Sunday 19th May
Home » Archives
Bringing Up the Rear: Tom Deutsch, Executive Director, American Securitization Forum
Written on 1 Jul, 2011 at 2:52
I asked a friend of mine who is a fairly senior executive at a major bank, although not one of those mentioned here, and he said that he can’t imagine the banks losing them. He explains that the truck... (Continue reading)
Ohio’s Former AG Marc Dann Talks Hawaii & Fighting Banks – A Mandelman Matters Podcast
Written on 30 Jun, 2011 at 4:06
While Marc was in office he was a very vocal opponent of Wall Street, and the mortgage servicers who were... and still are... destroying his state with unnecessary and even illegal foreclosures. And since he's left office, he's defended... (Continue reading)
Ocwen Loan Servicing Takes Home from Handicapped Because There’s Equity
Written on 27 Jun, 2011 at 5:44
Also, call me naïve, but I have to believe that this is all some sort of gigantic oversight, and you’re going to learn of it… correct it immediately… and the Giangregorios are going to live in their home… happily ever... (Continue reading)
GUEST POST: President Obama, please don’t let them take Grandma’s house!
Written on 17 Jun, 2011 at 21:00
A Guest Post by Chicago attorney, Rick Rogers of Rogers Law Group. Rick and I met last year when we attended Max Gardner's Boot Camp in North Carolina last year; we actually shared the Riverview Cabin on Max's ranch... (Continue reading)
Civil Beat Reporter in Hawaii Interviews Mandelman on Fannie Mae Decision to Foreclose Judicially
Written on 15 Jun, 2011 at 18:28
"The people of Hawaii today are very proud of their Legislature for (Act 48)," Andleman said. "It was a grassroots movement, they felt like they had a real success on a national scale. I mean it was a big deal.... (Continue reading)
Mandelman’s Monthly Museletter – Version 13.0
Written on 12 Jun, 2011 at 3:11
In this issue: 1. Banker-Speak... A new language. 2. An Interesting List. 3. Lessons from History... How we handled foreclosures during the 1930s. 4. I wanted to like Bruce Marks of NACA... but I can't. 5.... (Continue reading)
Fannie Responds to Hawaii’s New Foreclosure Law – Says… WE’RE OUT!
Written on 12 Jun, 2011 at 0:35
So, I really didn't know what the banking industry was going to do... I only knew one thing with certainty, even if everyone didn't agree... no way would they conform to the new law governing non-judicial foreclosures. Mediation sounded... (Continue reading)
NBC/MSNBC.com Try to Cover the Foreclosures Crisis
Written on 10 Jun, 2011 at 6:34
No matter, at least you're understanding that today the people falling into foreclosure did nothing to cause their fate. It's now happening at every socio-economic level of our society, and you may be assured that it will spread and... (Continue reading)
Treasury Official: “HAMP’s Incentives Meaningless” – SO, PROGRAM WASTED $560 MILLION?
Written on 9 Jun, 2011 at 21:59
If that’s the case, and I have no reason to believe that it isn’t, then I would only like to suggest that perhaps some of the millions eligible for withholding could have been withheld prior to paying them the $560... (Continue reading)
Bank of America forecloses on un-mortgaged Florida home… that’s hardly news. Is EVERYONE missing the point here?
Written on 8 Jun, 2011 at 18:50
What the heck is going on around here? We’re now passing around a story about a stupid PR stunt by a lawyer that ended up making Bank of America look REASONABLE? Oh my God, people… listen to me... (Continue reading)
Earth to Bankers, Earth to Bankers… Your Planet is Dying, You Must Evacuate, It’s Time to Come Home.
Written on 7 Jun, 2011 at 7:39
The bankers... yes, the very same bankers who leveraged up on garbage CDOs as if housing prices would never ever go anywhere but up are now supposedly shocked and dismayed that mortgage lending volumes don't seem to be "coming back,"... (Continue reading)
Hey Everybody… It’s “Pretend You’re Surprised About the Economy Day!”
