Wednesday 15th January
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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)
All the News that Can Confuse ““ Housing Market News Up and Down at the Same Time
Written on 27 Feb, 2014 at 0:18
On any given day, the numbers of contradictory headlines about housing markets and foreclosures are enough to present a serious health risk to anyone reading them. ... (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)
FDIC Shared Loss Agreements Did NOT Pay Off Your Loan (No Matter What AZ Court Seems to Think)
Written on 25 Feb, 2014 at 22:19
It's remarkable, if you think about it, how many people are supposedly trying to pay off your underwater mortgage once you've stopped making your mortgage payments. It's like there's a rush to pay off your mortgage once you default on... (Continue reading)
We’ve Solved a National Foreclosure Crisis Before, Why Not Now?
Written on 24 Feb, 2014 at 18:12
A large part of this protracted recession it said is due to households trying to reduce their debt levels, which in turn leads to less spending in the economy, driving the recession deeper and further.... (Continue reading)
Good News About Housing Recovery… Your Kids Will be Living With You for a Long Time
Written on 22 Feb, 2014 at 19:38
So, if you add it all up, there's only one way that U.S. housing markets are recovering... Magical thinking!... (Continue reading)
Homeowner Alert: Scammer Masquerades as Bank, Offers Fake Loan Mods
Written on 22 Feb, 2014 at 1:20
Now there are scammers masquerading as banks, offering FAKE LOAN MODIFICATIONS... and if that weren't bad enough, the fake mods require homeowners to pay thousands of dollars for nothing.... (Continue reading)
Uncertainty in the Loan Mod Process is Barrier to U.S. Economic Growth
Written on 21 Feb, 2014 at 4:03
Once a mortgage is underwater... should you get hit with a life event such as a divorce, illness, injury, job loss or income reduction... you can't sell your home... and you can't borrow against it to help you get through... (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)
Our Housing Market’s Recovery is Eminent… Get It?
Written on 10 Jan, 2014 at 11:43
Despite some very nasty threats of retaliation from Wall Street and Washington, something like two dozen new cities are now reportedly joining the efforts to potentially head off home foreclosures by using eminent domain to seize mortgages and write them... (Continue reading)
Who Doesn’t Need a Back-Up Plan for a Secure Retirement?
Written on 7 Jan, 2014 at 14:55
Maybe the wealthiest retirees can get by without taking out a reverse mortgage as a way to protect their financial futures, but for the rest of us... not having funds from a reverse mortgage available is what's risky. And... (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)
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)
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 "human". ... (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)
CNBC’s Diana Olick Has It Right, Says Housing Markets Headed for Trouble
Written on 29 Nov, 2013 at 9:39
Okay, so I'm just giving Diana a hard time... she's got a tough job being the only voice no blaming the whole housing debacle on deadbeat borrowers who all bought home they couldn't afford. Instead, Diana doesn't mention foreclosures... (Continue reading)
Thanksgiving Day Memories and What I Want for the Holidays this Year
Written on 28 Nov, 2013 at 19:06
How about if everyone who knows how to postpone a sale date, volunteers to help anyone who needs to postpone a sale date in December or at least for the first two weeks of January... in other words help postponing... (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)
GUEST POST: Don’t Be Concerned Martin Is Dead Wrong, by Michael Pines
Written on 14 Nov, 2013 at 8:53
My article was nonsense, according to Michael Pines? Well, that would certainly be disappointing, I wasn't aware that I had ever written an article that was considered nonsense by anyone. I'm not saying that everyone likes what I... (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)
Estate Planning Experts Make a To-Do List for the Complete Estate Plan ““ A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 8 Nov, 2013 at 19:30
Survey after survey has shown that at least half of American adults will pass away without a will. In 2007, a study conducted by Harris Interactive®for Martindale-Hubbell® found that, looking back three years, 55% of all adult Americans did... (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)
Another Hawaii Homeowner Writes to Thank Me for Helping Her Get a Bank of America Loan Modification
Written on 2 Nov, 2013 at 20:35
Another Hawaii homeowner writes to thank me for helping her with a loan modification at Bank of America. She's the one who did the heavy lifting, and I'm glad I was able to help push it over the finish... (Continue reading)
“Hardest Hit” Funds Apparently Hard for Government to Spend
Written on 2 Nov, 2013 at 12:16
The SIGTARP is talking about the "Hardest Hit Funds," which were the roughly $8 billion provided by the federal government in the beginning of 2010 to the states hardest hit by foreclosures in order to help their respective housing markets...... (Continue reading)
IT’S DAVID STERN DAY! This Mandelman Matters Podcast is RATED ‘R’ for language.
