, 2013 at 21:41
So, I know... you want to read about how a homeowner won some major victory in the courts somewhere... or how someone filed and got quiet title to their property... or how a bank couldn't figure out who owned a... (Continue reading)
PART TWO – How to Take Your Power Back When at Risk of Foreclosure
Written on 10 Jun, 2013 at 18:48
Understand... I’m not telling you which path you should choose, but I am saying that you should choose one and then do everything in your power to achieve the goals that lie at the end of that path. Just... (Continue reading)
Discussing Foreclosure Crisis Solutions with Impac Mortgage CEO Joe Tomkinson
Written on 10 Jun, 2013 at 4:39
I think Impac has proven that it has the capability and desire to be a meaningful part of the solution to the foreclosure crisis... they successfully modified tens of thousands of loans, and in general, they got loans modified in... (Continue reading)
Foreclosure Surprise! Stomping on Maryland Homeowners
Written on 20 May, 2013 at 7:45
So, how do I know where the other undiscovered and unreported stockpiles of foreclosures are hiding as the banks wait until they feel like recognizing losses, having fixed the document problem to the degree that they can start booting people... (Continue reading)
One Bank Did Right by Homeowners & Shareholders – A Story You Haven’t Heard Before
Written on 17 May, 2013 at 17:40
There is one mortgage banker that did it right for their shareholders and borrowers. They didn’t take TARP funds or any sort of tax-payer funded bailout... instead they took their losses, restructured the company, and protected their shareholders... ... (Continue reading)
I’m Back in the Saddle Again… What’d I miss? Nothing, unfortunately.
Written on 13 May, 2013 at 13:40
I know many have been wondering where I’ve been for the last two months from the slew of emails I’ve received, I thought I’d explain what I didn’t want to explain at the time... and let everyone know that not... (Continue reading)
Homeowner’s Scheme Makes Bad Situation Worse… Ends Up in Jail
Written on 6 Mar, 2013 at 6:40
The problem is that when we start believing things that aren’t true... even though do so might make us feel better for the moment... that’s when we lose all of our power. No one is powerful when they’ve got... (Continue reading)
About foreclosures, our housing markets, and economic recovery… oh, and lying.
Written on 14 Feb, 2013 at 22:01
Then how in the world can we be "at the bottom," of housing price declines or starting to see ANY sort of "housing recovery" as the MORONS in the media are also reporting TODAY, after receiving your press releases?... (Continue reading)
SCAM PREVENTION PODCAST #3: With the One and Only Max Gardner
Written on 13 Feb, 2013 at 9:02
Now, as anyone will tell you... Max Gardner knows this subject like the back of his hand, and he should... he's been at it for some 30 years... before the rest of us had any idea this sort of economic... (Continue reading)
SCAM PREVENTION PODCAST #2: Florida’s Consumer Protection Lawyer of the Year… Margery Golant
Written on 9 Feb, 2013 at 6:40
Margery has been representing Florida homeowners since the foreclosure crisis first began in 2007, so when it comes to SCAMS... she's literally seen everything.... (Continue reading)
SCAM PREVENTION PODCAST: What Isn’t Working for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure Today?
Written on 6 Feb, 2013 at 3:59
Foreclosure defense attorneys Matt Weidner and Tom Cox tell Mandelman what's working and what's not for homeowners in foreclosure courts. ... (Continue reading)
Are Mortgages Fraudulent? The Case from Credit River.
