Saturday, December 31, 2011

Walking away from under water property

Question: One of my properties is under water and I would like to walk away from it. The bank knows my financial situation and I am not in hardship. What is a proper legal procedure I can follow to walk away from my house?

Response: In a somewhat rare situation like yours, it is best to negotiate a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure with the bank. If you simply walk away from your house now, the bank will follow its typical foreclosure routine and obtain a deficiency judgment against you. What makes your situation rare is that you actually have assets to satisfy deficiency judgment, as opposed to most other cases where the bank would not be able to enforce such deficiency. Therefore, in your situation, it is best to do the deed-in-lieu to the bank as long as it has been agreed that you walk away with a clean slate, i.e., no deficiency. Please note that the bank will usually consider a deed-in-lieu as the last resort. They would want you to try to do a short sale first. With short sales, there may be tax consequences and again, in your case, it would have to be properly negotiated with the bank to avoid that. Also, please note that in order to do a deed-in-lieu, the property must not be occupied by tenants.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

 
modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Friday, December 30, 2011

Speeding up the foreclosure process

Question: My home is in foreclosure and I don't know yet when the mortgage company will take over my home. My homeowners insurance will term next month and the mortgage company should start covering the house through the forced coverage. Given that my family is currently in financial distress, I would like get this home off our backs as soon as possible, since otherwise we could end up with a large financial obligation that we cannot afford. I am looking for suggestions on how to speed up this process.

Response: If your mortgage is under water (i.e. mortgage is greater than the appraised value of your home) and you are not renting any of the space to tenants, then consider contacting the bank to do a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Basically, you transfer the deed of the property to the bank and you walk away debt-free. It is then the bank's responsibility to sell the property. Generally, the bank may require you to try to do a short-sale first (that is if the mortgage is under water). If you still have equity in your home, then you can always just try selling your home and paying off the debt to the bank. Otherwise, foreclosure process is very lengthy and will take a couple of years to be completed, especially in NY, and then the bank may obtain a deficiency judgment against you for the remaining balance (the difference of what is owed to the bank and what is recovered at foreclosure sale). Call an experienced attorney today to discuss your options.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

 
modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Unaffordable mortgage payments coming off the interest only loan

Question: The term on my interest only loan will end soon and my home is under water. At the end, I will end up owing $100,000 more than what my home appraises to with 20 years left to pay off. Given the above, I do not qualify for refinancing nor any government programs. Also, my new mortgage payments will be more than double of what I have been paying so far, and I will not be able to afford them when they start to kick in. What can I do?

Response: The first step for you is to find out if your lender participates in the government's Making Home Affordable program (most major banks do). If you have sufficient income and have not yet defaulted on your mortgage, you may be able to refinance through Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). Another option is loan modification but beware that even though it is not required by law, most banks require that you default on your payments before you are considered for loan modification. Start off with calling your bank and inquiring as to what programs does the bank participate in. If they tell you to default on your mortgage payment, then a whole new can of worms opens up (i.e. ruined credit; potential foreclosure if the modification is not resolved) and I would recommend looking into other options first. The bottom line is--the bank does not want your home, and even more so if your mortgage is no longer secured by equity in your home.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.


modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Unaffordable loan modification terms

Question: I have been applying for a loan modification for over a year. Finally, I got approved but my modified mortgage payment is only $50 less than my original payment. I still cannot afford this new monthly payment. If I do not sign this agreement will the bank continue to work with me in trying to modify my mortgage under better terms or will the bank automatically foreclose on my home?

Response: This is a tricky area. There are many factors that come into play in a situation like this, such as: monthly household income, the value of the home in comparison to your debt, how many payments were missed, whether your escrow has gone up, whether the loan is FHA (FHA loans generally end up in slightly higher monthly payments because different rules apply), etc . For instance, if you were qualified under HAMP and 31% of your gross monthly income is only $50 less than the original monthly mortgage payment, then the new amount is accurate, as it based entirely on your gross monthly income. Had 31% of your gross monthly payment exceeded the original monthly payment by any amount, you would have been denied altogether, citing that the original mortgage payment was affordable. This is precisely why it is hard to answer a question like this without knowing all the details of the situation. However, generally, once a loan modification agreement is issued, the bank will not conduct another review unless there is a material change in circumstances (for example, if your household income has increased since last submission of documents). Most banks conduct a review for HAMP and traditional modification. It is sometimes possible that a new review will result more favorably. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional who could accurately depict the picture of your available options before you choose an option that may later be regrettable. In any case, failure to accept proposed loan modification will not result in immediate foreclosure in NY. It is still a long and complex legal process that must run its course.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

 
modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The option of deed-in-lieu for those rejected for a loan modification

Question: I have been rejected for a loan modification. Should I do a deed-in-lieu? If I take that option, can I continue to live in my home?

