Archive for December, 2007

Across USA about 750,000 houses went into foreclosures. There are gloomy predictions that the number will rise to more than a million in 2008. With so many houses up for foreclosure auctions and sales, the real estate market is tottering with prices plummeting. This is the natural process of demand and supply. Houses not directly affected by foreclosures are also selling off because of criminal activities in abandoned houses.

Ohio is one of the hardest hit pockets. The foreclosure crisis is raging through Ti-state neighbourhoods. Foreclosures are whimsical – not caring about economic or social brackets. A drive through Tri-state neighbourhoods will show up many For Sale signs like pock marks on an otherwise smooth skin. Analysts have no heartening news – it will get worse before it gets better.
Andy Adams is also a familiar figure in the region during these troubled times. The lenders, usually the banks, contact Andy and his team. Their job is to secure the property after the previous owners have vacated it. It is brisk business with orders rolling in without a break. Locks have to be changed. The previous owners are given about a month’s time to collect their personal belongings
There are many ways of looking at the foreclosure problem Dan Hickman representing American Mortgage Company opines that foreclosure is a standard procedure by which the market corrects itself. He admits that the industry may have over reached itself in granting credit but that alone cannot explain the magnitude of this foreclosure fiasco. There are social reasons. Life styles have changed causing rise in illness and divorce – all resulting in decrease of income. Government regulations cannot rectify things overnight. Others from the mortgage sector say that the personal responsibility factor cannot be overlooked. The borrower is obliged to make the monthly payments for a loan that has been advanced to him or her. However all agree that the tsunami proportions of the foreclosure crisis cannot be easily explained away.

It is interesting to note that foreclosures are also touching upper class localities. Andy has worked on over 70 houses during the last two months. Immediately after Christmas he has four more on his list. Andy seems to be omnipresent!

Lawmakers are in a huddle wanting to tighten lending laws and insisting on lenders providing details. The Chief Justice of Ohio is requesting lawyers to be more cooperative with the foreclosure victims.

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Interested in buying a home for you or making an investment? The ideal location is Denver, Colorado, where you are offered amicable apartments for both purposes. Denver, CO is seen as the best place for living by social and economical reasons by experts. The demand for housing is increasing in Denver, CO and for owner occupation the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is attaching importance rather than investors. Denver, CO has a number of properties foreclosed and repossessed by HUD as also properties fixed for public auction in thousands. The whirl-wind of housing properties being foreclosed in the recent past in the entire U.S. nation is sweeping Denver, CO also like other cities. The national figure has already crossed an alarming 223,538 of which the contribution made by the State of Colorado is 3 per cent to the tune of 6,290, ranking 9th overall in the national foreclosure. While the rate of foreclosure filings shows a national average of one foreclosure per every 557 U.S. households, Colorado turns out 1.7 times more in this statistics by filing one foreclosure for every 326 households. Denver, CO as the second County in the State has made filing of 1,002 foreclosures in the month of September alone. Overall the State’s foreclosure figure swelled 40% when compared to that of the same period that is September 2006.

So what these figures and statistics about Denver CO foreclosure filings go to show? These figures indicate that the real estate market in Denver, CO is pressed hard by the increased number of foreclosures every month. The home owners in Denver, CO are unable to cope up with the adjustable rate of mortgage lending, which was appearing very small at the time of their going in for home loans, and made a striking increase in the outgo of money every month in their repayment installments rather unexpectedly. Denver, CO home owners invited foreclosure process by their default in monthly repayments and the mortgage lenders of Denver, CO have initiated the foreclosure process. The state of Colorado permits non-judicial foreclosure process and hence Denver, CO is experiencing quick and speedy foreclosure proceedings unlike the other States of U.S. nation. On sending a default notice, after recording it at the County’s Recorder office, the Denver, CO mortgage lenders can embark on the next step of foreclosing the property and selling it through the Trustee sale by the Denver, CO authorities. The time lapse, as in the case of other States in foreclosing is not there in Denver, CO foreclosures. The result is the chances for a home buyer in Denver, CO are slim for negotiating with the distressed home owner directly during the pre-foreclosure periods. The second stage of public auctions in Denver, CO County Sheriff’s office which provides scope for bidding on the properties comes as the next best option. The best option in Denver, CO comes only for purchasing repossessed properties in the post-foreclosure stage. In Denver, CO these repossessed properties lying with Banks and other lenders are the ideal choice of the home shoppers, as they are clean-titled and can save a minimum of 10 to 20% of real money in the closing prices of properties. Denver, CO has 5,927 properties waiting for public auction and 5065 properties repossessed by Banks apart from 275 properties owned by Government agencies. To know more about Denver, CO foreclosure listing properties you can very well visit - foreclosurelistings.com