Written on 25 Jan, 2013 at 20:22
It’s perfectly understandable that many people don’t know what to believe anymore, after all, what we’ve seen happen all around us could drive anyone a little batty. But, understand that holding onto something that’s not true isn’t going to... (Continue reading)
View from Inside the Financial Crisis with Former Treasury Chief Economist Phillip Swagel – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 9 Jan, 2013 at 9:27
Here's your first chance to listen to Phillip Swagel on a Mandelman Matters Podcast... he'll be back again... but you don't want to miss this one because we won't be going backward in time, so click PLAY below and listen... (Continue reading)
Un-Freezing Foreclosures in the Nevada Desert – A Mandelman Matters Podcast on What Nevada’s Homeowners Need to Know
Written on 7 Jan, 2013 at 19:22
Gloria Petroni is concerned that Nevada homeowners may have been lulled into a false sense of security by AB 284 and now aren't familiar with what to do when faced with having to fight for their homes in court. ... (Continue reading)
A 10 POINT SCANDAL – CA State Bar Exec Director Dunn Should Resign
Written on 18 Dec, 2012 at 6:19
Beginning in the fall of 2011, and increasing in speed and ferocity after January 1, 2012, the State Bar begins using its newly concocted interpretation of SB 94 as a hammer to threaten and strong-arm lawyers who have received a... (Continue reading)
Homeowners: Start Your Emails… This is Your Chance for $50 Billion Principal Reductions
Written on 13 Dec, 2012 at 11:22
Please take this chance to make your voice heard, and tell everyone you know whose home is underwater they should do the same. We screamed our heads off about AIG bonuses, both in the streets and in the tens... (Continue reading)
We’re Addicted to Denying our Addiction to FHA’s Mortgage Crack
Written on 23 Nov, 2012 at 6:13
According to Moody’s Analytics, FHA's actions prevented home prices from dropping an additional 25%, which in turn saved 3 million jobs and half a trillion dollars in economic output. But now FHA is broke. Now what?... (Continue reading)
LPS Data Shows Ups and Downs of the Foreclosure Crisis
Written on 23 Oct, 2012 at 17:59
LPS also reports that as of September, 3.7 million loans were at least 30 days delinquent, but not yet in foreclosure…. and 1.53 million loans were at least 90 days delinquent, but not yet in foreclosure. Almost two million... (Continue reading)
Why I Didn’t Want to Watch the Presidential Debate Last Night
Written on 23 Oct, 2012 at 6:23
It’s foreign policy night but although each question starts out overseas, it ends up buried in our flaccid economy somewhere near Cleveland. Romney points out that Obama can’t seem to buy jobs let alone create them. ... (Continue reading)
Foreclosure Crisis Almost Over – It’s Magically Delicious
Written on 22 Oct, 2012 at 7:21
So, if the normal market had 100 buyers, where there used to be 66 repeat buyers, now there will only be 33. Where there were 25 first timers, now there will only be 12. Are you getting the... (Continue reading)
Foreclosures Are Down? RealtyTrac VP, Daren Blomquist – The Definition of Obtuse
Written on 12 Oct, 2012 at 7:42
What everyone continues to overlook is the impact that foreclosures continue to have on new foreclosures. We’ve got supposed experts yammering about how we’ll have some set number of foreclosures and then we’ll be through this mess. But... (Continue reading)
Katherine Porter to Make Sure Homeowners Get What Servicers Promised – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 4 Oct, 2012 at 9:27
Back in April of this year, they were granted 180 days to get their servicing operations ready to comply with the new standards, and as of yesterday, they'll be held to the 304 new rules for addressing the needs of... (Continue reading)
Bankers Hit Jackpot in Nevada, Supreme Court Rules 7-0… YES ON MERS
Written on 2 Oct, 2012 at 10:03
In Edelstein’s case, MERS assigned the deed of trust to Bank of New York Mellon as trustee for Countrywide. The court ruled that once the trust had both the promissory note and the assignment, it possessed the standing to... (Continue reading)
When Will the Pivotal Nature of the Foreclosure Crisis be Understood
Written on 2 Oct, 2012 at 1:08
Once you’re underwater, however, as at least half of homeowners are today, you can’t borrow against your home’s equity, nor can you sell your home, so any of those life events are likely to hit you where you live. ... (Continue reading)
Attorney John Long – State of Washington Foreclosure Better for Homeowners – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 19 Sep, 2012 at 20:38
Recently, there have been three significant developments in Washington, two from the State Supreme Court, and one having to do with the state's mediation program. And all three fell in favor of homeowners, which is a refreshing change.... (Continue reading)
Loan Modification Process Improving at BOA and Other Servicers
Written on 19 Sep, 2012 at 5:46
why would Smith publish a report whose only meaningful certainty was to scare even more homeowners away from paying attention to Bank of America's borrower outreach efforts? BOA and its peers were already having a hard time reaching... (Continue reading)
PREVIEW: Neil Barofsky talks BAILOUT on a Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 3 Aug, 2012 at 1:34
Neil Barofsky is a name I'll never forget, and it won't be hard for anyone to understand why that's the case when I tell you the reason why. Neil was the Special Inspector General for the Treasury’s Troubled Asset... (Continue reading)
No Bottom in Sight – I’m Starting to Feel Sorry for Realtors
Written on 29 Jul, 2012 at 0:54
So, this year started out depressed, as well it should have, but very quickly, and I do mean within weeks, a six-year downturn was transformed into a robust recovery based on… well… nothing really. None of the fundamentals changed,... (Continue reading)
GAO Study Finds OCC Foreclosure Review too Hard for Us to Understand
Written on 25 Jul, 2012 at 8:22
The GAO’s report, released earlier this month concluded that the OCC simply made submitting a complaint too difficult for us to understand. We couldn’t figure it out. It was over our collective heads. And so, completely... (Continue reading)
LBO AMERICA with Catherine Austin Fitts, A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 7 Jul, 2012 at 5:50
Catherine Austin Fitts has perspective on the housing and mortgage meltdown like no other. Under President George Herbert Walker Bush, she was Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at HUD, where she basically ran the Federal Housing... (Continue reading)
President Obama, Bored With the Foreclosure Crisis. That Explains A Lot, Actually.