Response: The idea behind doing the deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is that the borrower transfers the ownership of the home to the bank, thus, wiping out the entire mortgage debt. Some banks even provide a financial incentive for the borrower to do so. The reasoning behind it is that the non-paying owner leaves, allowing the bank to try to re-sell the property, and this way, earn some, if not, all of its money back. As such, you cannot continue to live in the premises unless specifically agreed so with the lender.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

 
modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Monday, December 26, 2011

Foreclosure auction and eviction

Question: If my home does not sell at a foreclosure auction, will I be able to stay in my home?

Response: Generally, if there are no bidders at a foreclosure auction, the bank that owns the loan usually bids a nominal amount to take possession of the property. This way, the bank can at least have some security that if it resells the property at a later time, it will recover some, if not all, of the money that was originally borrowed but not paid back. It is further important to note that unless no one is living at the property at the time of sale, the bank will have to institute an eviction proceeding to get the old owner or tenants out of the house. Essentially, the eviction process takes time. Eventually, unless you bring an Order to Show Cause to the Court to prove otherwise, the bank will prevail at its eviction proceeding and at that point, you will no longer be able to stay at your old home. Since it is in the bank's best interest that you leave as soon as possible, oftentimes, the banks will offer different financial incentives to help speed up that process and avoid an eviction proceeding (some banks will pay for your move and offer extra money to start over, but that is not a rule of thumb).

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.
modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Does 'trial' modification lead to 'permanent' loan modification?

Question: We have been working with the bank for the past two years to get a loan modification and now we are losing our house to foreclosure. Originally, we were put on a payment plan and have been paying less than what the actual mortgage payments were for the past two years. The bank has just contacted us with a decision that we were denied a loan modification stating that our debt to income ratio is not between 10-55%. What can we do?

Response: You most likely were given a "trial" loan modification in late 2009 or early 2010. Sadly, even as early as 2010, banks offered "trial" modifications over the phone without verifying financials, which is the essential component for banks now to offer a "trial" modification, and yet alone, permanent modification. I just successfully resolved almost an identical case, where the borrower was on a "trial" modification, paying a reduced sum for a duration of 18 months. After 18 months, he was denied a permanent modification. Generally, if foreclosure action has already been commenced, the court will regard this kind of a denial as bad faith and may even sanction the bank, but in this case, the bank did not commence a foreclosure proceeding and continued to accept payments from him and applied them as partial payments towards his original monthly mortgage payment (once foreclosure is commenced, the bank can no longer accept any payments from borrower other than to fully pay off the loan). Accordingly, upon denial, we resubmitted all the financial paper work to the bank and the financials showed affordability to the bank and my client was offered another modification plan (traditional, as opposed to HAMP). He was in a "trial" for 3 months, paying even less than he paid for those 18 months and after 2nd payment, he received a permanent modification agreement, offering very similar terms to HAMP (starting with 2.175% and eventually rising to 4.375% fixed). The bottom line is you still have options and can have a favorable outcome. You just have to reach out to an experienced attorney, who could help you and not mislead you.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.

Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure: Holding the mortgagor responsible for the difference between mortgage principal and short sale offer

Question: We are selling our house via a short sale and have received an offer of 25% less than the mortgage principal we owe on the house. The bank has accepted the short sale offer but asked that we pay an additional $15,000 to the offer. The bank stated that if we pay the $15,000, we will be released from the remaining debt on our loan. What is the law regarding holding a mortgagor responsible for the difference between the mortgage principal and the short sale offer? Should we pay the $15,000 requested by the bank (we made a counter offer of 25% of what the bank requested), or should we let the house go into foreclosure? The foreclosure date has been scheduled within two months from now.