Written on 1 Jun, 2011 at 9:51
Falling Home Prices, the Next Financial Crisis is Near, Defaulters Aren't Deadbeats After All, the Economy with Gwen Ifill and MERS has No Clothes.... (Continue reading)
Dylan Ratigan on “Fraudclosure” Still Seems to be “Lite” on Servicers
Written on 1 Jun, 2011 at 4:59
I'm not kidding about this... every morning I wake up, get my coffee, turn on some cable news show, look over at my wife and say: "Look at that, honey... BofA didn't blow up again today! Will wonders never... (Continue reading)
Today’s New… “But, You Didn’t Make Your Payment” Exemption to the Law
Written on 29 May, 2011 at 19:20
Don't make this more complicated than it need be. If you came and repossessed my car but were NOT the person or entity holding my pink slip, then we had a phrase to describe that occurrence as well ...... (Continue reading)
If You Think the Meltdown Was the Fault of Homeowners, Think Again…
Written on 25 May, 2011 at 18:46
So... in “Pillage,” Nomi Prins explains in terms anyone can understand that factoring in the leverage at 11:1, we're looking at a $140 TRILLION economic problem... yes, you read that correctly... that's trillion, with a 'T'... (Continue reading)
Marques LIVES! Homeowner wins, then loses, then WINS!
Written on 25 May, 2011 at 8:11
Okay, so Mr. Marques is nothing if not persistent, apparently, and God bless him for that, because this time out… his third time at bat… he hits one out of the park! ... (Continue reading)
Breaking Down the Real Cause of the Foreclosure Crises
Written on 23 May, 2011 at 7:29
In 2014, it will be seven years since the meltdown began in the summer of 2007, and something in the neighborhood of 15 million homes will have been lost to foreclosure. And there’s no reason to believe that foreclosures... (Continue reading)
KILL BILL: Arizona Mortgage Lender’s Association Takes Credit for Killing SB 1259
Written on 19 May, 2011 at 6:33
Hagen went on to explain that he had lobbied “the individual that issued the strike everything amendment, which I would say would have to be Rep Nancy McClain, but I suppose it could also have something to do with Sen.... (Continue reading)
KPHO Channel 5 Arizona Airs Story on Rep. Seel’s Principal Reduction
Written on 12 May, 2011 at 10:46
Spolier Alert: Rep. Seel, who wonder of wonders... serves on the... wait for it... BANKING AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE... DENIES that his $100,000 principal reduction had anything to do with his decision to run late that day and not propose the... (Continue reading)
Mandelman Responds to SF Chronicle Article: Fighting Banks and Winning – How Homeowners Did it
Written on 12 May, 2011 at 10:00
Why did you become a reporter, Carolyn? Because if it was to write about events such as these in the style and tone of your article, then I'd suggest you consider looking for a copywriting gig at an ad agency.... (Continue reading)
Is Bank of America Worth $200 Billion?
Written on 12 May, 2011 at 1:30
Bank of America bought Countrywide for $4 billion and change. That sounds funny to me now. You’ve got to admit it. The idea that someone would PAY money for Countywide has to make you giggle at least... (Continue reading)
Mandelman’s Monthly Museletter – Version 12.0
Written on 11 May, 2011 at 8:59
In this issue: 1. Treasury reports 84% of HAMP loan mods current after 12 months. 2. Surprise, Surprise... Falling Home Values. 3. State AGs Beg Servicers for Crumbs. 4. Iowa's AG, Miller Calls B.S. 5. Banks... (Continue reading)
Governor Abercrombie Signs SB 651 – Toughest Foreclosure Bill in Nation NOW LAW!
Written on 6 May, 2011 at 0:17
The new law makes mediation prior to foreclosure MANDATORY if requested by the borrower, and requires mortgage servicers attempting to foreclose to submit to the mediation board, 14 days prior to mediation, proof that the chain of title is intact,... (Continue reading)
Hawaii 2011 – My Prayer for Hawaii’s Homeowners and SB 651
Written on 3 May, 2011 at 0:16
But then... the people in Arizona... well, they don't have Brudda IZ... now do they? Click play... turn up your speakers... close your eyes... and pray for SB 651 to pass tomorrow. Amen.... (Continue reading)
Mandelman Talks with Ohio’s Ex-Attorney General About Foreclosure Crisis
Written on 24 Apr, 2011 at 8:53
Mandelman talks with Ohio's ex-Attorney General about foreclosure crisis and government's inadequate response. ... (Continue reading)
GOT ONE! Jury Convicts Taylor Bean’s CEO Farkas of Bank, Wire, Securities Fraud and Conspiracy
Written on 20 Apr, 2011 at 9:59
Soon, the hole grew to over $100 million, so Taylor Bean and a handful of Colonial executives figured that the easiest thing to do would be for Taylor Bean to simply sell hundreds of millions in mortgages THAT HAD ALREADY... (Continue reading)
FEDS Announce Enforcement Actions Against 14 Servicers, LPS and MERS… Hot Towels in Washrooms Threatened Once Again
Written on 19 Apr, 2011 at 14:41
Still, I’m committed to covering this subject even when doing so means that I have to start drinking at 9:30 in the morning… kidding, I’m just kidding… so, here’s the news on the FEDS and their “enforcement actions,” and I... (Continue reading)
A Crush on Matt Taibbi and a Pox on Both Their Houses
Written on 19 Apr, 2011 at 5:49
So, the strategy now seems quite clear: Our government decided to address the financial crisis and economic meltdown by handing out hundreds of millions to the wives of Wall Street executives so they could invest in student loans and commercial... (Continue reading)
Homeowner Suffers Horrific Injustice at the Hands of JPMorgan Chase
Written on 4 Mar, 2011 at 12:46
We're not people who simply decided to skip out on our mortgage. We did everything as upright and by the book as we were instructed to do by Chase yet we still lost our home. On the day they took... (Continue reading)
Guest Post: Principal Reduction Modification Math, by Rick Rogers, JD/MBA
Written on 27 Feb, 2011 at 10:57
This report will compare the Net Present Value (NPV), of standard Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), modifications with Principal Reduction Alternative HAMP (PRA HAMP) modifications. If the mortgage principal balance on a home exceeds 115% of its market value,... (Continue reading)
Is HAMP Poised to Improve in Year 3?