Written on 1 Jul, 2012 at 9:07
And now I'm supposed to come to terms with the idea that the administration's bored with the topic itself? I could understand it if they were bored with something they'd mastered, although I can't for the life of me... (Continue reading)
Attention DOERS… You DID IT Again! SunTrust Responds.
Written on 1 Jul, 2012 at 0:43
Marty said that the SunTrust Bank executive said they should be able to do something to prevent her from losing her home. Marty said it was the first time in four years that she felt like someone was actually... (Continue reading)
Chase? Hello? Mr. Dimon? Are You Really Going to Do This to a Single Mom in this Situation?
Written on 29 Jun, 2012 at 17:07
It was a bad path to be on, as things turned out, but she didn’t know that for about 18 months. Right up until the day Chase sold her home without any real notice, Chase kept saying that they... (Continue reading)
Loan Modifications Stop Foreclosures, Study Shows. DOER ALERT!
Written on 29 Jun, 2012 at 9:33
Don't have time right now? MAKE TIME RIGHT NOW. Read this and DO SOMETHING.... (Continue reading)
CAR- California Assn. of Realtors Tries to Kill Homeowners Bill of Rights
Written on 28 Jun, 2012 at 22:53
Let’s let C.A.R. know that even though many of us may be losing homes today, that doesn’t make us deadbeats… it makes us strong… it makes us focused… and it makes us remember who was and who wasn’t on our... (Continue reading)
OCC Raises the Stakes to Lure Homeowners? Right?
Written on 25 Jun, 2012 at 17:30
Anyway, so that's the deal... $500 to $125,000... PLUS EQUITY! It makes it sound like the worst you can do, assuming you get past the qualifying round, is the $500, right? Five hundred's not bad, I suppose. ... (Continue reading)
Two Weeks in the Life of Mandelman Matters
Written on 25 Jun, 2012 at 6:45
It’s hard to describe what I do when I say I help homeowners. I’m not a lawyer and I never offer anything close to legal advice. I'm not a mortgage expert either. I think my value is... (Continue reading)
How Do You Take Your Catastrophe? Um, just a little at a time, please… with two Splendas.
Written on 23 Jun, 2012 at 20:21
We need growth, or we’re not getting out of this alive. It’s the only way. We can’t borrow and spend our way out of this one, like we have all the past recessions, or at least the ones... (Continue reading)
Elizabeth Warren Asks Netroots Nation a Question. Problem is, I think the answer is NO.
Written on 18 Jun, 2012 at 5:03
The real point is that we don't deserve someone like Elizabeth Warren and likely won't get her or anyone like her until we can answer her question about being ready with a resounding YES! and really mean it, as in... (Continue reading)
We’re Being Fed a Steady Diet of Econocrap
Written on 16 Jun, 2012 at 18:39
Overall, the point I’m making is that I don’t really care that the government wants to pay Scrabble-type word games with the word “recession†or “recovery.†I don’t care how they want to screw around with the unemployment rate... (Continue reading)
Things I think homeowners should know about loan modifications & HAMP-2
Written on 14 Jun, 2012 at 6:58
I’m not saying that HAMP is the best solution I could come up with, but under the circumstances, I don’t see anything better… or frankly anything close as far as keeping people in homes. I end up helping a... (Continue reading)
Should States Use Settlement Money for Deficits or Housing? Oh, So What and Who Cares?
Written on 8 Jun, 2012 at 19:02
When I saw the very first state make a grab for the settlement cash allegedly headed the state’s way, I laughed and vowed not to let it get to me. Mandelman Matters, after all, only writes about things that... (Continue reading)
What the Fed Chief is Thinking…
Written on 30 May, 2012 at 9:41
Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke communicates more than any of his predecessors, but have you found yourself increasingly wondering what in the world the man is thinking behind that shiny dome and professorial facial hair?... (Continue reading)
A New Low for the California State Bar – HOMEOWNER & LAWYER ALERT!
