For any homeowner, the prospect of losing their home because they can’t make the mortgage payments can be a frightening experience. Since the Great Recession began, many borrowers have experienced problems making ends meet because of losing a job, divorce, medical issues and other situations.

In addition, during the real estate boom, it was common for borrowers to get duped into take on risky adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) to get into homes they could not otherwise afford. ARMs have low “teaser rates” for at least the first year. This feature helps borrowers qualify bigger mortgages.  

After the introductory rate expires, the lender can adjust the interest rate on the loan at predetermined intervals, which can send monthly payments skyrocketing.

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 5,000 homeowners, here is one of their stories.

Many of the worst stories that have come from the mortgage crisis involve the casual ineptitude of large banks when it comes to loan modification. Thousands and thousands of foreclosures have resulted from this indiligence, and hundreds of thousands of people have had their lives negatively impacted as a result.

One Such Story

A New York woman approached us about her similar mortgage issues; she had been attempting to get a loan modification from Bank of America, but couldn't get any headway after trying for nearly two years. This homeowner was a single mother who had emerged from bankruptcy just a few years earlier; the last thing she needed was the dark cloud of foreclosure hanging over her head. However, her home could've been foreclosed on at any time; she was over 5 years and $162,000 behind on paying her $2,680 mortgage payment.

According to reports from the United States Department of the Treasury, about 63,000 homeowners received loan modifications during July 2013 (which is the last month statistics are available). This brings the total for 2013 to 519,000 loan modifications, a number which dwarfs the number of foreclosure sales (378,000) that were reported up to the same point. All in all, this totals 6.6 million permanent loan modifications since 2008. According to analysis from financial firm Keefe, Bruyette, and Woods, loan modifications are playing a large part in strengthening today's housing market. 
It's clear that loan modifications have done plenty to improve housing statistics, but these numbers conceal serious issues that are often glossed over by pundits and the national media.

On the morning of this client's Summary Judgment Hearing early in 2013, our client and his son followed the wrong signs in the courthouse and sat outside the court room for 2 hours before someone told them that the cases had been moved to a different location.  By this time they figured out what was wrong, it was two hours later and the Judge had already granted Wells Fargo a Summary Judgment and allowed them to schedule a foreclosure sale date. Here is what happened after they found Amerihope Alliance Legal Services.

On August 14, 2013, our firm was retained by a family who was deep in the foreclosure process. As a matter of fact, Wells Fargo had already scheduled a foreclosure sale date of September 24, 2013 on their home. Despite the fact that there were only a few weeks before the house was to be sold via foreclosure auction, our foreclosure defense attorney reviewed and accepted their case, and were ready to defend our client against Wells Fargo's foreclosure action in court.

By Barbara Pronin

Everyone knows that having a good credit score marks you as a credit-worthy individual with increased buying power. But, said consumer finance consultant Jill Krasny, many people have critical misconceptions about what makes for a good credit score.

Krasny offers five common credit misconceptions:

Many homeowners are investigating mortgage loan modification programs as an alternative to foreclosure and a way to stay in their homes. The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) promoted by the U.S. Government aims to streamline the process but many homeowners are still unsure about where to start the loan modification process and how to give their modification application the best chance of approval. As a homeowner, preparation and knowledge will allow you to help your lender review your case thereby increasing your chances of success.

In the wake of the recent economic downturn, more homeowners than ever are still facing foreclosure. If you and your family are struggling to keep up with mortgage payments and fear being served a notice of foreclosure, or if you have already been served a notice of default, and are searching for a way to keep your home, loan modification might be your best opportunity for a new beginning. If you have contacted your lender and they have offered a loan modification package, depending on your situation you may either be denied, offered a trial loan modification package, or be approved for a permanent loan modification package.

We Saved This Homeowner From Green Tree Mortgage Servicing

The arms of the banks have no idea what the legs are doing, and it's turning into one disastrous dance for American homeowners.

