Tuesday 3rd December
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Wells Fargo’s Tolstedt Did Exactly What She Was Supposed to Do
Written on 13 Sep, 2016 at 5:15
See, I thought that working at a bank like Wells Fargo would mean having to persuade customers to open new accounts. So, obviously I'm no Carrie Tolstedt.... (Continue reading)
OCC Clamps Down on 6Â Banks for Noncompliance with 2011 Consent Orders
Written on 17 Jun, 2015 at 23:09
Servicers were cited for failing to respond to borrower requests for loan modifications, not making a good-faith effort to prevent foreclosures and not having systems in place to track progress.... (Continue reading)
Wells Fargo Got the Message from Mandelman’s DOERS… 72-year-old with Alzheimers Will Die at Home
Written on 8 May, 2015 at 16:53
Thank you to my DOERS who DID SOMETHING to let Wells Fargo know how they felt about what was about to happen to Linda Normand. And thank you to Wells Fargo for DOING the RIGHT THING for Linda... (Continue reading)
Wells Fargo is Evicting a 72 Year-old Woman with Advanced Alzheimer’s – Will you try to help stop this from happening?
Written on 24 Apr, 2015 at 15:00
I don’t know why the bank wants to evict a 72 year-old woman with advanced Alzheimer’s. I don’t know why there aren’t laws to prevent such a thing from happening. ... (Continue reading)
Top 10 Most Extreme Sports (that haven’t been invented yet.)
Written on 18 Nov, 2014 at 5:22
Type “extreme sports†into YouTube’s search bar today and you may not even believe what you see. There’s no question that extreme sports have gotten way more extreme than they’ve ever been in the past. In fact, some of what... (Continue reading)
RealtyTrac’s Blomquist: The Foreclosure Crisis is Well Behind Us. Mandelman: Oh, Shut-up Daren.Â
Written on 20 Sep, 2014 at 16:04
Frankly, I’m both tired of being proven right and shocked that it hasn't happened sooner and by someone with even more intellectual prominence. Derwood Blomquist just assured the nation that the foreclosure crisis was… what were the exact words... (Continue reading)
Patience is more than just a virtue… it could save your home from foreclosure.
Written on 8 Sep, 2014 at 16:30
Here are my 12 RULES for Contacting Servicers... Getting your loan modified is easier today than its ever been… that’s a fact. But coming to the table with the baggage of whatever happened last time will only increase the... (Continue reading)
Loan Modification Misinformation or Lies… I Just Can’t Take Much More of ThisÂ
Written on 3 Sep, 2014 at 18:50
It’s been six years since this crisis began, and it’s shocking how far we haven’t come as far as loan modifications are concerned. But, at this point it’s not the servicers that are causing most of the problems… it’s... (Continue reading)
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)
Finally, Florida & Connecticut AGs Shut Down Mass Joinder Lawsuit Scams
Written on 12 Aug, 2014 at 9:15
The real danger of mass joinder lawsuit scams is that the homeowners wouldn’t find out for several years that they’d been scammed, when finally a court dismissed their suits, and they were harder for authorities to police and shut down... (Continue reading)
I Don’t Care What the Media Says, Housing Market is Horrible, and Homeowners Still Suffering through the Loan Mod Process
Written on 5 Aug, 2014 at 19:51
I know what sorts of headlines run rampant through the media these days. It’s nothing new… it’s been going on non-stop since at least 2008. It’s also utter and complete nonsense.... (Continue reading)
U.S. News & World Report Presents 4 Alternatives to a Reverse Mortgage
Written on 30 Jul, 2014 at 10:42
If a company was misinforming seniors about reverse mortgages with deceptive advertising in order to sell them on reverse mortgages, everyone would be disgusted and demand that it stop. So, why would anyone be any less outraged with U.S.... (Continue reading)
The 2 Attorneys that Won $16 million Jury Verdict Against PHH Mortgage – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 28 Jul, 2014 at 18:20
This is not the first decision that punished a servicer for mistreating a homeowner in the loan modification process, in fact this past year there have been a dozen or more around the country. I think it's safe to... (Continue reading)
Meet the Lawyers who Won $16 Million for CA Homeowner – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 26 Jul, 2014 at 8:53
The last thing I wanted to do, however, was write about the decision as being some sort of major victory for homeowners, only to find out that the decision was overturned on appeal next year, because frankly...... (Continue reading)
Helping a Homeowner Succeed with Bank of America/SPS Loan Mod is Like Mardi Gras in June!