Written on 31 Oct, 2013 at 21:41
So, what kind of punishment do you think one gets for doing what Stern did... backdating countless assignments, forging anything that wasn't nailed down, and disregarding just about every single law related to foreclosure in the State of Florida? ... (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)
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)
Homeowner Gets Permanent Loan Modification… Promises to Pay It Forward
Written on 15 Oct, 2013 at 20:58
I just received the letter below from Melissa... a homeowner who has been reading Mandelman Matters for five years. She just received her second permanent loan modification from Bank of America and is quite pleased with the terms of... (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)
Carpe Domum! Foreclosures destroy Richmond, California.
Written on 30 Sep, 2013 at 1:26
Dear Richmond... You're being outright threatened by literally ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, and I don't think there's any question that they will, if nothing else, attempt to force you to drop the whole thing by tying you up... (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)
When Lawyers Break the Rules… The Code of Conduct for Florida Attorneys
Written on 21 Sep, 2013 at 9:00
So, what does the Florida Bar's Rules of Professional Conduct have to say about Szymoniak's representation of Mr. Figueroa, as viewed in light of the emails between the two, over that six month period when Szymoniak was Damian's lawyer... (Continue reading)
“Double Dipping Docket” is Just a Dumb Idea
Written on 18 Sep, 2013 at 7:18
The payment advanced to the trust by a servicer when a borrower fails to make his or her mortgage payment is simply a loan made pursuant to the contract between the servicer and the trust. The trust is only... (Continue reading)
Some of Lynn Szymoniak’s Millions May Belong to Someone Else
Written on 16 Sep, 2013 at 8:39
And I can say that, in my opinion, regardless of the outcome... AT BEST... Lynn Szymoniak handled the situation very, very poorly. And, AT WORST... her behavior was deceitful to the point of being unconscionable, and a total abdication... (Continue reading)
Kindergarten Loans from SallieMae Are Here!
Written on 13 Sep, 2013 at 8:37
SallieMae is now offering financing for the high costs of... kindergarten? It's even marketing loans available for pre-K, which I'm pretty sure we used to call, "nursery school." I never thought to ask my mother how much it... (Continue reading)
Glaski Attorney Richard Antognini on the Court’s Decision and What’s Next for Mr. Glaski – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 12 Sep, 2013 at 4:28
Not only will Richard leave listeners with a level of understanding specific to the Glaski decision that would otherwise be unavailable, he'll talk about other recent decisions in California that he says are very important to homeowners... he'll offer guidance... (Continue reading)
Interview with Renee Gabbard, Esq: Retirement is harder for WOMEN than MEN
Written on 10 Sep, 2013 at 18:40
On this 30 minute podcast, we will say the things that need to be said, candidly discussing the retirement and estate planning issues that are unique to women... and that if ignored for too long, can cause women to endure... (Continue reading)
I Don’t Care How Much You’re Saving for College… It’s Not Enough
Written on 9 Sep, 2013 at 9:20
Recent estimates are that American consumers owe over $1.1 trillion in such student loan debt, and one look at the cost of college tuition makes it easy to see why. They say the average graduate is coming out of... (Continue reading)
Understanding Reverse Mortgages Matters – A Podcast with Impac’s Richard Johnson
Written on 4 Sep, 2013 at 15:06
In the past, reverse mortgages were seen as something only to be used as a last resort. But, in the past we had more options for borrowing money. ... (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)
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)
A Winning Team: Meet the Lawyers for Mr. Thomas Glaski… A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 23 Aug, 2013 at 12:33
If you want to learn about what happened to Mr. Glaski... how his case went in the lower court... and how it ended up going his way in the Court of Appeal... get the to get inside scoop from... (Continue reading)
GLASKI WINS! California Court of Appeal Ruling a Landmark for Homeowners… Maybe.