Thousands of homeowners have lost their homes, and many others are still struggling with their mortgages today because of this disconnect; a disconnect that causes many homeowners to lose their homes. Homeowners are being held back the most by the extreme lack of communication between various departments of mortgage lenders. For example, many people who had successfully received loan modifications from their lenders were illegally confronted with foreclosure after cementing the terms of their loan modifications.

One of our clients faced three foreclosure sale dates due to Green Tree Mortgage Servicing's disorganization, but our foreclosure defense lawyers intervened to force Green Tree mortgage to play by the rules. We enabled him to keep his home.

Mortgage Shopping 101

Making Sense of the Mortgage Market

Shopping for a mortgage can be time-consuming and difficult for homebuyers, especially in today’s market where many buyers don’t know where to begin. The Federal Reserve Board has put together the following tips so that you can make sense of the mortgage market and be sure you are getting the mortgage that is right for you.

It’s not uncommon for home owners to become anxious and overwhelmed when they incur financial problems that can prevent them from making their monthly mortgage payments. This can happen for any number of reasons: a loss of income, divorce, medical problems or other personal circumstances.

If you are having problems here are some things you can do to avoid foreclosure proceedings in Pennsylvania. Start by clarifying the cause of your financial problems and why you are in foreclosure. Gather your documentation for your monthly income and expenses. You will need this information as you explore your options to try and find alternatives to foreclosure.

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 5,000 homeowners, here is one of their stories.

Many of our clients come to us after struggling with paying their mortgage for several years. That was the case with this couple.  Unlike most of our other clients, though, they were nearly 5 years behind on paying their $2,600 monthly mortgage payment. During this half-decade, they had somehow avoided foreclosure, but they knew it wouldn't be too long until their lender, Bank of America, served them foreclosure papers. This couple had already been offered a loan modification once, but could not complete the terms of the offer.

That's when they retained (hired) us in late 2012. We understood the couples' commitment to saving their home, and began to work with them to get a loan modification. In early December 2012, Bank of America denied our initial request for a loan modification, saying that they didn't believe that the couple suffered through enough hardship. By the time January arrived, we were already working to resubmit the couples' loan modification package with more updated information. While we were in the information-gathering process; the husband lost his job; we had to update the couples' information package, and then had to resubmit all their information several times thereafter.

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 5,000 homeowners, here is one of their stories.

A married couple approached us for help with their Wells Fargo mortgage. They hadn't paid their mortgage for nearly a year, had been served foreclosure and were worried about the very real threat of potentially losing their home.

As soon as this couple retained (hired) us, we began working on their case and attacking every part of their foreclosure problem. On one hand, our lawyers began working to stop the foreclosure on their home. On the other hand, our team also began working with Wells Fargo to get a mortgage modification. Both efforts were extremely successful; all foreclosure proceedings were completely halted, and we were able to obtain a successful loan modification from Wells Fargo, who have a reputation as perhaps the most difficult bank to obtain a loan modification from.

The United States has sent a clear message to loan modification scammers and perpetrators of mortgage fraud: we're coming to get you.

In July, Florida recorded more foreclosure activity than any other state in the nation, according to the real estate data firm RealtyTrac. Nine of the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest rate of foreclosures were Florida cities. Florida has ranked number one in foreclosure-related activities for three consecutive months.

While many areas of the country have experienced a drop-off in foreclosures—initial filings, foreclosure auctions and bank owned properties, the state continues to sift through the backlog of foreclosure cases.  

Most people know that mortgage lenders and local government can create liens that require foreclosure action, but many people don't know that condominium and homeowner's associations (HOAs) also can create liens that require them to avail themselves of foreclosure laws in Florida. HOAs have specific legal rights and powers over properties in the community.

This authority includes initiating the Florida foreclosure process for issues related to delinquent monthly fees, dues and special assessments.

Every day there seems to be another headline about foreclosures.

Foreclosures rising, foreclosures as a good investment-even foreclosure bus tours. But sometimes homeowners need a little advice from a trustworthy source.

