THE FORECLOSURE FREEZE AND WHAT IT MEANS!

The Foreclosure Freeze And What It Means

Most of us are is aware of the foreclosure freeze that has been all over the media in recent weeks.  In essence, GMAC mortgage had a process in place to maximize the efficiency of their foreclosure handling process.  That process had one employee in place to sign 400 foreclosures a day (good old American knowhow and efficiency) that had not been reviewed by anyone at that institution.  GMAC, the nation’s fourth-largest mortgage lender, called this little omission a technicality!  Fortunately, the courts forced them to halt all foreclosures in 23 states (California not included).

It turns out that Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and other lenders were following similar practices, known as the use of “robo-signers.”  They were processing delinquent loan files and no one in management was reviewing the files for errors.  They were efficiently throwing delinquent borrowers out of their homes without reviewing the conditions of each transaction.  They were not even following the law in many of the states in which they were operating.  What supreme arrogance!

As a result of the actions started in Maine last month GMAC Mortgage was forced to stop all foreclosures and go back and review each file for the 23 states involved.  Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and many other lenders followed suit, in fact Bank Of America also stopped foreclosures in California.

Today Ally Financial (GMAC’s mortgage unit) and Bank Of America are now proceeding with the foreclosure process.  You can guess how much scrutiny these files have received.

Unfortunately, far too many paid attention to the media storm, distressed homeowners/borrowers pinning their hopes on a moratorium, prospective buyers halting their buying plans until they could determine where all of this activity would lead.  This was also an opportunity for pre-election posturing for incumbent candidates and want-to-be candidates as well.

In the end, it turned out to be a lot of noise over little.  The foreclosures continue, the lenders may have changed their processes slightly, but distressed home owners are still losing their homes. 

There is some positive action in this arena.  The lenders are becoming more agreeable to allowing distressed borrowers to get approvals on their short sales and thus avoiding the blight of a foreclosure on their credit record.  Some lenders have streamlined their processes so that short sales do not take as long.  However, one factor remains constant.  Distressed homeowners should engage the services of a Realtor who specializes in helping homeowners avoid foreclosure in the early stages of their foreclosure process.  They need help in navigating the treacherous waters of a pending foreclosure.   There are solutions available to most and the earlier one starts the more options they have. 

If you have questions or want to discuss a specific situation, feel free to call for a no cost consultation.  We are here to help by stopping foreclosure one home at a time.  Call (916) 337-0658 TODAY.  

El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Placerville, Sacramento, it makes no difference; $ 100,000 homes and million dollar homes; banks are still foreclosing and distressed homeowners need assistance.