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On the heels of the devastation left behind by the foreclosure catastrophe are slinking in the vultures and jackals to pick the bones of the dead and dying. These are the scammers – aptly called scam artists for their ability to act out the part of genuine helpers.

Their first suggestion is that the foreclosure victim should never press forward with filing documents, as this will make them lose whatever chances they have of saving their houses.

Bill Postmus, the County Assessor of San Bernardino County is alerting the local people facing foreclosures to be aware of these scammers who are trying to take over the property themselves. They do not have any conscience and are absolutely without morals. They make a living by preying on the vulnerable and unsuspecting house owners who are somehow embattling the foreclosure waves and trying to keep themselves afloat. These scams were first noted in many north California counties.
As a precautionary measure those facing foreclosure sales are advised to file their deeds in the recording office of the county while conveying a percentage interest to any third interested party. The deed shows a maximum transfer tax of $1,000 that will be required.

The troubled house owners are being repeatedly told that by transferring a part interest in the property they can avoid foreclosure. It is expected that the owners will record the documents and then deposit the amount into a third party checking account. But Postmus is warning that this will never halt the foreclosure process.

The only way to avoid scams is become aware of the evil and be on the alert. Reports of such duping are on the rise. The District Attorney of San Bernardino started off investigations on these foreclosure-prevention scams focusing on the vulnerable foreclosure victims. More awareness programmes must be generated.

It is the law of Nature that scavengers clean up the mess left by an epidemic. As such there is nothing to be surprised about rats emerging from dark holes to eke out a living from the stench of death. Scavengers have always been a despicable part of life and it is not surprising that scammers will try to penetrate into this danger zone and fatten themselves. What is surprising is that too late society is waking up to this peril and issuing warning notices. Already a lot of damage has been done.

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In the lonely neighbourhood two large turtles were rescued from an abandoned foreclosed house in Discovery Bay. The turtles were lucky to be adopted by some school children. But one pit bull puppy was unlucky – it died tied to a fence in a backyard of Pittsburg. If people cannot survive the foreclosure attack what of the fate of the animals who are their pets?

Cecily Tippery specializes in foreclosed units is now busy rescuing abandoned pets from deserted houses. Right now they have their hands full taking care of a generous number of pets – all hit by the foreclosure wave. In a house in Antioch the group found a dachshund, beagle and Chihuahua huddled together with a dead turtle. In an Oakley house the only occupant was a Calico cat. Another house was crawling with a litter of kittens.

Abandoned pets are another grim aspect of the foreclosure crisis. More stories pet and foreclosure related stories are coming up from across the country.

In Ohio the animal welfare groups are in a huddle trying to find space for an increasing number of abandoned pets. In Arizona concerned pet lovers have set up an e-mail network to find homes for the foreclosed-pets. Stockton is at the centre of the foreclosure and Michael Parker an officer in animal services is a worried man. Thousands of evicted families have temporarily forgotten their pets.

So far there has been no detailing of the abandoned pets – unfortunate victims of the foreclosure fiasco. Stray news are pouring in but the problem is beginning to get attention says Paul Bruce of Humane Society of US. The problem can be understood. New landlords taking in tenants are often averse to pets. Many of the pets left behind by the foreclosure wave are too old or sick. They do not have veterinary records. Tippery falls within a ‘no-kill’ zone that makes the problem difficult to solve.

Contra Costa and Antioch do not have no-kill pet shelters. Agents are not happy about sending them there. The local rescue bodies do not have the funds to finance vet care for the abandoned pets. But work is underway by animal lovers. Individuals have paid for health checks of these foreclosure victims and they are hunting for adopters in an organized manner. It is heart wrenching to see not just toys left behind but living animals in houses that were once homes.

