Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Home Prices Increase, Outpacing Wages

According to RealtyTrac, home prices are rising 13 times faster than wage growth nationwide. From 2012-2014, median wages rose only 1.3% and median home prices climbed 17%. Low interest rates have helped keep buying an option. However, with wages not keeping pace with home prices in many of the markets analyzed, real estate experts believe this will result in another housing bubble.

On the flip side, homeowners who lost equity in their homes during the crash are likely rejoicing over the rapid increase. At the height of the crash, 13 million homeowners were underwater. Now the number is down to seven million.

According to the report, the markets with the highest rate of price appreciation compared to wage growth were:

• Merced, CA
• Memphis, TN
• Santa Cruz, CA
• Augusta, GA
• Palm Bay-Melbourne- Titusville, FL

First-time buyers often purchase starter homes, which according to RealtyTrac, have faced the biggest deficit in inventory. Rising home prices could be an incentive for more people to list their homes and ease up the tight inventory levels.

Click here to read more about rising home prices outpacing wages.

Choosing the right attorney can make  the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

BOA’s $17 Billion Mortgage Settlement Explained

Bank of America has agreed to a legal settlement with the Department of Justice to avoid prosecution for hundreds of billions of dollars in bad mortgage loans, making it the largest corporate legal settlement with the government in U.S. history. The total “on-paper” cost of the deal is reportedly as high as $17 billion. But many are calling the deal deceptive. In reality, the settlement is unlikely to cost BOA anywhere near that amount. Much of the deal will be tax deductible and half of its cost is made up of actions on behalf of homeowners that are in the bank’s best interest- not in the form of cash refunds that will cost the bank money.

So what does this settlement mean for struggling borrowers and underwater homeowners? While the details are still being worked out, the deal includes roughly $9 billion in cash payouts and $7 to $8 billion in “consumer relief” actions such as mortgage write-downs and refinancing for struggling borrowers. These consumer relief provisions do not require the bank to spend money they would not already spend in the normal course of business operations. For BOA, helping people stay in their homes and keep making payments is better for the bank’s revenue than foreclosing on struggling homeowners.

The settlement requires BOA to relax loan terms, reduce principal amounts and destroy abandoned properties that are hurting property values. Even at face value, the reported settlement is minuscule compared to the harm caused by Bank of America companies. The on-paper cost of the deal is less than 7 percent of the value of the mortgage deals Bank of America and its subsidiaries Countrywide and Merrill Lynch made before the housing crisis that have since gone bad.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/08/07/3468558/bank-of-america-deal-shrinkage/

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Homeowners may be unaware their homes are no longer in Foreclosure

A recent report from RealtyTrac confirms that an increasingly larger number of homes in the foreclosure process actually have positive equity. According to the report, the share of foreclosures with positive equity in the first quarter reached 35 percent, up from 31 percent in the previous quarter and 24 percent in the third quarter of 2013. This percentage includes borrowers who have defaulted on their loans or are in some other stage of the foreclosure process but their homes have not been taken over by the banks, yet.

The reason behind this can be attributed to timing. Once a foreclosure is initiated, it can sometimes take years to complete the process. As we have seen, a lot can happen to housing prices in a couple of years. Home prices have risen dramatically in the past couple of years; some that are still stuck in the foreclosure process have regained their equity.

Homeowners may be unaware of this, either because they have moved or have stopped keeping tabs on their home’s property value. A high-percentage of all homes in the foreclosure process are vacant. RealtyTrac has not cross-referenced to see how many of the vacant ones have positive equity.

Real estate experts agree that paying attention to home values can make all the difference. In certain cases, struggling borrowers may be able to hang onto their homes by refinancing. The latest numbers reveal 9.3 million homes, representing 19 percent of all properties with a mortgage, were seriously underwater in the fourth quarter. Florida has the second highest percentage of seriously underwater properties at 31%. Nevada has the highest share of underwater properties at 34%.

Click here to read more on this story.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Foreclosure Nightmare Far from Over

The revival of the U.S. housing market has produced a sigh of relief for much of the economy, as home prices and construction have finally rebounded. However, for some homeowners the foreclosure crisis has never ended. The worst of the foreclosure crisis passed years ago, but it has continued to cast a shadow over homeowners in places like Maryland, where many old cases have yet to work their way through the system.

Last year, Florida’s foreclosure rate was the third-highest in the country, behind Nevada and Illinois, according to RealtyTrac. Nationally, it is estimated that 5.2 million foreclosures have been completed since 2007. But the vast majority happened in the early years of the recession, with 2013’s foreclosures making up just 9% of the U.S. total.

Maryland’s high foreclosure rate is actually linked to the state’s attempt to remedy the process for underwater homeowners. In 2010, the state passed a law requiring mediation if homeowners requested it, and some foreclosure cases from early in the housing crisis are now going through the program.

Consumer advocates believe that these reforms are an important preventative measure against abusive practices that abruptly forced people out of their homes. Mortgage servicers have continued to employ abusive practices, which plague underwater homeowners and prolong the pain.

The Moody family, for example, missed one payment in February 2009 after Paul Moody suffered a back injury and lost his job. Five years later, after dealing with three different mortgage servicers, two foreclosure attempts and more than a dozen different applications for loan modifications, there is still no resolution in site. Attempts to seek relief from state and federally backed programs have gotten the family nowhere.

The major rules for mortgage servicers only went into effect in January 2014, allowing many abuses to continue despite intense scrutiny and demands for reform at the height of the housing meltdown. For instance: servicers are now prohibited from “dual-tracking” homeowners by offering them a loan modification while moving forward with a foreclosure at the same time. Mortgage companies are now required to ensure their customer representatives can actually answer question and access relevant documents to eliminate red tape issues, mixed messages and unreturned phone calls.

