House Democrats Ask Fannie Mae to Suspend Lawsuits Against Underwater Borrowers
In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, several house Democrats requested that Fannie Mae suspend its new policy to bring deficiency judgment lawsuits against underwater homeowners who “strategically default” on their mortgages. The House Democrats state they are concerned about Fannie Mae’s new policy because it is “unclear why Fannie Mae is proposing […]
Black & LoBello featured in RJ’s Business Section
BATTLING THROUGH BANKRUPTCY: Chapter 7 not final chapter Filing turns out to be ‘a relief’ for widow Life as Renne Fortier knew it changed in January 2009. Her husband, Mark, was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma, a brain tumor, while he was working in Hawaii. By March, he was gone and she was a 38-year-old widow […]
Nearly 4 Million Homeowners 60+ Days Late on Mortgages
The phrase “Delinquent Mortgage,” once a foreign concept for many Americans, has now become part of our everyday vernacular. When nearly 4 million homeowners are currently 60 or more days behind on their mortgages, it is actually no surprise that citizens nationwide are buzzing about the housing crisis. That crisis is worse here in Las Vegas […]
New Report States the Obvious: Principal Reductions Lead to Lower Re-Default Rates
According to a new report from the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group, a group of state attorney generals and bank supervisors across the country, loan modifications made in 2009 are forty to fifty percent less likely to be delinquent six months after modification than loans modified at the same time in 2008. Additionally, the report […]
Negative Equity Refinance Program
Starting September 7, 2010, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will offer a new refinance program to qualifying underwater homeowners. To be able to participate in the program you must be current on your home loan, your credit score must be 500 or above, and the home must constitute your primary residence. Further, all lien holders […]
Changes Ahead to FIRPTA
Before convening on its August break, the House of Representatives passed the Real Estate Jobs and Investment Act of 2010. The bill advances the real estate industry’s goal of increasing foreign investment in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT). The Bill doubles foreign investors’ allowable ownership interest in a REIT to 10%. Anything over that percent […]
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Or Loan Modification?
Rarely does a loan modification include a principal reduction. The typical loan modification only deals with the first mortgage and will only reduce the monthly payment, not the total amount due and owing. For most Las Vegans it does not make sense to keep paying on an asset that is completely upside-down. Therefore, many people […]
FHA Program for Underwater Homeowners
Beginning September 7th, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) will offer FHA-insured mortgages to qualifying borrowers who have a non-FHA mortgage. To be eligible, the borrower must owe more on the mortgage than the home is worth, be current on the mortgage, occupy the property as a primary residence, qualify for the new loan under standard […]
REALITY CHECK: Loan Modifications Rarely Include A Principal Reduction
Las Vegans are subjected to a non-stop barrage of commercials and advertisements from people and companies promising principal reductions through loan modifications. However, the majority of loan modifications do not include a principal reduction. The majority of loan modifications come in three different forms: The lender reduces your interest rate to no lower than 2%; The […]
Fraud Still Happening Despite Crackdown by Lenders
Despite the mortgage industry’s recent decline in fraud risk, CoreLogic reports that 1 in 200 home loans still contain misrepresentations that could result in default. Short sales have also become an area of concern due to their growing popularity as a preferred foreclosure alternative. CoreLogic reports that short sale volume from the first quarter of 2008 […]