Written on 22 Aug, 2013 at 16:56
So, as a result of this now published decision by California's Court of Appeal, Mr. Glaski will now be allowed to return to state court to allege that his foreclosure was wrongful based on a challenge to the validity of... (Continue reading)
Reverse Mortgage Nightmares Should Never Happen – Top 10 Misconceptions About Reverse Mortgages
Written on 2 Aug, 2013 at 21:08
I've learned that the reverse mortgage is one of those products that isn't well understood at least as often as it is. Ask anyone what they think about reverse mortgages, and you'll get answers from one end of the... (Continue reading)
Interest Rates Play Havoc with Banks, Bonds and Borrowers
Written on 1 Aug, 2013 at 8:50
Long-term interest rates rising means different things to different people, but none of it's good. Higher long-term rates makes it much more expensive for state and local governments to borrow money, and you can probably guess how that would... (Continue reading)
Homeowner Says Martin Andelman Helped Save Home After She Was Scammed Three Times
Written on 24 Jul, 2013 at 20:48
He did not take advantage of us, he worked with us without charging us any money! He gave us hope and made our dream come true. Home loan modifications do work you just have to have the right... (Continue reading)
Hawaii Homeowner Writes to Thank Mandelman for Helping with Bank of America Loan Modification
Written on 22 Jul, 2013 at 23:17
Diane and John Bobek, homeowners in Hawaii that I was able to help with their Bank of America mortgage, writes to thank me. ... (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)
Homeowner Nancy Frost Says Mandelman Made Loan Modification at Bank of America Work For Her
Written on 21 Jul, 2013 at 23:04
It's far from being the only time I've seen Bank of America do something like this when no one is watching. I truly believe that they made the decision to buy back the Frost's loan from Fannie, because they... (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)
Attorney Argues “Produce the Note” and Makes a Bad Situation Worse for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
Written on 16 Jul, 2013 at 22:54
What happened here is not an example of homeowners fighting to keep their homes... it's not an example of foreclosure defense at all. It's only an example of how what's happening on the homeowner's side of this fight, can... (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)
Need Answers from Bank of America About Your Mortgage? Then I Think You Should Show Up Here.
Written on 14 Jul, 2013 at 20:08
Being behind on your mortgage is never any fun, but don't listen to those that would have you believe that the loan modification process hasn't changed at Bank of America over the last few years because they're wrong... it's much... (Continue reading)
An Invitation to All California Homeowners That Need Help with Bank of America Loans… “¨
Written on 10 Jul, 2013 at 19:41
So, please... accept this invitation from me and from Bank of America... click the link below and make a reservation to attend one of the upcoming homeowner events. Come and meet me and the loan resolution team specialists at... (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)
Our Foreclosure Story Ended Happily because of Martin Andelman and Bank of America
Written on 9 Jul, 2013 at 22:10
Although I'm still not sure why, one moment we were packing our home into boxes and the next Bank of America had bought back our loan from Freddie Mac and given us the loan modification we had prayed to get... (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)
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)
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Foreclosing in Texas Without the Note is Okay
Written on 8 Jul, 2013 at 17:47
Specifically, the Fifth Circuit held that the split-the-note theory, "is inapplicable under Texas law where the foreclosing party is a mortgage servicer and the mortgage has been properly assigned," adding that, "the party to foreclose need not possess the note... (Continue reading)
Did Some Type of Insurance or Credit Default Swap Pay Off Your Mortgage?
Written on 3 Jul, 2013 at 7:24
I recently saw someone online saying that as a result of multiple insurance payouts a bank could receive millions of dollars on a $200,000 loan that went into default. It's just not true. There are lot's of reasons why... (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)
Illinois Attorney Saves Homes from Foreclosure Using Reverse Mortgages
Written on 25 Jun, 2013 at 21:08
Reverse mortgages are not going to be an available path for many homeowners facing foreclosure, but for those 62 and older... who have equity in their homes... they can offer an answer and benefits that no other path can provide...... (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)
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)
Alabama Slamma’ – Not for Better, Far Worse… As Foreclosures we Chart.
Written on 21 May, 2013 at 6:42
We seem to be having a national recovery in much of the media, but in the states themselves the numbers are refusing to cooperate. I guess if you can have a "jobless recovery," then you can probably have a... (Continue reading)
The Foreclosure Bowl: Connecticut Finally Makes it Into Top 10
Written on 20 May, 2013 at 10:53
RealtyTrac Vice President, the ubiquitous Daren Blomquist, said he had "no immediate concern" related Connecticut's newfound foreclosure prowess, which makes perfect sense since he's not losing a home there. ... (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)
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)