Weak oversight allowing banks, other lenders to “dual track” in West Palm Beach

Florida home in Foreclosure

The early results from the 2012 national agreement to stop the biggest banks from abusing homeowners facing foreclosure are in – and they are bad, for the homeowners. According to a survey conducted by Politico.com, the 5 banks involved in that settlement have continued to take advantage of distressed homeowners.

Over 60,000 complaints have been filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) since the beginning of 2014 alone, according to POLITICO’s review of the CFPB’s database. Those complaints center upon lenders either mishandling mortgage and home loan modifications or hurrying the foreclosure process (often referred to as dual tracking). What’s more, reviewers believe that the number of homeowners with complaints about unfair practices is actually low because so many homeowners still do not know that the CFPB exists.

“It’s troubling to hear that some consumers continue to experience mortgage servicing problems,” a spokesperson for Attorney General Cooper’s office in North Carolina said in an emailed statement. “While the 2012 settlement brought help to many homeowners who were wronged, it’s clear there’s more work to be done to stop unfair home loans and unnecessary foreclosures.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/foreclosures-mortgage-lenders-2012-settlement-banks-213322#ixzz3w81buXLv

Unfortunately, distressed homeowners both in the West Palm Beach area, throughout Florida and around the country are still being abused despite the Dodd-Frank Act, the 2012 settlement and other laws enacted to supposedly help homeowners. Many of the banks and other loan servicers have made it clear that they put profits before their customers’ needs. And trying to make sure you dot every “I” and cross every “T” when filling out and submitting modification and other forms might still not be enough to keep your lender from trying to take your home.

Before that happens, you need to talk with a law firm knowledgeable about getting your loans modified today. Korte & Wortman, P.A. will fight for your rights against the abusive practices of a greedy loan servicer. 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 now. Do not wait for the worst to happen – let us work with you on your behalf NOW so that you and your family can stay in your home.

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. 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 in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, throughout the state of Florida and across the eastern seaboard. We also have offices in Sunrise and Clearwater, Florida.

The knowledge and experience you need if you are facing foreclosure in West Palm Beach, Florida

Recent news in the real estate market seems to be all positive for anyone who owns a home. Just last week the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches announced that home sellers in Palm Beach County are getting 94% of their asking prices, 3.3% more for their homes than a year ago, and their homes are staying on the market for an average of only 38 days. The percentage of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage is down from 24% in 2014 to just 16% this year.

To read more, please go to: http://www.rapb.com/realtors/industry-news/blog-posts/rapb-blog/2015/08/20/palm-beach-county-home-sales-dropped-to-38-median-days-on-market

All of those numbers sound great. But what if you are part of that 16% who is still underwater, and no longer can afford to stay in your home? The reality for those of you in this situation is much less rosy. In fact, lenders have started coming down hard on homeowners who can’t keep up.

Lenders including the banks have become more aggressive with their foreclosure procedures. They are no longer being as lenient with those who are in trouble with their mortgages. And then, they are adding a double whammy by using “deficiency judgments” against the deposed homeowner after the foreclosure, deed-in-lieu or short sale is complete. A deficiency judgment is a personal judgment against you for the difference between your home’s sale price and the original loan balance.

If you are facing foreclosure, or a deficiency judgment situation, you should not try to face this situation alone. You can cost yourself tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars if you do not know what to do. You need a lawyer who will fight for your rights, and your money.

Brian K. Korte is a founding partner of the law firm of Korte & Wortman, P.A., and concentrates his area of practice in mortgage foreclosure defense, credit card defense, trial litigation and personal injury. He represents thousands of clients throughout the State of Florida. Mr. Korte is a noted speaker on the foreclosure defense lecture circuit and has given countless lectures for Foreclosure Seminar Services and the Foreclosure Defense Tactics Group.

Prior to co-founding the firm, Mr. Korte practiced in the area of consumer litigation and has an extensive background in personal injury litigation. As a result of his courtroom successes, he saved over 3,000 homes through loan modifications as well as over 150 case dismissals, where the bank was unable to prove their case, resulting into the borrower’s mortgage completely dismissed.

Mr. Korte is an advocate for his clients, helping each one find the right solution for their family. His specialties / Area of Practice:

  • Mortgage Foreclosure Defense
  • Credit Card Defense
  • Trial Litigation
  • Personal Injury

His Bar Admissions include:

  • Federal Bar
  • The Florida Bar Association-Young Lawyers Section
  • Palm Beach County Bar Association

Brian is also an active member of his local community in Wellington where he volunteers his time with the Wellington Soccer Academy and Wellington Youth Baseball.

Facing foreclosure can be a homeowners’ worst nightmare. If you are in this situation, facing a deficiency judgement, have any other credit issue or need an attorney for any real estate transaction in West Palm Beach or anywhere else in the state of Florida then contact us at Korte & Wortman, P.A. To learn more about Brian Korte, please go to http://foreclosurefactor.com/attorneys/brian-k-korte/.

Korte & Wortman, P.A. is a law firm specializing in all aspects of real estate law. 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 of lawyers 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 best settlement or price possible in all of your real estate transactions!