Written on 27 Feb, 2011 at 6:53
Laurie, as “the architect” of the HAMP program, are you aware that these servicers you’re pandering to at the Mortgage Bankers Association conference, have been nothing short of torturing America’s homeowners relentlessly, mercilessly, and without rhyme or reason for three... (Continue reading)
Bankers Apoplectic Over Arizona’s Republican Dominated Senate Passing Chain of Title Bill, 28-2
Written on 24 Feb, 2011 at 23:37
The only reason this bill is being pushed through the Arizona legislature is that one of that state’s senators actually tried to rescind her own predatory loan and found out first hand what it’s like to have to deal with... (Continue reading)
Federal Regulators to Bring Enforcement Actions Against Banks… May Get Rid of Hot Towels in Washroom
Written on 17 Feb, 2011 at 11:27
You know what… go to hell. How about the servicers offer “enhanced, streamlined modifications to troubled borrowers” just because it’s the right thing to do? How about the servicers do it because although they can never come close... (Continue reading)
New Fed Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin Gives Me Reason to Hope
Written on 15 Feb, 2011 at 15:53
I read her speech yesterday evening; parts actually gave me chills, and parts left me with a hopeful tear in my eye. She says almost exactly what I’ve written in my articles on at least dozens and at this... (Continue reading)
California Appeals Court Rules Homeowners Can Sue Banks for Fraud Over Broken Loan Modification Promises
Written on 29 Jan, 2011 at 9:36
See… this is an excellent example of why I’m starting to think we’ve become too civilized a society. I was born back in Brooklyn, New York, I mostly grew up in Pittsburgh, and my wife’s from the City... (Continue reading)
GMAC… Payments or Not, The Foreclosure Machine that Just Won’t Stop
Written on 15 Jan, 2011 at 1:55
The first time GMAC foreclosed on the couple’s home was back in 2001. Totally current on their mortgage payments, it must have come as quite a shock. Once in foreclosure, GMAC wouldn’t accept their monthly payments, so... (Continue reading)
SIGN THIS! StopServicerScams.com Petition Will Go to Geithner, Bair, Bernanke, and Walsh!
Written on 4 Jan, 2011 at 0:45
PLEASE SIGN THIS yourself... but also could you please put in the extra effort and forward it to everyone you know that will also want to sign it? PLEASE? Post it on your Facebook page, your LinkedIn page...... (Continue reading)
You Better Watch Out, I’m Telling You Why… BofA is Coming to Town… And, they might just break your door down!
Written on 22 Dec, 2010 at 10:49
Well, I’d have to say nicely done there, Bank of America, all around. I mean, you managed to take a woman from sending you $15,000 to take over the home out of probate after her husband died… her “haven”... (Continue reading)
Foreclosures Poised to Take Down the U.S. Banking System… and even entire economy, says Whalen. (Ya’ think?)
Written on 21 Dec, 2010 at 7:32
“Laurie Goodman of Amherst Securities predicts that 1 in 5 mortgages could go into foreclosure without radical action.” Now just a minute here… you’re not saying that one out of five people with mortgages are “irresponsible sub-prime borrowers who never... (Continue reading)
What Does Bernanke Think? Does It Matter?