Response: Generally, conducting a short sale has tax consequences for the borrower in terms of the difference between the sale price and the mortgage amount. In today's economy, where the banks benefit a lot more from a short sale rather than waiting for many years to conduct a foreclosure sale, they are willing to negotiate with the borrower by releasing some or all of the additional debt. It is always a good idea to negotiate with the bank and you did the right thing by giving a counter offer. However, what is not clear to me is whether the bank has asked for additional $15,000 specifically to discharge additional debt or because they think the short sale offer is too low, i.e., they think they could receive $15,000.00 more if the bank conducted the sale itself (usually the banks look at today's fair market value when deciding what amount to settle for). As far as letting the home go into foreclosure, that too, may have severe financial consequences. The bank may obtain a deficiency judgment against you and go after your other personal assets to try to recover some of its money that were previously lent to you. Both short sale and foreclosure will adversely affect your credit but more so with foreclosure than the short sale. If the bank is willing to accept a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, that could be more advantageous to you, as you could avoid a deficiency judgment and it would be less harmful to your credit. However, the banks are not generally willing to entertain the idea of a deed-in-lieu when a short sale is still a possibility. Between two evils you are currently faced with, I would definitely say that a short sale is a lesser evil than foreclosure. As a side note, if you need more time to go through with the short sale and your foreclosure sale date is approaching, bring an Order to Show Cause to court to stop the foreclosure sale on an emergency basis. For example, short sale will take place soon and you need more time.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.


The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Friday, December 23, 2011

Refinancing vs. Loan Modification

Question: I am thinking of stopping to make mortgage payments so I could modify my loan. What's better: refinancing or loan modification?

Response: A lot of mortgage broker companies, as well as other types of real estate companies, that try to earn a living since the real estate market collapsed, will try to solicit you to get your loan modified with them. They might call or send you notices telling to that you are already approved to modify your loan at 2%. The actual process, however, is much more complicated before you have defaulted, i.e., stopped making your mortgage payments, your credit score may be good, if not excellent, to refinance your mortgage under today's fair market rate, which could often be similar, if not the same rate that is being offered once the loan is modified. If you go with the option of refinancing your loan, then your credit history stays untouched and you win twice. People who default on their mortgage payment should only be those who truly face some financial hardship (which is essentially a prerequisite to getting your loan modified). If you are experiencing financial distress and you defaulted or plan to default on your mortgage payments, the bank cannot commence a foreclosure action immediately as they must first give you 90 days to accelerate the entire remaining balance due under the note and mortgage agreements. Please beware that your credit score will start to drop immediately after you missed one payment and will progressively get worse, thus refinancing will no longer be an option. Modification then may be your only option to save your home and potentially lower your monthly payments (with FHA loans, it is very hard to lower monthly mortgage payments), however, you will not know if your loan will be modified until it is actually modified. Even after it is modified, it will take years for your credit history to recover. Before you default, you are in superior position--you have the time and resources to weigh all your options...

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Should I stop making home mortgage payments to get a loan modification?

Question: I keep on getting phone calls from mortgage brokers trying to convince me to stop making mortgage payments on my property in order to modify my loan at 2%. Should I actually stop making payments in order to get a loan modification?

Response: A lot of mortgage broker companies, as well as other types of real estate companies, that try to earn a living since the real estate market collapsed, will try to solicit you to get your loan modified with them. They might call or send you notices telling that you are already approved to modify your loan at 2%. Unfortunately, it is often true that banks themselves will also advise you to stop making mortgage payments in order to qualify for a loan modification. What they don't tell you is that you might not qualify. Most people do not realize that once you stop making monthly payments, a foreclosure action may be commenced after 3 months, and from that point on, a long, tedious process begins to save your home. Your unique circumstances will play a big role as to whether your loan will be modified. If you have not yet defaulted, first call your bank and see if they will even entertain an idea of working on a loan modification for you prior to default. It is always your best bet to consult with an experienced attorney and allow the attorney to negotiate with the bank on your behalf. Loan modification may save you up to 40% in your monthly mortgage payments but the process can also cause you a lot of stress and uncertainty (i.e. foreclosure). Weigh your options carefully before you voluntarily choose to default or believe someone that you are already approved for a loan modification!

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Can the bank go after my assets if my home is foreclosed upon?

Question: I own a second property that is under water. If the house is foreclosed on can the bank pursue any other assets that I have?

Response: If the house is foreclosed upon, the bank can get a deficiency judgment (the difference between what the bank recovered at a sale and what was owed) against you from the court and then try to go after your assets to try to satisfy such a deficiency. If you know in advance that you will not be resisting the foreclosure action taken by the bank, you might want to consider doing a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, whereby you voluntarily transfer the deed of the property to the bank and they release you from any financial obligation to them. The bank will usually agree to a deed-in-lieu after you have tried other types of loss mitigation options, like a short sale. In a short sale, you would sell the property to a 3rd party at a fair market value but for less than is owed to the lender. Please note that unless a short sale is properly negotiated with the lender, there may be tax consequences to you as a result of a short sale. The banks typically prefer a short sale over a deed-in-lieu because they do not want be the ones then responsible for selling your home. If you can show to the bank that you tried to do a short sale but failed, they will consider a deed-in-lieu.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Can second bank foreclose when first loan is already modified?