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Home shoppers for locating a residence to live in Phoenix AZ or investors wishing to have a place for renting or resale, can have sizeable savings if they search Phoenix AZ foreclosure listings. The reasons are many and the foremost being Phoenix, AZ has been adjudged by its employment potential as the leading city by increase of population. Phoenix, AZ has a diversified economy, both agricultural and industrial, where the high-tech companies have their factories situated and the employment by Government is also substantial in Phoenix, AZ. Hence owning a housing property in Phoenix, AZ is a lucrative proposition in the longer run for steady income by renting or capital gain by resale as Phoenix, AZ has ever increasing demand for housing. In that context, buying a property from Phoenix, AZ foreclosure listings should be the primary option of any home buyer. For this they can very well gather the details easily by visiting foreclosurelistings.com which provides all the relevant links and complete particulars of Phoenix, AZ.

By virtue of the foreclosure laws in the State, Phoenix, AZ has multiple option for foreclosure open to the lenders of Phoenix, AZ. The judicial and non-judicial foreclosures of Phoenix, AZ properties whose owners have defaulted in repayment of the loan are available and for quick and easy completion of the process, most of the mortgage lenders in Phoenix, AZ prefer the non-judicial foreclosure. Thus Phoenix, AZ foreclosures can be completed out-of court from the date of the first notice of default being sent to the home owners. In case of Phoenix, AZ properties pledged under mortgage deed, the lenders in Phoenix, AZ file law suit and the recorded notice at County court of Phoenix, AZ is sent to the borrowers as “Lis Pendens” – pending law suit. If a power-of-sale is included in the deed of trust between the Phoenix, AZ lender and the borrower, then the trustee records a notice of sale by foreclosure and conducts the sale by public auction in the Phoenix, AZ court steps or the office of the trustee. Phoenix, AZ properties pending foreclosure sale are to be publicized in the local news papers at least three times. The borrowers of defaulted Phoenix, AZ properties have the chance of redemption within 3 months after the judicial foreclosure sale in the Court, whereas in the out-of Court trustee sales, no such redemption is possible.

The flexible legal procedures of Phoenix, AZ provide for opportunities to prospective home buyers in three ways. Phoenix, AZ properties which are under pre-foreclosure stage can be negotiated for, directly with the home owners. But this option of buying Phoenix, AZ properties is very limited since there are no good numbers of properties falling in this category (only 30 Nos. as on date). There are Phoenix, AZ properties fixed for public auction by trustee sales – the highest as on date 4440 properties – where they can be bid for and acquired. Phoenix, AZ properties which are already foreclosed and lying as Repossessed properties by Banks numbering 2621 offer an excellent opportunity for acquisition with clear-titles and in good condition with a bargain of up to 20% savings, which itself can run into thousands of dollars in real terms.

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At the root of foreclosure blues is the unwise mortgage decisions. The borrowers did not think before they leapt. The result is that today thousands of families are paying the price for rash decisions. If the lender does not get his or her dues there is no alternative but to initiate foreclosure proceedings against the offender.

Foreclosures are nothing new in the judicial and financial world. Today what is new is the number of these foreclosures that are running into millions across the nation. So the best and basic way to avoid foreclosures is not to go for something that one cannot afford. There is no point in biting more than what one can digest.
Before opting for a mortgage do some serious research and find out the different kinds of mortgages. Walk into a bank and a new one will be on the notice board each day. Banks are the architects behind these new mortgage products – each having is pros and cons and each claiming to be better than the other. The job of the borrower is to pick the shoe that fits and not the one that pinches. There are fixed rate, adjustable rate, interest only mortgages etc. If you pick the wrong one then you are asking for trouble – inviting foreclosures to knock on your door.
Many potential borrowers do not focus on the ancillary costs associated with foreclosures. All these total up to make the house very expensive. Apart from the very basics of mortgage costs there are closing costs, application fees, insurance charges and above all penalties charged for foreclosing. A mortgage for $1,000 may seem appealing but there are hidden costs that strike with a hiss at the opportune moment. The cost thus rises. So it is better to think before inking. One must be realistic and conventional when dealing with such life and death matters like house mortgage.