Written on 20 Dec, 2010 at 11:30
If you miss you forecasts 11 months in a row, and by some significant margin, is it still considered forecasting, or does it become guessing? ... (Continue reading)
Watch Which Words You Use With Republicans – They Could Take Their Toys and Go Home
Written on 18 Dec, 2010 at 7:52
The Republican’s version of the report is said to be a whopping 13 pages long, and is expected to place the blame for the crisis squarely on the shoulders of poor people who wanted to buy houses, and how some... (Continue reading)
LA Homeowners Arrested During Foreclosure Protest – Video
Written on 18 Dec, 2010 at 7:23
ACCE says that now they plan to up the ante by " bringing together the collective power of the homeowners themselves in alliance with their supporters among labor unions, the religious community and community organizations." And in fact, among... (Continue reading)
BREAKTHROUGH: Why Americans Are Allowing the Foreclosure Crisis to Continue
Written on 17 Dec, 2010 at 11:46
More than half of our country doesn’t care about the foreclosure crisis because to them, it’s just bankers acting in their own best interests by foreclosing on homes that borrowers irresponsibly bought knowing they couldn’t afford them. It’s therefore... (Continue reading)
How to Tell Legitimate Loan Modification Firm from an Illegal Operation or Scam… The FTC’s New Bright Line MARS Rule
Written on 6 Dec, 2010 at 13:55
The facts of the matter today as related to the foreclosure crisis and loan modifications, however, could not be considered positive, I’m afraid. Help does not appear to be on the way, or on the horizon. As inconceivable... (Continue reading)
The Fed Releases: The Beige Book, December 1, 2010, Summary of Economic Conditions. And I don’t know what we’d do without them.
Written on 2 Dec, 2010 at 6:33
The Beige Book, as it’s commonly known, is a report published eight times each year. Each of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, which are located throughout the country, “gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions in its District through reports... (Continue reading)
IT’S BACK & IT’S HERE: Mandelman’s Monthly Museletter – Version 9.0
Written on 19 Nov, 2010 at 16:55
1. Help is NOT on the Way… 2. Go see the documentary “INSIDE JOB”… if it’s not already too late. 3. One and Done… I Agree… Obama Shouldn’t Run in 2012. 4. The Government is Launching Criminal Probes Into... (Continue reading)
Foreclosure Mom’s Rap
Written on 18 Nov, 2010 at 15:42
Here's Foreclosure Mom's rap... nothing further need be said... watch it. And if you're going to try to get your loan modified, get a REST Report... I wouldn't even consider trying it without it. You can find out more... (Continue reading)
Where Are Our Religious Leaders?
Written on 17 Nov, 2010 at 1:53
Pardon me, but we’ve got someone in this country in charge of something called a “FOOD INSECURITY REPORT?” And Dick Fuld got $500,000,000 for bankrupting Lehman Bros. Holy Mother of God. And that brings me to the... (Continue reading)
Mandelman’s Uncommon Advice for Getting Through the Loan Modification Process Without Losing It
Written on 17 Oct, 2010 at 8:06
There’s no point in sugarcoating this… getting a bank or mortgage servicer to agree to modify a mortgage is never a pleasant experience. In fact, it’s pretty much horrible, even when it’s good. You may finish the process... (Continue reading)
Alright Banker-People… That’s Enough. You’re Not Making Sense and You’re Making Me Dizzy
Written on 12 Oct, 2010 at 8:36
You don’t think so? Then tell me what you think would happen if I walked into a courtroom and handed the judge a fraudulent set of documents requesting that he ignore procedures designed to protect property rights in this... (Continue reading)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – Our Tax Dollars at Work
Written on 26 Sep, 2010 at 0:31
How many homes could we have saved with $111 MILLION, Wendy? How many people could we have fed… or trained to be able to get a new job one day? We’re talking about $111 MILLION, damn it. ... (Continue reading)
Obama Administration in a Scramble to Do Something Right for Housing Market
Written on 13 Sep, 2010 at 7:54
Most of the suits allege that the trial modification plans are contracts, and that Bank of America and every other servicer broke them by not granting permanent modifications to homeowners who made their trial payments on time and provided the... (Continue reading)
INSIDE CHASE and the Perfect Foreclosure
Written on 11 Sep, 2010 at 7:44
“And we documented what went on with each file so that if the investor came in to audit the files, everything would be accurate in terms of what had transpired and in what time frame. It was all about... (Continue reading)
Banks Kick Consumer’s Butts Once Again – SB 1275 Dies in the California Assembly
Written on 1 Sep, 2010 at 7:41
Even though the bill was supported by EVERYONE but the banking lobby, it was rejected 36-30 in the Assembly. Even after it was approved by the state Senate and three Assembly committees. This time… no… but thank you... (Continue reading)
Federal Court: Borrower is INTENDED 3rd Party Beneficiary of HAMP – Homeowner Sues for Breach
Written on 25 Aug, 2010 at 6:57
Potential Game-Changer Alert... District Court Judge Says Homeowner is the Intended Third Party Beneficiary to the contract between Fannie and servicers... and that means the right to sue yours.... (Continue reading)
Worst June EVER for New Home Sales
Written on 27 Jul, 2010 at 7:12
Adjusted down to a rate of 267,000 annual sales was the worst month on record. That "rate," and I do love the way they report monthly numbers as an "annual sales RATE," means that 22,250 new homes were... (Continue reading)
The Real Estate Guys Radio Show, Mandelman Take 2!
