Welcome to The Home Equity Theft Reporter, a blog dedicated to informing the consumer public and the legal profession about Home Equity Theft issues. This blog will consist of information describing the various forms of Home Equity Theft and links to news reports & other informational sources from throughout the country about the victims of Home Equity Theft and what government authorities and others are doing about it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
On Verge Of Foreclosure, Arizona Man Coughs Up $21K+ To Reinstate Loan & Halt Sale; Bank Pockets Cash, Auctions Off Home Anyway
In Maricopa, Arizona, KPHO-TV Channel 5 reports:
An Arizona man is accusing his bank of stealing his house and he wants it back. The homeowner was on the verge of foreclosure when he paid off all the money he owed, but the bank sold the house anyway.
David Reed told CBS5 that he thought he had nothing to worry about when his home and 5-acre property in Maricopa was scheduled to be sold at auction, because he fell behind on his mortgage payments. "I called their payment line and asked them what is the total amount I owed to stop my house from going into foreclosure," said Reed. "They told me $21,573."
The 52-year old, who's spent the past year battling health problems, sent the full amount straight to Cenlar Bank, which acknowledged receiving the money March 5. Reed was convinced his home was safe, but it wasn't.
"I came home one day and had a notice on my door that somebody else owned my property and I either had to get out immediately or rent it back from them."
Cenlar Bank had gone ahead with the trustee sale, March 23, even though Reed was now up to date on his mortgage and had paid all his interest and late fees. "I believe they just figured it was an easy way to make another $20,000," said Reed. "Let me make my payment, then turn around and auction it off and make more money."
Reed hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit after Cenlar failed to reverse the trustee sale. [...] Reed said that he was only able to pay off what he owed because of money he inherited recently following a death in the family.
CBS5 made several calls and sent a number of emails to the attorney for Cenlar Bank to get their side of the story, but have not heard back.
CBC News: Betrayal of Trust (A CBC investigation reveals how lawyers across Canada have misappropriated and mishandled clients money, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, or sometimes even charging vulnerable people top dollar for shoddy services)
Land Contract/Contract For Deed/Rent-To-Own Rackets
The New York Times: The Housing Trap (In the wake of the housing crisis, low-income families have turned to seller financing to buy homes but these deals can be a money trap)
Beware The Fine Print: Consumers Forced To Sign Away Their Rights To Use Court System
The NY Times: Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice(Part 1 in series examining how clauses buried in tens of millions of contracts have deprived Americans of one of their most fundamental constitutional rights: their day in court)
Foreclosure Mills' Abysmal Record In Complying With New NYS Foreclosure Requirements
Justice Deceived: How Large Foreclosure Firms Subvert State Regulations Protecting Homeowners
MFY Legal Services Report On Questionable Practices By Process Servers In Debt Collection Cases
Justice Disserved: A Preliminary Analysis of the Exceptionally
Low Appearance Rate by Defendants in Lawsuits Filed in the Civil Court of the City of New York
Mortgage Mess Redux: Robo-Signers Return (A Reuters investigation finds that many banks are still employing the controversial foreclosure practices that sparked a major outcry last year)
CNN Video: As Foreclosures Mount, Florida Court Turns To 'Rocket Docket'
The Wall Street Journal: A Florida Court's 'Rocket Docket' Blasts Through Foreclosure Cases (2 Questions, 15 Seconds, 45 Days to Get Out; 'What's to Talk About?' Says a Judge)
"Produce The Note" Strategy When Dealing With Missing Promissory Notes In Foreclosure Actions
ABC Video: Fighting Against Foreclosure (Some homeowners have found a new tactic to keep the banks at bay)
<< Home