Affordability of mortgages is relative to the income and life style of the borrower. One major point is that mortgages carry on for 20 to 30 years and so the question about income and sustainability is not just about today but tomorrow also. One of the best options is the fixed rate mortgage – it is what it says – the rate remains fixed and does not fluctuate. This allows for something very precious in the modern world – tension free peace of mind.

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Organized mortgage frauds located in Atlanta seem to be a plausible explanation for the rising numbers of Atlanta foreclosures. The Wall Street Journal has reported how a fraud caucus managed to pocket $6.8 million in mortgages from Bear Stearns. A certain New York couple approached the bank with the story that they earned more than $50,000 per month as top ranking personnel of a marketing firm. They submitted statements showing assets worth $3million. In actual life the man was had an income of $105,000 per year with assets worth not more than $35,000! His wife did not have any outside income. Such a couple purchased a mansion and sold it in a foreclosure auction. Neighbours smelt a rat that led to the exposure of this foreclosure fraud ring.

According to the FBI, 28% of the mortgage agents and analysts are engaged in fraudulent activities. In 2003 the number was 7%. Lenders should know their rights and file Suspicious Activity Reports as soon as they suspect anything. Between 2000 and 2006 the reports have increased by 700%. There were 436 mortgage fraud cases in 2003. That has gone up to 1,210 this year – that is 2007.

The Prieston Group provides mortgage fraud insurance. According to their chairperson Arthur Prieston, losses from mortgage fraud in 2006 could be about $4.5 billion. It is a 100% rise from the 2005. The statistics for 2007 have not been released as yet. This organized racket is adding fuel to the fire of foreclosures. Prieston is of the opinion that in some regions more than half the foreclosures might stem from these frauds. He blames the sub-prime system of loans as ‘liar’s loans’ because no documentation was required about income statements. People merrily lied and got loans that were used in an organized manner for speculation leading to the foreclosure fiasco of today.

The Mortgage Asset Research Institute is another firm dealing with fraud protection. It said that 60% of the stated income amounts were exaggerated by more than 50%.

The net result is that with these exposures people who are self-employed and rely on stated-income loans will find it difficult in the near future to get loans to buy houses. The antics of few criminals make life hard for the many honest hardworking folks.

The main things that this fraud affair has exposed that where were the watchdogs when all this was going on?

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In a statement the former mayor of Cleveland George Voinovich expressed his grave anguished concern for the ongoing foreclosure crisis in US. He is a senator from Ohio (R-Cleveland) and a former Governor.

He is especially concerned about the repercussions of the foreclosure crisis. Cleveland is his hometown and it is one of the worst affected zones. In his own locality three houses have been abandoned in front of his eyes – the owners have walked away leaving the properties to the mercy of vandals.

He had pitched in with others to revitalize the region with new sidewalks and saw to the repairs and maintenance works. For house construction he initiated a special tax abatement incentive. Now foreclosure clouds darken these same regions. One such locality is Slavic Village. It has the dubious distinction of ranking first in the foreclosure race. So on a very personal level he understands and realizes the sting of the foreclosure tornado that is sweeping through Ohio.
According to latest reports released by Mortgage Banker’s Association the foreclosure crisis is at its worst with Ohio being one of the hardest hit by it. It stands first with 3.72% of the loans slipping into foreclosures. The new law will allow three-year exception to the matter of debt forgiveness on house loans. There is also a clause that allows house owners to deduct mortgage insurance payments from taxable income.

An overwhelming majority by the House passed the second law, Expanding American Homeownership Act. By it Federal Housing Administration loan limits have been increased so that those facing foreclosures or resetting of interest rates will be easily able to refinance and move into safer harbours. The minor differences between the House and Senate bills will be ironed out and sent for the President’s signature in December.

The bill will give a fillip to the real estate market by bringing down the down payment condition from 3% to 1.5%. Consequently millions of Americans for the first time will get an opportunity to have a house of their own. This law also envisages a new counseling programme that will benefit those in the low and middle-income bracket.

Both pieces of legislation will be tools in the hand of the individual to preserve the sanctity and security of the home and the neighbourhood. There are still things to be done but a beginning has been made.

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