Written on 22 Jul, 2010 at 3:02
I talked about... can you guess... right! The foreclosure crisis and loan modifications... and the economy... and some recent court decisions... a regular fountain of knowledge, I was. I haven't listened to it, but I figured some of you... especially... (Continue reading)
Court Rules Private Right of Action Exists for Violations of CA Civil Code 2923.5 – Homeowners Can Now File Suit Against Lenders
Written on 11 Jun, 2010 at 7:00
The thing about this court decision is that, even if I think the law itself is marginal at best in what it offers, there is now a “private cause of action” attached to it. And that means that homeowners... (Continue reading)
The Great Unwind and the Final Redemption, by O. Max Gardner III
Written on 8 Jun, 2010 at 18:58
As my readers know, I've never had guest columnists or posted what others have written, but when I read the article that follows, which was written by Max on June 1st of this year, and then found myself reading sections... (Continue reading)
When Outrage Becomes Rage. Historically speaking, this story doesn’t end well for anyone.
Written on 24 May, 2010 at 15:08
Tomorrow, the country will go on as it did yesterday, foreclosures will continue essentially unabated, and more and more Americans will fall into the abyss of disenchantment with all authority… the frequent and extended strikes by workers during the 1970s... (Continue reading)
What Others Have Written About the NPV Test You Need to Pass to Get a HAMP Loan Modification
Written on 16 May, 2010 at 6:17
Last week, which was about a week after he had sent his REST Report to his lender, he received a response from his servicer... and they were offering him a loan modification in line with one of the alternative strategies... (Continue reading)
SO, HAMP ISN’T GREAT. WE KNOW. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Written on 4 May, 2010 at 3:01
Why the banking lobby starts to look downright puny next to millions of American homeowners all shouting at the same time… “Congress better take note! We intend to use our VOTE!” Yep, after that the foreclosure crisis would... (Continue reading)
My Year in A-Trance: What I’ve Learned About Loan Modifications
Written on 4 May, 2010 at 1:50
Why the banking lobby starts to look downright puny next to millions of American homeowners all shouting at the same time… “Congress better take note! We intend to use our VOTE!” Yep, after that the foreclosure crisis would... (Continue reading)
Lies and Damn Lies About Getting a Loan Modification
Written on 1 Sep, 2009 at 22:32
Months ago we weren’t sure of many of these things and so you could say just about anything related to the loan mod process and no one could call you on it. Now the jury has come in. Guess you’ll... (Continue reading)
So, It Wasn’t the Subprimers After All… What Do You Know About That?
Written on 20 Jul, 2009 at 15:18
Sub-prime borrowers hate moving… especially their refrigerators. They can't afford fancy moving companies who come pack everything up and unpack it at the next homestead. They call friends like me who are stupid enough to always own a truck. The... (Continue reading)
Wells Fargo’s “Ghetto Loans” and the “Mud People”
Written on 28 Jun, 2009 at 22:40
Beth Jacobson says that she and fellow loan officers at Wells Fargo Bank systematically singled out blacks in and around Baltimore in order to sell them high-interest sub-prime mortgages, whether they would have qualified for prime loans or not. ... (Continue reading)
Former sub-prime lenders are back to profit off the mess they made. Seriously?
Written on 9 Jun, 2009 at 15:22
Apparently, they were not quite satisfied with the hundreds of millions they stole… I mean made, so they’ve launched a company that will buy distressed mortgages from banks and the government at a discount, modify the loans so that the... (Continue reading)
