The Wall Street Journal reports that the President will announce a “short refinance” program on Tuesday. Under this program:

  • banks and other creditors that write down mortgages to less than the value of the property can essentially hand off the reduced loan to the government. The process involves refinancing borrowers into loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.
  • Officials say between 500,000 and 1.5 million so-called underwater loans could be modified through the program, the first initiative to target homeowners who are current on their mortgage payments but are at risk of default because they have no equity in their homes.

Click here to read the entire WSJ article

Also see our earlier post “FHA to Refinance Underwater Homeowners”.

As always, The Foreclosure Defense Law Firm of VAUGHN & WEBER, PLLC is here to assist you.  We are conveniently located in the heart of Nassau County, Long Island, at 217 Willis Avenue in Mineola, NY 11501. Contact us at (516) 858-2620 to arrange a consultation with a foreclosure defense lawyer.

Please visit our Foreclosure category to learn more about foreclosure issues.


News: Fannie Mae Offers Foreclosure Options

On August 6, 2010, in Foreclosure, Message/News Board, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.
Fannie Mae recently launched KnowYourOptions.com

In its Press Release, Fannie Mae states that:

  • This website is “a new consumer education Web site that outlines the choices available to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, and provides guidance on how they can contact and work with their mortgage company to find solutions.”
  • This website “offers reliable and easy-to-understand information in both English and Spanish.”
  • “KnowYourOptions.com provides information on refinancing, repayment plans, forbearance, modifications and Deed-for-Lease™.”
  • “For homeowners who recognize that they can no longer afford their mortgages, but want to avoid having a foreclosure on their credit history, the site provides information on alternatives including short sales and deeds-in-lieu.”

The Key features of KnowYourOptions.com are said to include:

  • “Interactive Options Finder to help homeowners identify options that might be right for their situation;
  • Calculators to help borrowers understand how many of the options work, including refinance, repayment, forbearance, and modification;
  • Videos featuring real homeowners discussing how they received help and housing counselors providing advice;
  • A virtual assistant to walk homeowners through key areas of the site; and
  • Next steps and helpful forms, including a financial checklist and contact log to help borrowers be prepared when contacting their mortgage company or housing counselor.”

1 Million Homes May be Lost to Foreclosure In 2010

On July 16, 2010, in Foreclosure, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Over 1 million homes could be lost to foreclosure this year

A recent Associated Press article is reporting that:

“More than 1 million American households are likely to lose their homes to foreclosure this year, as lenders work their way through a huge backlog of borrowers who have fallen behind on their loans.”

And that:

“Nearly 528,000 homes were taken over by lenders in the first six months of the year. If foreclosures continue at that rate, the yearly number would eclipse the more than 900,000 homes repossessed in 2009….”

Also visit our Foreclosure category to learn more about foreclosure.

As always, The Foreclosure Defense Law Firm of VAUGHN & WEBER, PLLC is here to assist you.  We are conveniently located in the heart of Nassau County, Long Island, at 217 Willis Avenue in Mineola, NYContact us at (516) 858-2620 to arrange a consultation with a foreclosure defense attorney.

New York Foreclosure Law

On April 23, 2010, in Foreclosure, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

In 2009, Governor Paterson signed foreclosure legislation aimed at protecting homeowners and tenants.

Protection For Homeowners:

NY foreclosure law now requires that a 90-day pre-foreclosure notice be sent to all homeowners facing foreclosure. This notice is sent prior to the start of the foreclosure action and allows additional time for many homeowners to work with their lenders to prevent foreclosure. Previously, this notice was only sent to homeowners who had sub-prime loans. Caveat:  The 90-day notice period shall not apply, or shall cease to apply,  if the homeowner   does not occupy the 1-4 family dwelling as their principal residence.

This legislation also expanded the scope of the mandatory foreclosure settlement conference to include borrowers of all home loans.  The foreclosure settlement conference provides the homeowner with an opportunity to negotiate a loan modification with their lender. Previously, foreclosure settlement conferences were only available to homeowners who had sub-prime loans.

Protection For Tenants:

NY foreclosure law now requires that tenants, residing in foreclosed properties, receive written notification of the change in ownership of the property. The law also requires that the tenant be allowed to remain in  the  the foreclosed home for the remainder of their lease term or 90 days, whichever is longer.

New York Foreclosure Attorney

As always, the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC is here to assist you.  Contact us at (516) 858-2620 to arrange a consultation with a foreclosure defense attorney.

Please visit our Foreclosure category to learn more about foreclosure issues.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. This website is Attorney Advertising. It does not form an attorney-client relationship. We are a debt relief agency and a law firm that helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code – Title 11. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Proudly assisting residents of Long Island, Nassau county, Suffolk county, New York City, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan