Christie rules on using foreclosed housing for the homeless

Gov. Chris Christie’s latest rejection of legislation to make vacant foreclosed homes available as affordable housing has left a broad coalition of proponents scratching their heads about what to try next to deal with New Jersey’s foreclosure crisis.

Two articles:

Christie rejects bill that would turn foreclosed homes to affordable housing. http://bit.ly/11e7VaK 

MT @jtyrrell87: Lesniak: "whoever wrote" Christie veto messages doesn't understand housing bill, foreclosure relief. http://bit.ly/11e7VaK 

Foreclosure notes

Foreclosures Still Hit Home for Tens of Thousands in NJ http://bit.ly/Zf18ko

Fewer US homes entered foreclosure process in November, but repossessions surged, RealtyTrac Inc says: http://apne.ws/VDt8HF

In NJ foreclosure logjam may loosen

The scary language used on mortgage foreclosure letters makes it seem that homeowners will be out on the street in no time. In New Jersey, the process of losing a home can last years.
A court hearing Friday might get some foreclosures moving in the Garden State.  This is the story of one family that has lived under threat of losing its home since 2007.
More: click here.

NJ foreclosure help doesn't help-Senate tries to undo mess

 Review finds NJ anti-foreclosure aid program flawed http://bit.ly/XVHOp8

Senate Approves Lesniak Foreclosure Bills

A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which would address New Jersey’s foreclosure crisis by transforming abandoned, foreclosed properties into livable homes and by requiring New Jersey to expand participation in the HomeKeeper mortgage assistance program was approved by the full Senate yesterday. For more information go to:

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10151066679311290

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams

A new breed of scam artist has grown along with the current mortgage crisis. This pamphlet available from the US government describes common foreclosure rescue scams, tell-tale signs of a scam operator, and whom to contact if you're caught in a scam. (Previous item number: 526W)

http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php?PubID=6073
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Released: 2009
Pages: 2
Publication ID: 6073
Item number: 526X
ISBN: 978-1-61221-053-7

Also available in Spanish

NJ Homekeeper program doesn't

Gov. Christie says that sometimes government doesn't work like it's supposed to.  Really? Isn't that his job?  (Or is it to go galavanting around the country campaigning for others?)  Is that all he has to say to the thousands of people who were denied $300 million in federal funds because his administrators artificially set standards too high?  No "sorry" to the people who lost their homes because of one more failure by his crew?

For more information check the NJ.com story: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/gov_christie_says_foreclosure.html

NJAR®-Approved Foreclosure Bill Going through Legislative Process

On February 16, 2012, the Senate Economic Growth Committee approved S-1566, the New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act. This legislation, supported by NJAR^®, establishes the New Jersey Foreclosure Relief Corporation, which will be able to work with municipalities to help them acquire foreclosed properties, which will in turn be used to provide affordable housing. NJAR^®successfully requested an amendment to this bill to ensure that one of the members of this corporation will be a real estate licensee. This legislation is now before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, and it must be approved before it can be sent to the full State Senate for a vote. The legislation must also be approved in the General Assembly.   

Homelessness: think it can't happen to you?

Deputies Refuse to Evict 103-Year-Old From Home

As the foreclosure machine rumbles on, many Americans continue to lose homes that they have lived in for decades. The crisis has claimed the homes of more than 2.7 million Americans who took out a loan between 2004 and 2008 alone, while another 3.6 million from that group teeter on the brink of default. Banks are on track to repossess around 800,000 homes this year.

A 103-year-old and her 83-year-old daughter living in Atlanta looked poised to suffer that fate Tuesday when they were scheduled to be evicted from their home of 53 years.

But an act of compassion has left them holding on: The sheriff's deputies and moving company tasked with carrying out the eviction refused to remove the two from their home after seeing centenarian Vita Lee. Despite that, Lee's daughter was rushed to the hospital, perhaps because of the stressful circumstances of the planned eviction.

Lee, who will turn 104 within weeks, told WSB-TV/Channel 2 that she is hopeful that she can work out a deal with her lender, Deutsche Bank. A local community activist says the family has been "waging war" with the bank for years.

Lee's reprieve from eviction is one of the latest cases of homeowners avoiding foreclosure, thanks to acts of good Samaritans. Recently, a disabled veteran who sustained severe injuries in Afghanistan, held on to his home in Costa Mesa, Calif., after news of an imminent foreclosure on the house prompted a flood of donations. And earlier this month another vet was able to halt foreclosure on his home after gathering more than 14,000 signatures protesting the proceedings against him.

But as millions are well aware, homeowners normally can't count on the kindness of others to help them hold on to their homes. The case of a 101-year-old woman who lost her Detroit home to foreclosure serves as a grim reminder of this fact.

Video links can be found at the AOL Web site:; http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/deputies-refuse-to-evict-103-year-old-from-home/

County press release: foreclosure help forum at TR library

Public Educational Forum Focuses on Foreclosure Help 5/24/2011

TOMS RIVER – From an overview of the statewide Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Initiative to information on how to fight foreclosure scams, an informational seminar scheduled for June 16 will provide homeowners and residents with important information on help and resources available for anyone facing foreclosure.

"During these very difficult economic times, keeping people in their homes is imperative," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. "One of the ways we can help is by providing good information that can help educate, raise awareness and provide answers to our citizens."

"Foreclosure: Moving from Fear to Positive Action" will be presented at the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street beginning Thursday June 16 at 6:30 p.m The seminar is free however registration is required and can be made by calling the library at 732-349-6200.

The program is being hosted by the Ocean County Human Relations Commission with the support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Library in conjunction with the Union County Human Relations Commission and the New Jersey Public Defender's Office of Dispute Settlement.

Other sponsors include Jersey Shore PFLAG, Central Ocean Rotary, Kiwanis International of Jackson and Ocean County College Office of Multicultural Services.

"Growing concerns over keeping your home can make individuals anxious and vulnerable," said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. "We want our residents to know that scam artists are looking to prey on those vulnerabilities. This seminar will provide residents with tools to make sure they are not victims of mortgage scams and to give them answers that might help them during a difficult time."

Speakers will include Elizabeth Hulse, of the Office of Dispute Settlement, New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, who will provide an overview of the New Jersey Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Initiative; Stephone Mickler, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, will address the role of the agency; Elaine Molen, certified personal finance counselor, Garden State Consumer Credit Counseling, will talk about how housing counselors can help; Kimberly Knapp, Ocean County Superior Court, will provide a general overview of mediation and Margaret Anastos, Director of Outreach, state Division of Consumer Affairs, will address how to fight foreclosure scams.

Richard Biolsi, chairman of the Ocean County Human Relations Commission, said the commission thought it important to host this seminar in Ocean County because foreclosure can affect anyone.

"Loss of employment, a devastating illness, divorce, death of a spouse, there are so many things that can have a negative impact on our finances," Biolsi said. "Foreclosure can happen to anyone. We want to make sure people are armed with good information that can help them move from fear to positive action."

2 programs on tap to assist the poor-save the date

Two programs have will be presented in the next two months to assist the poor, so save the date. May 9th, a program will be held at Georgian Court University aboput poverty. A Q&A session will follow. The time of the program has not been set yet. Sponsored by the Anti-poverty Networks of New Jersey and the Poverty Research Institute. June 16, :"Foreclosure: Moving from Fear to Positive Actions!" will be held at the Ocean County Library, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This public educational forum will share information and raise awareness about foreclosure. It is presented by the Ocean County Human Relations Commission, in partnership with the Union County Human Relations Commission and cosponsored by the Central Ocean Rotary Club; PFLAG; the Multicultural Office at Ocean County College and the Kiwanis Club of Jackson; and the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The forum will present a brief overview of foreclosure in Ocean County with a response by Caroline Peterilla on New Jersey's Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Initiative. Other topics may include "The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA);" "The Vital Role of the Housing Counselors;" and "How to Fight Foreclosure Scams." (Unfortunately there are a lot of scam artists who try to convince distressed homeowners they can help avoid foreclosure "for a fee." Never pay anyone and be sure to report any incidents.) More information will be released.