Wednesday 15th January
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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)
SAFE MONEY INVESTING: An Interview with Mike Moorhead of Tippett Moorhead
Written on 8 Jul, 2013 at 13:31
why aren't we all saving more? We know we're not getting younger. Why aren't we all doing more to put money away to ensure a more secure financial future? Maybe not a lot more... but why not... (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)
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)
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)
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)
Nevada Legislature Considers Passing its Own Homeowner Bill of Rights
Written on 18 May, 2013 at 12:27
Nevada's legislature is considering adopting its own Homeowner Bill of Rights, and in fact, the bill... SB 321... has already passed the Nevada State Senate and is headed to the House.... (Continue reading)
South Carolina’s Hardest Hit Funds Farce… Failing but Finally Changing?
Written on 18 May, 2013 at 3:40
It's been 3.5 years since the money was made available. It's time for the programs funded by hardest hit funds to help homeowners... stopping foreclosures with aggressive benefits and inclusive qualifying requirements. Surely we know what doesn't work...... (Continue reading)
Bill to End Foreclosure Mediation In Missouri Passes… Wake Up, Missouri
Written on 17 May, 2013 at 19:48
Unless you believe that the foreclosure picture in this country somehow magically changed dramatically over the last month or two... you don't want to wake up one day to find out you might need mediation... only it's no longer there.... (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)
Denial and Avoidance Won’t Fix Housing or Grow Economy
Written on 16 May, 2013 at 6:56
I wish we'd stop with the false bottoms and imaged recovery stories so we could actually concentrate on making some much needed improvements in how we're handling our economic malaise, because that's the only way we're going to see any... (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)
Goldman Sachs on the Pacific – Inside Countrywide with Michael Winston… A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 23 Feb, 2013 at 17:16
When Countrywide had aspirations to become "Goldman Sachs on the Pacific," they recruited Michael to help them get there. They may have appeared to understand when Michael spoke of the programs he would initiate, but soon it was quite... (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)
David Min, Part 3 – Housing’s Recovery… Fact or Fiction? A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 22 Feb, 2013 at 7:39
We've lost more than five million homes to foreclosure since 2008, and according to all published data at the end of 2012, we've got millions more seriously delinquent or at risk... but somehow housing is defying all laws of economics... (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)
9.9 Earthquake in Default Servicing Turns California Into Judicial Foreclosure State
Written on 30 Jan, 2013 at 6:58
So... even though many may still tell you that California is a non-judicial foreclosure state... they're wrong and I'm calling it now... for all intents and purposes California's future is as a judicial foreclosure state.... (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)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 2012 – A Political Year-in-Review
Written on 25 Dec, 2012 at 5:19
It my annual political year-in-review, read to the poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Read it yourself, or click 'PLAY' and I'll read it for you.... (Continue reading)
The Quiet Crisis, Part 1. A Foreclosure Bluesical by Mandelman Matters
Written on 22 Dec, 2012 at 15:42
Over time, I hoped, as people came to understand what had actually happened, they would let themselves off the proverbial hook, and once not bound by shame, they would speak out and when in great enough number, our leaders would... (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)
BYE-BYE DEMARCO! Obama to Replace Director of FHFA
Written on 11 Dec, 2012 at 2:55
The mortgage market is not just dominated by the government, the mortgage market is the government, and that's not just here in the US, it's everywhere. Governments are the lenders of ONLY resort. ... (Continue reading)
California Bar: Disregards Attorney General’s Views, Screws Homeowners
Written on 10 Dec, 2012 at 12:34
What's even harder to understand is that the State Bar's most recent interpretation of SB 94 completely disagrees with how California Attorney General Harris and Governor Brown interpreted the law in documents filed with the court last year when... (Continue reading)
The Faux Debate Over the Farcical Cliff that’s Hurting the Rest of US
Written on 4 Dec, 2012 at 6:08
I'm not the least bit worried that the Republicans and the Democrats won't come together right before the holidays to forge some ill-conceived, witless, and entirely cowardly compromise that only kicks the proverbial can down the road even further... it... (Continue reading)
California State Bar RECENT Decision to Cause More Harm to Homeowners in Foreclosure
Written on 1 Dec, 2012 at 22:30
The recent decision by the state bar court now effectively prohibits the charging of fees by lawyers even AFTER services have been completed. Yes, you read that correctly... lawyers can't take advance fees, nor can they be paid after... (Continue reading)
Talking Up the Housing Market? Yada, Yada, Yada… Talk is Cheap
Written on 30 Nov, 2012 at 6:32
The fact that there are properties at the very bottom that appear to have increased in price by a few points is no indication that housing is recovering. ... (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)
Bank of America’s SVP Eric Tellijohann Provides an Advance Update on the National Mortgage Settlement Progress
Written on 16 Nov, 2012 at 22:33
What's going on inside BOA as of the end of the second quarter of the National Mortgage Settlement? Here's your chance to hear it straight from the source... in advance of the monitor's report. Another Mandelman Matters Exclusive!... (Continue reading)
What’s the difference between Spain and the USA? Empatía y sentido común. Sí, es verdad.