Written on 1 Jul, 2014 at 0:15
The homeowner below who wrote to me a couple of days ago to thank me for helping her get her Bank of America/SPS loan modified, is one of the homeowners that I hope I know forever. Because Margaret Saizan... (Continue reading)
Even on Some of the Most Progressive Porches in America, Foreclosures Not Well Understood
Written on 30 Jun, 2014 at 20:03
Okay, so I decided that I would do it… I’d bring up the topic of the ongoing foreclosure crisis. These were my peeps and it’s not like I don’t know a thing or two about the subject matter… maybe... (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)
Hartford Beats Out Newark for Most Underwater Mortgages… What to Do, What to Do?
Written on 3 Jun, 2014 at 19:20
However, as it turns out, Newark’s housing market isn’t in the worst shape of any U.S. city. To visit the city with that distinction, you need to head north from Newark about 125 miles… and when you get to... (Continue reading)
Here Come the Happy Housing Numbers, but Foreclosures Up Year-Over-Year
Written on 26 May, 2014 at 1:43
In other words, the housing market hasn’t recovered, and won’t recover because it can’t recover until the underlying fundamentals change, and that won’t happen for a long, long time. It certainly won’t happen as long as we refuse to... (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)
Why Does Ocwen Want to Modify Loans? Answer: Because they profit by doing so.
Written on 10 May, 2014 at 2:08
The thing is that no one wants to think that the horror show we’ve all witnessed these last five years hasn’t been part of a nefarious plot to steal homes and take over the world somehow. That would at... (Continue reading)
Mortgage Resolution Partners’ Chairman, Steven Gluckstern Says Eminent Domain Plan will Go Forward – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 24 Apr, 2014 at 22:14
Steven Gluckstern is the Executive Chairman of Mortgage Resolution Partners ("MRP"), the company that has been advising cities and municipalities all over the country, and most notably Richmond, California, in their use of eminent domain to take over underwater loans... (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)
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)
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)
Following in the Rich Tradition of Appraisal Fraud, Servicers Using Zillow® for Home Values
Written on 26 Mar, 2014 at 6:31
Using a Zestimate to determine a home’s value is almost like trying to make your mortgage payment using Monopoly money. And yet, homeowners and others involved in loan modifications from around the country have confirmed being told by Chase,... (Continue reading)
Dave Dayen Does Great Job Describing “Government Cowardice†and Donovan’s Complicity “Selling†the National Mortgage Settlement
Written on 23 Mar, 2014 at 21:24
Dayen’s article is still an outstanding piece of work that I very much appreciated. It saved me from having to read Smith’s final report, and he wrote it in such a way that I think it represents the perfect... (Continue reading)
Is Eminent Domain for Underwater Loans Good for Homeowners? A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 17 Mar, 2014 at 4:28
The man who wrote the plan to use eminent domain to take over underwater loans and write them down for homeowners that started in Richmond in earnest, but is now being considered in one form or another by something... (Continue reading)
Is Eminent Domain to Write Down Mortgages Unconstitutional? A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 10 Mar, 2014 at 7:37
Is the use of eminent domain to take over underwater loans and write them down for homeowners unconstitutional? Will the financial services industry tie up the plan to use eminent domain in the courts for years? Find out... (Continue reading)
What I Know About Loan Modifications – 2014
Written on 4 Mar, 2014 at 3:11
I see loans get modified every day, and the people I see haven’t paid anyone for anything, or if they did, it was hundreds, not thousands of dollars. At the same time, I’ve seen people who absolutely needed someone... (Continue reading)
GUEST POST: Mortgages, now in the hands of specialty servicers, means trouble for homeowners and investors.
