Soldier Fights Off Foreclosure With Help From Wellwishers

Posted in Foreclosure, January 14th, 2008 |

Readers of Seattle P-1 are upbeat because they could do something positive to help Sgt. Marcus Barton. Barton returned last year from war to find himself in the middle of another battle against the dreaded enemy called the foreclosure. It was closing in on his home and hearth. But last month some readers who were moved by his plight pitched in with moral and financial help. He could stave off foreclosure.

Instead of losing out to foreclosure, Barton, his wife and two sons will now be able to sell their North Tacoma house and shift to new army quarters to welcome the arrival of their third child. Thirty four year old Barton has already served two terms in Iraq.

Although they are attached to the house the finances were getting out of their control. Debts were closing in on them. Now they are on a waiting list for accommodation in Fort Lewis. Barton had bought the dream house three years ago before embarking for Iraq.

He is a 10-year-old war veteran having won awards and decorations after a 15-month stint in Iraq. But foreclosures understand nothing about wars and heroes. The family had meticulously being paying their regular mortgage dues on the house they had bought for $152,000 but when the adjustable mortgage rate shot up beyond reasonable limits it was impossible for them to carry on. There was the added burden of a second mortgage that had been taken to renovate the house. The monthly dues jumped from $1,400 to $2,000 – exceeding the sanctioned housing allowance. Trying to manage the mess all they succeeded in doing was to shoot up credit card dues. Their rating dipped.

The readers of P-1 story were greatly moved by the plight of the soldier. The Salvation Army donated $1,000 while other readers too came forward with cash help. A staff of the Department of Veteran Affairs saw a letter from Barton seeking help and organized few others to clear some of the bills of Barton so that the Bartons could come abreast the second mortgage. Barton could get out of the foreclosure and trim up the house for resale.

After having got out of the foreclosure mess Barton can now concentrate on his job. Soon he is going to be promoted. But nothing would have been possible if he had got caught in the quicksand of foreclosure.