From the Federal Reserve Board, here are five tips for avoiding foreclosure scams:

Since 2007, over 4 million Americans have lost their homes due to foreclosure. By early next year, that number is expected to reach 6 million. Historically, the legal procedure of foreclosure, in which a homeowner is required to relinquish his or her home to a lender upon mortgage default, generally favored banks and lenders who were well-versed in the practice.

However, recently this trend has reversed as many of today's homeowners who receive their notice of default are choosing to engage in an effective foreclosure defense process to stall, and often cease, the foreclosure proceedings filed against them. These recent successes can be attributed to the greater encouragement of mortgage modification and the piling evidence that, as a whole, the real estate industry has been largely perpetrators of fraudulent and predatory lending practices. The discovery of which has impacted judicial attitude and largely shifted court sympathies towards homeowners perceived as victims.

Disclaimer: These results should not be taken as a guarantee, as each case is unique. We have helped over 5,000 homeowners, here is one of their stories.

Many homeowners would feel completely discouraged if they had problems affording their mortgage payment and were denied a loan modification by their lenders. Some homeowners would even throw in the towel and give up. A select few other homeowners would decide to dust themselves off and find a way to do it better, and that's just what this homeowner did on her way to getting a great loan modification.

We began working with this homeowner in Spring 2012. She was a single mother who held a mortgage with Ocwen financial. She could not afford to pay her $1400 mortgage payment and hadn't paid it for about two years. This homeowner turned to us for a better chance at a loan modification after being denied for a loan modification for being insufficiently prepared.

Florida has one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the country. The state has a foreclosure process that is judicial. The lender must file with the court to take possession of the property. If you're in foreclosure or in fear of foreclosure, there are several steps you can take to either prolong the process or stop foreclosure in Florida.

Amerihope Alliance Legal Services and attorney Greg Nordt warn consumers:

Do not pay fees to debt relief companies that promise that they can negotiate a pay off and stop the payday loan companies from calling you. They can't. They charge a consumer for an attorney to send their payday loan company a cease and desist letter and a letter of negotiation. Neither of these letters with help you in any way more than you can help yourself.  These type of scam companies are preying on payday loan consumer's fears.

Has HB 87 Solved Florida's Foreclosure Problems?

Florida experienced the most intense and widespread ravages of the mortgage crisis in 2008, and new foreclosures are still occuring at an alarming rate a half decade later. Even worse, Florida is a judicial foreclosure state. This means that all foreclosures have to proceed through a set process in the court of law, which can take years for each individual case. In addition to the new cases that are entering the courts daily, there are over 100,000 cases still waiting to be re-tried after the "robo-signing" scandal shut down all Florida foreclosure proceedings in late 2010. These factors combined to create a perfect storm of epic proportions in Florida's courts: so large, in fact, that there are currently over 328,000 foreclosures languishing within Florida's judicial system. 

Been Through the Short Sale, Bankruptcy, or Foreclosure Process? FHA Will Help You Get a New Home Loan.

It's a lot easier for formerly troubled homeowners to get an Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. That's because  FHA has formally announced that potential borrowers will qualify for an FHA-backed  mortgage only a year after bankruptcy, foreclosure, or the short sale process was complete. In years past, potential homeowners would have to wait two years after bankruptcy and three years after foreclosure or short sale to qualify for a new FHA mortgage; that was simply just regarded as an extended part of the foreclosure process. This program is called "Back to Work", and will be getting to work for soon-to-be homeowners immediately.

Florida may be in the Southernmost part of the United States, but it was and still is the center of the foreclosure crisis. Even today, thousands of Floridians are served with foreclosure papers every month. Florida is a judicial foreclosure state, meaning that foreclosures have to proceed through through the court system in order to be completed. This combination of judicial foreclosure and the severity of the foreclosure crisis has created what is consistently the nation's largest backlog of foreclosure cases; a problem which Florida's government had not addressed until recently.