Written on 27 Feb, 2014 at 23:06
During the past 12 months, the rights to service millions of home loans have been shifted from large banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Chase to specialty loan servicers like Ocwen Home Loan Servicing, Nationstar and SPS,... (Continue reading)
Homeowner Loan Mod Success Story with JPMorgan Chase… and Mandelman Matters
Written on 26 Feb, 2014 at 20:36
And I have to admit that when I received the letter below, it brought a few tears to my eyes... and felt really good to know I had been able to help, but the credit really belongs to JPMorgan Chase... (Continue reading)
Eminent Domain Part 3 with Cornell Law’s Professor Robert Hockett – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 18 Feb, 2014 at 3:37
Eminent domain means taking over underwater loans and writing them down for homeowners. Professor Robert Hockett authored the plan, and is consulting with cities all over the country now considering using eminent domain to save their cities from becoming...... (Continue reading)
Eminent Domain to Solve the Housing Crisis – PART 2 with Prof. Robert Hockett
Written on 11 Feb, 2014 at 11:37
Eminent domain is not only being considered as a solution to the housing crisis by Richmond, California... there are now some TWO DOZEN CITIES across the country considering the plan authored by Professor Robert Hockett of Cornell University Law School.... (Continue reading)
Prof Robert Hockett: Need Eminent Domain to Break Securitization Suicide Pact Killing Recovery – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 26 Jan, 2014 at 12:45
Eminent domain to answer the problems with underwater mortgages? Well, the lines have been drawn… the battle appears eminent… pun intended. But Professor Hockett, the man behind the eminent domain plan, says it’s not going to get tied... (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)
Testimony to Martin Andelman from Homeowner with Bank of America Loan
Written on 7 Jan, 2014 at 9:12
Martin’s blog is the place to go for the hard cold facts surrounding the housing crisis. He does not sugar coat reality, which sometimes make his articles hard to swallow. Even so, his blog is a vast well of... (Continue reading)
I have the best readers in the world… I am humbled by their words.
Written on 7 Jan, 2014 at 8:32
Mr. Martin Andelman is providing a much -needed function to humanity with his unfailing actions and skills as a media spokesman and intermediary to the banking/loan-servicing agencies. He needs to be acknowledged and compensated in kind for the work he... (Continue reading)
The Year is New… But the Housing Hype is the Same Old Thing
Written on 2 Jan, 2014 at 17:22
Is the foreclosure crisis coming to an end... not a chance. RealtyTrac latest report is utter nonsense. The year may be new, but the B.S. is all too familiar.... (Continue reading)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – 2013
Written on 25 Dec, 2013 at 6:49
'Twas the Night Before Christmas 2013 is an Annual Political and Economic Year in Review I write every year... I've been doing it since 2007, so this year makes it seven years in a row. If you want to... (Continue reading)
Borrowers Facing Foreclosure Should be Dancing in the Streets Over ‘X’ and ‘Z’ and Here’s Why
Written on 12 Dec, 2013 at 1:38
So, there you have it… a solid check mark in the “WIN†column for consumers over the interests of the banking industry. And I don’t think Realtors, mortgage brokers, or even the banks themselves have come to fully understand... (Continue reading)
I’m Betting We Get Extended Tax Relief on Forgiven Mortgage Debt for Christmas This Year
Written on 11 Dec, 2013 at 14:30
Some are starting to worry about what is likely to happen if they let the Act’s tax relief provisions related to foreclosure avoidance expire. I simply don’t think there’s any real chance they won’t extend the Act for at... (Continue reading)
We’re Not Stopping the Foreclosure Crisis because it Affects Mostly Brown People
Written on 5 Dec, 2013 at 8:59
This is not a tragedy that discriminates. The race diminished as a result of what is being allowed to transpire will be “humanâ€. ... (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)
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)
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)
GLASKI TAKES A HIT: California Court Rejects Reasoning in Glaski Decision
Written on 13 Nov, 2013 at 2:16
It’s not a matter of the Diunugala case being considered “binding authority,†because it’s not. But the question is, will other California courts consider the case persuasive… and tend to follow the more established case law. If that’s... (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)
IBANEZ & BACK: Attorney Glenn Russell Back in Front of the Mass Supreme Court – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 9 Nov, 2013 at 5:42
Well, fast forward to today and Glenn Russell is still very much on the attack on behalf of homeowners, in fact, he just finished arguing his latest case, again in front of the Massachusetts' High Court. I don't want... (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)
The “It’s Not Real Money” Argument – Perhaps the Best Way to Make the Banks Look Good in Court
Written on 22 Oct, 2013 at 10:37
