Effect of rise in interest rates on home owners in West Palm Beach and throughout Florida?

Federal Reserve
The US Federal Reserve in Washington DC on a beautiful summer day

Yesterday, December 16, 2015, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) announced it was raising interest rates by 25 basis points. This means that it is increasing the target for short term interest rates to a range of 0.25% to 0.50% from a range of 0% to 0.25%. The move was particularly noteworthy because it marked the first time in 9½ years (since June of 2006) that the Fed has raised interest rates.

Most of the big banks, including Citibank, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase followed the Fed’s move by increasing their prime lending rates from 3.25% to 3.5%, effective today. The rest are expected to follow suit shortly. The question for all of us consumers out there is: how will this affect my wallet/purse/bank account?

Although the answer to that question varies depending upon your personal situation, the general answer to the effect of this one ¼% rise is “Not much, for most of us, in the immediate future.”

The more important question for home owners in West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater or anywhere else in the state of Florida: is this a one-time event, or a change in policy by the Fed that signals more interest rate hikes ahead in 2016. Some economists, journalists and forecasters are predicting that this is just the beginning of a series of tightening moves by the Fed. If that is the case, then the effect, particularly here in Florida, will be significant.

Why? Because as we saw in 2008 through 2010 and even into 2011 and 2012, our local economy is particularly sensitive to what is happening in the real estate market. The economic crisis which was largely brought on by the collapse of the housing market hit Florida harder than almost every other state in America.

Only in the last two years or so have we seen our housing market finally bounce back (house prices went up 8.7% in Florida last year, the 3rd fastest growth rate amongst states, according to an article on businessinsider.com). A significant rise in interest rates could cause the housing market to slow, which will most likely cause our local economy to slow or even go in reverse again. To read the entire article ranking the economies of all 50 states and Washington D.C. please go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/state-economy-ranking-july-2015-2015-7

That is the most important question to people who are involved in the real estate market here in Florida; particularly those of you who are already in a precarious position with your current mortgage or home equity loan. Sustained increases in interest rates could push you over the edge toward foreclosure.

Before that happens, you need to talk with a law firm knowledgeable about getting your loans modified today. Or, you may need to explore your rights in foreclosure defense. If you need help with any type of problems you have with your mortgage or any other home loan, contact us at Korte & Wortman, P.A. now.

Korte & Wortman is a law firm specializing in all aspects of foreclosure including bankruptcy, mortgage debt, short sales, loan modification, predatory lending practices and Dodd-Frank Act violation litigation. We have had excellent results working with a number of clients to help them stave off foreclosure and save their homes by getting them the mortgage modifications and/or foreclosure defense they need. Check out a few of our many success stories on our website at http://foreclosurefactor.com/results/loan-modification-results/.

Our home office is based in West Palm Beach, at 2041 Vista Parkway, Suite 102. You can call us at (561) 544-7071, stop in to our office, email us at vdinapoli@kwlawfirm.com or come to our website. Our firm represents clients throughout the state of Florida and across the eastern seaboard. We also have offices in Sunrise and Clearwater, Florida.

Sharing Foreclosure Defense Tools, Tips, Templates, and Statutes from Korte & Wortman, P.A.

At Korte & Wortman, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, we believe that everyone who is faced with a potential foreclosure situation deserves assistance. Whether you are looking for a law firm dedicated to helping to keep you in your home, or just some good information that can help you to keep your fight going on your own. With that in mind here is information from Operation Restoration, a website dedicated to relaying the facts to the general public about foreclosure. “A national mission of Healing and Restoration, dedicated to telling the truth,” according to the organization’s mission statement.

Part 1: Self Help
The best pre and post foreclosure defense begins with preparation and study.  Since this field of litigation is more uncommon, it is recommended that you understand the concepts first, collect the required documentation, and then choose an attorney that can litigate Securitization, Chain of title, and Standing – or – another approach — Loan Origination (Truth in Lending, RESPA, HOEPA, Regulation Z) litigation.  Known foreclosure defense experts can be found here: Restore Team orhttp://www.maxbankruptcybootcamp.com/find-graduates .  Max Gardner trains attorneys across the country how to operate in the foreclosure and securitization arena. Neil Garfield also gives education and refers attorneys.
Note: Attorneys are not necessarily cost prohibitive.  It is advised that you self-help, prepare, and organize as much as possible and then consult a professional litigator to complete the legal process and litigation.  Because there are so few resources specially trained in this field, you are more likely to get affordable and competent help if you prepare UP FRONT.

