OCWEN Gets Creative With Loan Modifications
Underwater borrowers may have a new loan modification option, at least with Ocwen Financial Corporation. Ocwen is expanding its SAM (Shared Appreciation Modification) Program, which allows borrowers to modify their loans at a more realistic value – generally, about 95% of their current value. In return for the modification, the homeowners contract with Ocwen to […]
Win For Nevada Homeowners
A group of lobbyists, hired by some of the country’s largest banks, tried to convince the Nevada Legislature to reduce the homestead exemption from its current amount of $550,000. A homestead exemption is a statutory protection that exempts your primary residence from execution by your creditors. In Nevada, pursuant to N.R.S. 21.090, the homestead exemption […]
Wells Fargo in Trouble With the Fed
Last Wednesday, the Federal Reserve issued a consent cease and desist order and assessed an $85 million civil money penalty against Wells Fargo & Company of San Francisco, a registered bank holding company, and Wells Fargo Financial, Inc., of Des Moines. This has been a long-time coming since the Federal Reserve began its investigation into […]
AB 273 Limits Bank Collections
The purchase of a house is the largest purchase most people will ever make. When hard times hit and a homeowner loses their house, the debt the homeowner still owes to the bank is the largest debt a person will ever have. After suffering a pay cut or the loss of a job and with […]
FTC Refunds Millions of Dollars to 450,000 Cheated Homeowners
Today, various news outlets have reported the Federal Trade Commission is issuing refund checks to homeowners that were overcharged by Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. These checks are a product of the FTC’s hefty settlement with Countrywide, which was made June of last year, after the FTC’s investigation uncovered severe inaccuracies in the Countrywide billings to […]
AB 284 Restores Foreclosure Process
I have been extraordinarily honored to have participated in a working group with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office in Nevada Assembly Bill 284. AB 284 passed the Assembly with a vote of 33-9, and passed the Senate with a vote of 20-1. AB 284 was signed into law on May 20, 2011 with overwhelming support […]
NV Supreme Court Strikes Blow to Banks for Homeowners
The Nevada Supreme Court recently addressed a critical issue involving the Foreclosure Mediation Rules in the case of Leyva v. National Default Servicing Corp., App. No. 55216, Appeal from the Clark Co. District Court, A-10-600-651, 127Nev. ___, ___ P.3d ___ (Adv. Op. No. 40, July 7, 2011). The issue relates to the obligation of the […]
New Nevada legislation to protect homeowners
Continuing update on new Nevada Legislation for homeowners. Did you know that banks, lenders, financial institutions and their employees cannot unreasonably delay a response to an offer for a sale in lieu of foreclosure sale on a residential property? A response that is not made within 90 days of the offer is presumptively unreasonable. Of […]