The harm caused by our government's abominable handling of the foreclosure crisis... inconceivably made worse the complete absence of any communication on the subject by the Obama Administration... has barely begun to manifest itself let alone be understood... well, seemingly... (Continue reading)
The One Number You’re Forced to Care About… Your FICO Score
Written on 22 Oct, 2013 at 7:04
About 18 months ago, I started looking for a company that helped people improve their FICO scores. Not only was I interested in finding out how such services worked for my own personal reasons, but I also figured that... (Continue reading)
Meet Thomas Cox, Esquire. A National Hero in Foreclosure Defense
Written on 14 Oct, 2013 at 21:38
Portland Maine attorney Thomas Cox is a national hero of the foreclosure crisis. Frankly, I thought everyone already knew that, but apparently not. So, if you aren't already familiar with what Tom has done and continues to do... (Continue reading)
3 out of 3 Dismissed WITH Prejudice! Tom Cox for the Homeowner – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 13 Oct, 2013 at 1:35
Stewart, Sawyer and Oathout… three Maine homeowners… three separate foreclosure cases… each dismissed with prejudice, meaning none of the servicers trying to foreclose gets another chance at foreclosure. And Maine’s foremost foreclosure defense attorney, Tom Cox, gets the credit... (Continue reading)
Deadly Clear Blog is Dead Wrong on UETA, E-Sign & Foreclosure… A Guest Post by Attorney Tom Cox
Written on 10 Oct, 2013 at 16:29
Here's a Guest Post by Tom Cox in response to a Deadly Clear post, "Is the Promissory Note Even Enforceable?" But the short answer is that the only thing that's deadly clear about the post is that if you try... (Continue reading)
Painless Saving: Tricking Yourself into Saving a lot More Money
Written on 9 Oct, 2013 at 9:03
So, now I’m going to attempt the impossible. I’m going to show you how to beat back the obstacles to saving more… by tricking yourself into saving more… painlessly. Without you feeling it at all. Seriously... you... (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)
Hear Tom Cox Fight Foreclosure in Maine Supreme Court – Color Commentary by Max Gardner
Written on 24 Sep, 2013 at 10:13
That's right, as Tom Cox fights to save his client's home from foreclosure, I ask Max Gardner to help us better understand what's going on and why... the background behind Tom's most penetrating arguments... and why it's such a specialized... (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)
Data shows Nationstar Approves Loan Modifications at Much Lower Rate than Big Banks
Written on 2 Sep, 2013 at 13:35
Look, as a business person, I do understand the impetus here. Bank of America’s CEO has a fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder value, and let’s face it... servicing mortgages these days simply can’t be worth the money involved. ... (Continue reading)
Court Denies Bank of America’s Petition for Re-hearing in Glaski Decision
Written on 30 Aug, 2013 at 6:47
Regardless of what happens going forward, perhaps this case and related decisions will lead to an increased willingness by state courts to take more care to examine the issues presented by homeowners and their lawyers, and lessen their tendency to... (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)
Fannie, Freddie and FHA Finally Increase Homeowners’ Ability to Modify Mortgages
Written on 18 Jul, 2013 at 9:24
Ladies and Gentlemen... finally... ... after five years of sheer torture... introducing a “No-Doc†loan mod. The FHFA says modified interest rates will be FIXED... terms will extend to 40 years... and some borrowers won’t be required to pay... (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)
I’ve Seen More for Homeowners from Bank of America than Any Other Servicer By Far
Written on 9 Jul, 2013 at 5:44
One homeowner that I contacted Bank of America about, a disabled vet, ended up with a fixed interest rate of one tenth of one percent for forty years. And on more than one occasion, I saw the bank buy... (Continue reading)
Everything You Need to Know About Mortgage Backed Securities with Impac President William Ashmore
Written on 27 Jun, 2013 at 18:28
It's Bill Ashmore, President of Impac Mortgage... answering questions about the ins and outs of mortgage backed securities and the meltdown that began in 2007. ... (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)
What Happens in Nevada with Foreclosures, Ends Up on Mandelman Matters
Written on 25 Jun, 2013 at 4:03
It absolutely fascinates me, for example, that the Nevada legislature, in amending the law, took the time to write in a sentence saying: “require an affidavit containing a local or toll-free telephone number at which borrowers can obtain the current... (Continue reading)
Mandelman Appears on Washington State Public Television Show on Foreclosures …
Written on 23 Jun, 2013 at 23:59
I was asked by Janet Reiner to appear on her community access television show about the foreclosure crisis and I agreed. Along with me was John Wright from Piggybank Blog and I think the whole thing is worth... (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)
What Makes a Mortgage a “Bad Loan?” I’m Confused.