Question: I have two mortgages on my home. The first was recently modified under HAMP. The 2nd lien holder sent me a letter stating that they do not participate in the government program and I was denied for a modification for 2nd. My house appraises to $300,000.00. My first mortgage is $330,000.00 after modification. I cannot afford to make my second mortgage monthly payments and am now 2 1/2 months behind. The 2nd bank is threatening to foreclose on my property even though I am paying my first mortgage. What can I do?

Response: The 2nd mortgagee (2nd lender) is an unsecured creditor because there is no equity left in your home to preserve the 2nd mortgagee's interest. If they were to commence a foreclosure proceeding right now, they will incur fees and costs for foreclosure that they would not be able to recover. If the sale took place right now, the 1st lender would get around $300,000.00 that the home appraises to and would end up losing the other $30,000.00. The second lender would get nothing at all because everything would go to the first. Therefore, the second lender is in the worse situation. Some banks choose to extinguish these debts altogether or they might try to settle with you by agreeing to a haircut on the debt you owe them. Alternatively, just because the bank does not participate in the government program does not mean they cannot offer you their own traditional loan modification. After all, it is in their best interest to do so. It is in your best interest to conduct proper negotiations with the financial institution that owns your debt.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer

Monday, December 19, 2011

Does bank review automatically put foreclosure on hold?

Question: Our bank said that our mortgage qualifies for a review. There are no motions that were granted by the judge yet. Actually, our court process is just in the beginning stages. I was wondering if a judge could make a decision while we are waiting for a review to be done? Can foreclosure be put on hold while we are in review?

Response: The review process that you are referring to is the bank's review of your financial documents for a loan modification. Foreclosure process, today, from start to finish, takes a quite long time. In NY, before a judge could render any decision (Judgment, Order of Reference, or Motion for Summary Judgment), you are first required to attend a mandatory court settlement conference. While you are in the settlement conference part, your foreclosure action is stayed, or put on hold. That means the bank cannot move forward with its foreclosure process, the judge cannot render any decisions, and definitely, no sale at an auction can be scheduled. However, even if you are past the settlement conference stage and are approaching a Judgment stage, the bank can still review and approve you for a loan modification, which would essentially end the entire foreclosure proceeding. Just remember: it is in the bank's best interest to try to modify your loan rather than to foreclose.

In the legal blog, Attorney Svetlana Kaplun addresses typical questions our firm has received from our clients, or come across from homeowners related to foreclosure, foreclosure defense, loan modification and bankruptcy topics.

The information contained in the legal blog of Attorney Svetlana Kaplun is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Please read our full disclaimer or contact the Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C. by telephone at 718-444-1115 for more information.
Copyright © 2015 Law Office of Svetlana Kaplun, P.C.

modification, making home affordable, hamp, mortgage modification, harp refinance, making homes affordable, modifications, home affordable modification program, home affordable refinance program, hamp program, home loan modification, loan modification guidelines, foreclosures, foreclosure listings, foreclosure homes, mers, foreclosure settlement, foreclosure homes for sale, free foreclosure listings, foreclosure home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure process, how foreclosure works, home foreclosure, foreclosure radar, bank foreclosure, home foreclosures, foreclosure listing, hud foreclosure, foreclosure laws, short sale vs foreclosure, stop foreclosure, totally free foreclosure home listings, foreclosure help, free government home foreclosure listing, free listing foreclosure home sale, free foreclosure listings with pictures, fannie mae foreclosure, independent foreclosure review, lawyers, power of attorney, personal injury attorney, attorneys, power of attorney form, durable power of attorney, power of attorney forms, criminal attorney, attorney search, medical power of attorney, free power of attorney, bankruptcy attorney, power of attorney template, power of attorney form download, durable power of attorney form, free power of attorney forms, general power of attorney, free printable power attorney form, lasting power of attorney, tax attorney, free power attorney forms, divorce attorney, ace attorney, disability attorney, attorney jobs, enduring power of attorney, attorney at law, patent attorney, free power of attorney forms to print, real estate attorney, injury lawyer, personal injury lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal defense lawyer, the lawyer, accident lawyer, a lawyer, criminal lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, rocket lawyer, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce lawyer, ask a lawyer, find a lawyer, lawyer referral, car accident lawyer, family lawyer, lawyer search, lawyer find, lawyer ratings, lawyer referral service, immigration lawyer, dui lawyer