Sheriff Dart and Cook County Foreclosures

Posted in Foreclosure, November 10th, 2008 |

Alarmed at the phenomenal increase in foreclosures Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County ordered his deputies not to participate in eviction of occupants from foreclosed houses. The staggering increase in foreclosures made him take this extreme step.

Foreclosures are not just about figures and statistics but tears of individuals. This is the story of one individual who fought desperately to save the house that her mother had proudly bought in 2004.

Since this was the first house the lady had bought she had qualified for a loan with the help of Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority by paying 20% down payment. For some time everything was hunky dory.

Then personal problems surfaced. She had been battling with breast cancer in 2000. This surfaced in May 2005 and within another two years she died. She left behind for her daughter not only memories but also a pile of unpaid bills together with a mortgage. The equity had been used up during the time when she could no longer work.

The daughter dealt with the equity problem and then approached WHEDA to know about paying off the mortgage. She was surprised to know that already foreclosure proceedings had been started! One of the terms of the mortgage loan was that the borrower should be in occupation of the unit. Since the mother had died the lenders now began to take advantage of the clause.

The daughter tried to contact the firm in Milwaukee but had a trying time with the elusive staff. Calls remained unanswered. After three months she was given the figure of the pay off. Apart from the principal (that the daughter knew beforehand) it included thousands of dollars as accumulated interest and legal charges.

The daughter did not think that it was all clean and clear. She had asked for the accounts for quite some time and saw no reason why the extra months interest should be borne by her. She decided to stand up for a fight. Unfortunately the judge was against her. For her the war now took on another complexion – she felt for the thousands of others who were facing foreclosure unjustifiably. She was ready to pay but not the extra amount.

She is one of the many who are now standing beside Sheriff Dart giving him their full moral support for the steps he is taking to contain the foreclosure evictions.