Written on 20 May, 2013 at 4:43
Or do we only judge a loan to be “bad†after it defaults, and because it defaults? Assuming there are NOT predatory practices involved, is a loan “good†until it defaults and then it becomes “bad.†And is... (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)
Illinois Latest State to Make Foreclosing Much Harder
Written on 23 Feb, 2013 at 10:22
Okay, so that’s GAME OVER for the State of Illinois. Ball four... take a hike... we’ll see you back here in 2014 or 2015. Take some time off, you deserve it. ... (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)
Spire Law Group’s Mass Torte Lawsuit Seeks $43 Trillion from Banks – Former AG Says it’s a FRAUD
Written on 26 Oct, 2012 at 21:43
They call it a "mass torte," but it can also go by the name "mass joinder," or "multi-plaintif," or whatever other term d'art it might be using tomorrow, but no matter what it's called, the person calling to tell you... (Continue reading)
The Foreclosure Crisis – We Won’t Be Able to Fix It, Until We Understand It
Written on 10 Oct, 2012 at 6:26
By understanding the truth of what happened and why at these two pivotal moments in time, everything else will fall into place, for it was these two moments that set the course for a global economic downturn that, if history... (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)
It’s National Mortgage Servicers Settlement Compliance Day!
Written on 3 Oct, 2012 at 18:32
Per the settlement agreement, Smith will be testing the servicers adherence to the new rules using 29 defined metrics to assess such breaches as improper trustee sales, wrongful denial of modification, the use of fraudulent affidavits in the foreclosure process,... (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)
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)
Just Another Wells Fargo Tale. Mr. Stumpf, With All Due Respect…
Written on 15 Jun, 2012 at 10:15
Wells Fargo denied her application for a loan modification after roughly 18 months of trying. The letter said, “we carefully reviewed your… blah, blah, blah… and the investor has declined to modify your mortgage.†... (Continue reading)
Wells Fargo Hates Me! Bank Freezes, Closes Wrong Account
Written on 14 Jun, 2012 at 7:59
Wells Fargo Bank CEO John Stumpf Did you see what happened yesterday? Â It’s hysterical, really. Â I mean, not for Aaron Krowne at ML-Implode, or Michael Nazarinia at Rest Report Matters… you see, Wells Fargo was shooting at me… but shot... (Continue reading)
Inside the Mind of JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon
Written on 6 Jun, 2012 at 22:21
What goes on in Jamie Dimon's head? He loses billions in a few weeks and then goes on Sunday morning talk shows looking like he's just written a cookbook or whatever, saying that he's getting tired of people hating... (Continue reading)
In the Words of Goldman Sachs CEO, Lord Blankcheck…
Written on 2 Jun, 2012 at 22:15
So, have you ever wondered what Goldman Sachs CEO is saying when the cameras aren't on, own what goes on under that highly polished dome of his? Well, I sure have. ... (Continue reading)
My Financial Recovery Plan for the Middle Class: Whistle While You Work
Written on 2 Jun, 2012 at 11:27
There's no reason to wait another day to begin building your Whislteblowing Futures Empire. It requires the smallest if investments, and the leverage involved can turn out to be off the charts... I mean, we're talking tens of thousands... (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)
Wells Fargo gives $22,000 to Suicide Hotline… A gift the bank can use too.
Written on 16 May, 2012 at 13:01
Wells Fargo “stepped up†with a $22,000 “gift.†Is that how that should ideally be phrased? I suppose it’s fine. But, having spent the last few days writing and talking about Norm Rousseau, who took his own... (Continue reading)