Written on 15 Nov, 2012 at 5:53
"In Spain right now, we have nearly a million empty housing units. In this situation, the government and the economy ministry ... has to take steps so that no family in good faith goes without a home."... (Continue reading)
President Obama on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Written on 23 Oct, 2012 at 8:23
Jon Stewart asked you about why you didn't spend so much of the money available for HAMP... on HAMP... or on other efforts to mitigate the damage being caused by the foreclosure crisis. And you knew what he had... (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)
No Surprise – Arizona Court Rules Mortgage Settlement Funds Don’t Have to Help Homeowners
Written on 12 Oct, 2012 at 2:39
Okay, so what's the big deal whether the state uses some of the funds to balance the state's budget? It's better than the alternative, which is the legislature cutting much needed assistance programs and raising taxes across the board...... (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)
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)
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)
Okay, So Now I Appreciate Mitt Romney
Written on 18 Sep, 2012 at 23:25
They actually believe that too much regulation is the problem facing our financial institutions... that foreclosures are a good thing for the housing market... that tax cuts for the rich will create prosperity... that people on food stamps won't get... (Continue reading)
Special Foreclosure Defense Boot Camp with Max Gardner – October 12-14
Written on 15 Sep, 2012 at 10:02
Condensed into 3 powerful days. Less expensive. Last one for year. Coming up October 12-14.... (Continue reading)
Former SIGTARP Neil Barofsky – The Last Honest Man in Washington – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 14 Sep, 2012 at 11:25
Settle in and get ready to hear the real inside scoop on how Washington works and too often doesn't. It may cause vomiting and probably shouldn't be listened to if you have a heart condition... I'm really not sure.... (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)
Fannie’s “Decoy Assignment” a NEW Foreclosure Defense – A Mandelman Matters Podcast with Atty. Tom Cox
Written on 30 Jul, 2012 at 6:03
Tom has recently discovered a practice employed by the GSE's... Fannie and Freddie. It has to do with what we're calling "The Decoy Assignment," and it's a matter of policy. He's arguing it successfully in court.... (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)
It’s Official: Thanks to Former Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill… I Have Now Seen Everything.
Written on 26 Jul, 2012 at 9:09
So, I guess I had this dream. I was watching CNBC... which, by the way, is how I knew it was a dream because I never watch CNBC... anyway, so I was watching CNBC and on comes Sanford "Sandy"... (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)
Mortgage Servicing… The Winds Have Shifted, the Pendulum is About to Swing
Written on 25 Jul, 2012 at 0:43
The recent passage of California's Homeowner Bill of Rights (53-25, 25-13) is the most conclusive example that what I spoke of at that conference in 2010, has come to pass. The financial services industry lobbied heavily against the passage... (Continue reading)
Understanding Elite Fraud and the Mortgage Meltdown with William K. Black – A MM Podcast
Written on 21 Jul, 2012 at 10:08
Why has no one at the top been investigated or prosecuted for fraud or anything else for that matter as related to the financial meltdown that has destroyed trillions of dollars in consumer wealth? Especially when William K. Black's... (Continue reading)
Republican Filibuster Discloses that GOP Opposes DISCLOSURE
Written on 19 Jul, 2012 at 8:25
Killing this bill facilitates lying to the American people. And short of something that's kept secret in order to protect our national defense, there is never a reason we should tolerate anyone or anything that does that.... (Continue reading)
Attention Mortgage Servicers… Heed these words now, because it’s much later than you think.