Written on 29 May, 2012 at 15:24
Homeowners should take great care when hiring a lawyer for any reason. And I HATE it when anyone gets ripped off for anything, especially when their home is on the line. But this article is a blatant attempt... (Continue reading)
“Tim, could you get the door?” “Sure, honey… are we expecting company?” “Not that I know of…”
Written on 21 May, 2012 at 12:19
As many as 1,000 surprise guests visited the Bethesda home of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Sunday around 5:00 PM. ... (Continue reading)
Fannie Mae Wants Consequences for Strategic Default
Written on 21 May, 2012 at 12:11
Fannie Mae hates strategic default. Then you say it’s bad for communities, Terrence, why do you think that’s the case? I mean… bad is a relative term, wouldn’t you agree. And, in terms of doing bad things... (Continue reading)
How to Strategic Default? Ask the MBA.
Written on 21 May, 2012 at 7:15
How to strategic default? There’s just one little, teeny-tiny, almost insignificant smidgeon of a problem with what the Mortgage Bankers Association’s CEO was saying: He was completely full of shit. ... (Continue reading)
Husband’s Suicide Yesterday, Wells Fargo to Evict Wife Tomorrow Anyway
Written on 14 May, 2012 at 14:03
You’re a liar, Wells Fargo. Either you knew you weren’t going to approve their loan modification, or you’re the most incompetent financial institution in the history of the world. And you don’t just do this sometimes, you do... (Continue reading)
Jamie Dimon tells Meet the Press he thinks we’re resenting “success.” He’s wrong.
Written on 14 May, 2012 at 3:26
Dimon was quoted as having said that just because his bank had been stupid, it didn’t mean that all the other banks would be equally stupid. But, see… it sort of does, right? That’s why the sort of... (Continue reading)
Former NACA Home Save Counselor Says Commissions Create Complaints
Written on 9 May, 2012 at 15:51
I’m not sure why, but meeting with a “Home Save Counselor†doesn’t make me feel like I’ll be talking with a commissioned salesperson who will be potentially making up to $1,000 on my loan modification case? A “Home Save... (Continue reading)
Debt Forgiveness – The IMF, Iceland, and the U.S. of the 1930s all say it works
Written on 7 May, 2012 at 6:25
Iceland’s mortgage write-down program happened as a result of thousands of its citizens taking to the streets demanding that something be done about the debts the people had incurred buying homes during the bubble at what turned out to be... (Continue reading)
Bar Defense Atty David Carr Exposes the CA Bar on Scammers and SB 94 – A MM Podcast
Written on 2 May, 2012 at 1:40
If you're a lawyer or real estate licensee that has been involved in helping homeowners save their homes from foreclosure over the last few years, or a homeowner struggling to understand the crisis at hand... I PROMISE... YOU DO NOT... (Continue reading)
White Powder in Envelopes Mailed to Wells Fargo in NYC – Idiots happy it’s not toxic
Written on 1 May, 2012 at 10:21
AP reported that the powder in the envelopes caused evacuations at bank branches, but no injuries, as if that last part mattered in the least. Idiots appear to be happy that the powder was found to be cornstarch… as... (Continue reading)
An Important Message about 2012 for both President Obama & Mitt Romney
Written on 30 Apr, 2012 at 8:15
In 2012, the road to the White House runs directly through the states hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis, most notably Ohio and Florida, but also Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina, et al. For the Obama campaign, I would... (Continue reading)
30 Minutes of Talking: Has Housing or Our GDP Hit Bottom?
Written on 29 Apr, 2012 at 2:49
This week on 30 MINUTES OF TALKING I'm looking at the contradictions that are being thrown at us almost every day now... this past week it was the housing market that hit bottom, according to quite a few. But... (Continue reading)
We know they’re not evil, because they’re simply not smart enough to be evil.
Written on 23 Apr, 2012 at 14:06
The European bankers are no different than is the FHFA, which is led by Ed DeMarco, the guy stopping Fannie and Freddie from reducing principal balances of mortgages. He says he won’t do it because his job is to... (Continue reading)
Thinking Out Loud… Über-Trendy Rich New Yorkers & Ethiopian Cuisine
Written on 22 Apr, 2012 at 9:34
Doesn’t it just figure that in this country, where we have so much food we that throw away inconceivable amounts on an hourly basis and literally pay farmers millions of dollars not to grow stuff… that we’d have trendy intellectuals... (Continue reading)