•  Submit Modification or Short Sale Request (with required documentation) to your Servicer (last minute requests do stop foreclosure).  Note: See the 2 modification lessons (Making Home Afford. andTraditional)and Frequently Asked Questions and the Short Sale Lesson andShort Sale Frequently Asked Questions.

•   Contact the Executive Area of the Servicer.  See Executive Contacts.
Request the help of a CEO Level Representative for last minute foreclosure postponement and case escalation.

To read this entire article, please go to: http://www.operationrest.org/ForeclosureDefense

If you are in West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater or anywhere else in the state of Florida and in need of a law firm knowledgeable about foreclosure defense, then contact us at Korte & Wortman, P.A. Korte & Wortman is a law firm specializing in all aspects of foreclosure including bankruptcy, mortgage debt, short sales, loan modification, predatory lending practices and Dodd-Frank Act violation litigation. We also specialize in credit card debt defense.

We have had excellent results working with a number of clients to help them stave off foreclosure and save their homes by getting them the mortgage modifications they need. Check out a few of our many success stories on our website at http://foreclosurefactor.com/results/loan-modification-results/.

Our home office is based in West Palm Beach, at 2041 Vista Parkway, Suite 102. You can call us at (561) 544-7071, stop in to our office, email us at vdinapoli@kwlawfirm.com or come to our website. Our firm represents clients throughout the state of Florida and across the eastern seaboard. We also have offices in Sunrise and Clearwater, Florida.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers database of consumer complaints to the public for first time

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

As part of our Federal Government’s effort to step up protection of you, the consumer, in the wake of the financial crisis we endured in 2008 and 2009, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. The CFPB’s website was opened in July of 2011. For the first time in June of this year the website, www.consumerfinance.gov made consumer complaints public:

According to Assistant Director Scott Pluta in a blog he released on June 25th, “Today, for the first time, we are making consumers’ complaint narratives – the heart and soul of the complaints we receive – public. These narratives are important because they tell the story of what happened in the consumers’ own words. Making these consumer narratives public, amplifies the voice of the consumer.”

The release of these individual complaint submissions has been made public through a new forum called the “Consumer Complaint Database”. For the last 3 years the website had been sharing data compiled from consumer complaints to the public, but not the individual complaints themselves. The CFPB Assistant Director stated that the agency had been working on publishing the individual narratives for several years as the majority of the 627,000 consumers submitting complaints (approximately 59%) had said they wanted their experiences to be shared with the public.

Assistant Director Pluta stated, “After four and a half years of hard work, I am proud that the Consumer Complaint Database is now a reality. It reflects the commitment of our amazing team of dedicated public servants to empower consumers to make better decisions for themselves and their families. And now that it’s in your hands, it will help the financial marketplace run more fairly for all Americans.”

Visit the Consumer Complaint Database to read about consumers’ experiences, and if you’re facing a problem with a financial service or product you can submit a complaint and add your voice to the database: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaintdatabase/

The Frank-Dodd Act in 2010 was enacted to help protect the rights of consumers. One part of Frank-Dodd created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2011. This agency is offering help to millions of consumers who need a voice for protection against predatory lenders and lending practices.  The foreclosure and bankruptcy defense attorneys at Korte & Wortman, P.A. in West Palm Beach have the knowledge and information to help you to utilize the Dodd-Frank Act if you feel that you have been exploited by a predatory lender.

If you are in West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Clearwater or anywhere else in the state of Florida and in need of a law firm knowledgeable about the Dodd-Frank Act, then contact us at Korte & Wortman, P.A. Korte & Wortman, P.A. is a law firm specializing in all aspects of real estate law, includingth Dodd-Frank Act. In addition to using this blog as a helpful resource, please contact us directly if you have any questions or current legal issues in any type of real estate transaction. Our home office is based in West Palm Beach, at 2041 Vista Parkway, Suite 102. You can call us at (561) 544-7071, stop in to our office, email us at vdinapoli@kwlawfirm.com or come to our website at http://www.foreclosurefactor.com. Our firm represents clients throughout the state of Florida and across the eastern seaboard. We also have offices in Sunrise and Clearwater, Florida.

We look forward to helping you get the legal advice that you need in all real estate, foreclosure, bankruptcy and credit card situations.