Written on 13 Jul, 2012 at 9:31
The biggest change that servicers are feeling is the one that can't be seen or even written down. I imagine it's similar to how homeowners felt when they discovered that their government didn't give a Fudgsicle® whether they lost... (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)
PRACTICE LAW, LOSE YOUR LICENSE: WHAT SB 94 MEANS TO YOUR PRACTICE By Alice M. Graham
Written on 25 Jun, 2012 at 21:24
The recent collapse of the real estate and financial markets in this country created the need for attorneys to help many of their homeowner clients by negotiating with lenders for a forbearance or modification of loans secured by the clients'... (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)
California State Bar Court Lacks Fundamental Knowledge of Loan Modifications
Written on 24 Jun, 2012 at 4:52
Your state assembly representative and state senator needs to hear from you on this issue. You should care a great deal that you have access to legal counsel should you decide you want or need it... no matter what...... (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)
Through a Glass Darkly – The State Bar’s Lack of Transparency On Loan Mod Lawyers
Written on 21 Jun, 2012 at 22:13
What the state bar is left with are not the lawyers that SB94 was intended to address but a target nonetheless because of SB 94's overly broad and possibly unconstitutional remedy... lawyers simply caught up in the loan mod dragnet.... (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)
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)
What is Ed DeMarco Thinking?
Written on 10 Jun, 2012 at 17:48
Edward DeMarco of the FHFA is the conservator for the GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. At this point the president, the Secretary of the Treasury, and many in congress have asked him about participating in anything... HAMP, principal... (Continue reading)
Nancy Pelosi sent my reader Amy an email. And Amy replied brilliantly.
Written on 10 Jun, 2012 at 7:26
Nancy Pelosi sent a Mandelman Matters reader, Amy Sheaffer, an email. Any wrote back. Brilliant! Lord, I do love my readers.... (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)
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)
OBLABLA or MITTENS for President in 2012? Here’s how I’m going to choose…
Written on 31 May, 2012 at 6:27
"While Paulson didn't want to write down mortgages, the single biggest factor in determining whether the American middle class has any stored wealth, Paulson was willing to do so in response to pressure. Barack Obama... (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)
Arizona Foreclosure News – More like a motivational pep talk for Realtors
Written on 19 May, 2012 at 8:39
RealtyTrac is so entirely full of horsey do-do that the entire organization should be lined up against a wall and shot a dawn for pedaling garbage statistics in a state still being decimated by the foreclosure crisis.... (Continue reading)
Utah Foreclosure News is Based on Garbage Stats
Written on 18 May, 2012 at 9:43
Nothing is going to change that quickly. It was a huge problem yesterday... it'll be a huge problem tomorrow. None of the underlying fundamentals have changed one bit. In fact, last month's unemployment data was a nightmare,... (Continue reading)
A Letter to Brian Stevens at TBWS: We Need More Houses?
Written on 15 May, 2012 at 8:18
Just to make sure I understand what you said there... the problem is that there aren't enough homes for people to buy? We're having a shortage of houses for sale, are we? Wow... you know, I was sleeping... (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)
Attention Homeowners & Lawyers: AG Mortgage Settlement Launches Online Complaint Sites
Written on 11 May, 2012 at 7:02
I for one am glad to see that this country is finally taking the foreclosure crisis seriously and that my tax dollars are being put to good use, and I really do hope that everyone take advantage of the new... (Continue reading)
Finally, Jamie Dimon and I Agree on Something
Written on 11 May, 2012 at 3:03
Oh, good Lord. We're still doing this sort of thing, huh? Some guy at JPMorgan Chase in London was gambling with credit default swaps, no one was watching, and next thing you know the bank was down $2... (Continue reading)
California Homeowner in Foreclosure Wins Quiet Title – It’s a Free House!
Written on 7 May, 2012 at 7:11
For one thing, filing quiet title did work out well for Denise Saluto, and since I would never have predicted it happening in her case, I'm certainly not going to tell you it won't happen again in yours, because as... (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)