Foreclosure Settlement Conference Notice

On June 10, 2010, in Foreclosure, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Scheduled Foreclosure Settlement Conference

I received a notice to attend a foreclosure settlement conference, what should I do?

Go!

If you are facing foreclosure and the court has scheduled  a foreclosure settlement conference for you, you should attend or hire an attorney, probably for a lot less than you may think, to attend on your behalf or with you.

The foreclosure settlement conference provides the homeowner with an opportunity to negotiate a loan modification with their lender. If you are interested in saving your home from foreclosure, the foreclosure settlement conference may be your last chance to do so.

Foreclosure Defense Attorney in Mineola

Contact the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620 to speak with a foreclosure defense attorney.

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

Fighting Foreclosure After a Default Judgment.

On May 5, 2010, in Foreclosure, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Your lender brought a mortgage foreclosure action and obtained a default judgment against you.

So, it’s game over and you are bound to lose your home to foreclosure, right? Not necessarily!

The scenario usually goes something like this:

Your mortgage lender brought a foreclosure action against you and allegedly had you served with a summons and complaint. You failed to hire a foreclosure defense attorney or respond to the summons and complaint. The lender proceeded with the foreclosure action and obtained a default judgment against you.  Now your home is set to be sold at a fast approaching foreclosure auction.

This is not a good situation for any homeowner.  However, you may still be able to defend the foreclosure action and save your home from foreclosure. You might even be able to get a loan modification before it is all said and done. To determine if any of this is possible, you need to contact a knowledgeable foreclosure defense attorney immediately. They will determine if there is still time and a chance to vacate the default judgment and defend the foreclosure action.

If you are facing this type of foreclosure or foreclosure in general, we may be able to stop the foreclosure and give you an opportunity to negotiate a loan modification. We were recently successful in stopping a foreclosure auction and getting the homeowner into a foreclosure settlement conference. The lender has expressed an interest in negotiating a loan modification for the homeowner.

Foreclosure Defense Attorneys in Mineola

As always, the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC is here to assist you.  We are conveniently located in the heart of Nassau County, at 393 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola, NY 11501.  Contact us at (516) 858-2620 to arrange a consultation with a foreclosure defense lawyer.

Don’t hesitate, call a foreclosure defense attorney today! Because,It ain’t over till it’s over.” –Yogi Berra.

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

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.

Filing Bankruptcy To Save Your Home From Foreclosure

On April 19, 2010, in Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Filing Bankruptcy to Save Your Home:  CHAPTER 7 Bankruptcy

Will filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy save my home from foreclosure?

Probably not.

If you are facing foreclosure you have likely missed a few mortgage payments. Chapter 7 does not allow you to make up your missed payments over time.

However, the “automatic stay” may delay the foreclosure long enough for a homeowner to complete a sale or loan modification.

Automatic stay – An injunction that goes into effect automatically, with some exceptions, when a debtor files for bankruptcy. It, in most cases, automatically stops most lawsuits, foreclosures, garnishments, and collection activities against the debtor.

Generally, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a better option for homeowners who are current on their mortgage, or at least not in foreclosure, but may be struggling due to other “dischargeable debt”.

Dischargeable debt- Debt that can be eliminated by filing bankruptcy (credit card debt, medical bills, etc.).

Filing Bankruptcy to Save Your Home:  CHAPTER 13 Bankruptcy

Will filing a chapter 13 bankruptcy save my home from foreclosure?

Probably.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy DOES allow you to make up your missed mortgage payments over time (3-5 years). This is done via a monthly payment plan. A portion of your arrearage is paid along with your current monthly mortgage payment as part of your chapter 13 plan.

Also, like a chapter 7, the “automatic stay” may delay the foreclosure long enough for a homeowner to complete a sale or loan modification.

Additionally, you may also be able to “strip-off” a totally unsecured 2nd/3rd mortgage on your primary residence. This would allow the 2nd/3rd mortgage to be treated as any other unsecured creditor. Thus, it would be dischargeable upon the completion of the Chapter 13 plan.

As always, The Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC is here for you should you need us.  Contact us at (516) 858-2620 to speak with a bankruptcy attorney.

Please visit our Bankruptcy category to learn more about filing chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy.

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