The good news is, the Moody’s have been able to stay in their home while negotiating with their lenders. A quicker resolution could be far worse- at least from the homeowner’s perspective- Legislative attempts to fast-track foreclosures have denied homeowners their rights and took their properties away before they could save them.

The end is slowly coming into sight for others as well. Nationally, foreclosures have hit a six-year low. Though many Maryland homeowners are still underwater, the delinquency rate for loans that aren’t yet in foreclosure is dropping, falling from about 11% of all mortgages in 2009 to 8% by the end of 2013, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rising property values in the area means that fewer foreclosed houses remain vacant for long.

Click here to read more on this story.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Many Florida Homeowners still Underwater as Government Aid Runs Out

Now in its third year, the Hardest Hit Fund in Florida has served only about 15 percent of the 40,000 homeowners who have applied for help. Once this aid runs out, underwater homeowners are left to find adequate employment or continue struggling with mortgages far bigger than the value of their home. Although the Hardest Hit Fund is a federally funded program, each state decides how to use the money. In Florida, state officials have given principal reductions a high priority.

Since unveiling the state’s version of the Hardest Hit Program in 2010, the Florida Housing Finance Corp. has spent $108.8 million in assistance and an additional $25 million on administration and counseling, according to a first-quarter report released last month by the corporation.

Florida’s handling of the federal program has been criticized for focusing on mortgage modifications and interest-rate reductions more than on principal reductions. The country’s five-largest lenders — Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ally/GMAC, Citi and Chase — agreed to fund the program as part of a settlement related to allegations that they had dealt in illegal mortgage documents. However, according to the Treasury report, only Citi has forgiven the principal of borrowers not in foreclosure.

The Florida program has also managed to serve homeowners who make more than the local median income. Though about 90 percent of the funds have gone to homeowners with annual incomes of $50,000 or less, about two dozen recipients of aid had incomes of at least $90,000 a year, according to the Florida Housing Finance Corp.’s quarterly report.

Click here to read more on how Florida homeowners are still ‘underwater’ as government aid runs out.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the website, www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Extension of HARP Means More Time to Refinance!

A two-year extension has been allotted for the government-sponsored Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). This is great news for underwater homeowners! HARP was set to expire at the end of 2013; however, according to the Housing Finance Agency, it will now extend through 2015 giving underwater homeowners more time to refinance.

By qualifying for HARP, underwater homeowners can expect to see their mortgage rates drop to as low as 4 percent. During the fourth quarter of 2012, 39.6 percent of mortgages in South Florida were worth less than what was owed. Although this number was down from 47 percent a year ago, this is still much higher than the national average. Not only are underwater homeowners at risk of foreclosure, they also cannot sell their property without bringing thousands of dollars to the closing table. According to the FHFA Acting Director, more than two million homeowners have refinanced through HARP. This program not only benefits homeowners, it benefits taxpayers and mortgage companies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

According to the FHFA, in January 56 percent of Florida’s refinances were through HARP. The agency is planning a national campaign to educate homeowners on the program and how they can take advantage of it before it ends in 2015. In order to qualify, a homeowner’s mortgage must have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before May 31, 2009 and the loan-to-value ratios must be greater than 80 percent.

Click here to read more about the extension of HARP.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-harp-extension-20130427,0,1882210.story

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the website, Kingcade & Garcia, P.A.

Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Congress not likely to Renew Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act- Underwater Homeowners need to Act Fast

In October of 2007, Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act to help underwater homeowners who were struggling to pay their mortgages. In most cases, any debt you have been relieved of by your creditors should be listed on your taxes as income, which means the taxpayer would owe on this amount. Due to the housing bubble burst and the resulting real estate crisis, this Act was passed to allow taxpayers to be forgiven of this amount.
This tax relief applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2012. The debt must have been used to buy, build or substantially improve the homeowner’s principal residence and must have been secured by that residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, may also qualify for the relief.
It is important that underwater homeowners act fast to take advantage of this important tax break, as foreclosure and short sale proceedings can take up to a year to process.
Due to the $2.7 billion this has cost the government in only two years, many believe it is unlikely that this Act will be renewed at the end of its term in December of 2012.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/Congress_May_End_Program_Allowing_Tax_Relief_for_Mortgage_Modifiers_120225
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Florida Benefits $8.4 Billion from Nationwide Mortgage Settlement

Last Thursday, President Obama along with other government officials announced a $26 billion mortgage plan to help underwater homeowners and those struggling to make their mortgage payments get back on their feet. The five largest mortgage lending banks will pay out appropriated amounts to the government. That money will then be distributed to the states that have been impacted the most by the housing market crash.
Florida will receive $8.4 billion, the largest payout of the settlement. The payout is intended to help all homeowners, not just those who are underwater on their mortgages and behind on payments. The terms of how the majority of the money will be distributed has been released. However, there is still some deliberation for the remainder of the payout.
• $7.6 billion will be used to aid homeowners who are currently in financial crisis and who are underwater on their mortgages.
• $170 million of the payout will be turned into cash payments for those Floridians who have lost their homes due to foreclosure malpractice from their lenders the past three years. The average cash payout is expected to be approximately $2,000 for each individual homeowner.
• $308 million will go to programs for homeowners who are current on their loan payments, but have higher interest rates due to the housing crisis.
• $350 million will go directly to the State of Florida for currently undisclosed purposes.
Although this will be a huge relief for homeowners in the State of Florida, there is still much criticism of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, for a lack of assertion that Florida deserves more than the $8.4 billion payout.
To read more on this story visit: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-02-09/business/os-nationwide-mortgage-settlement-20120209_1_underwater-homeowners-settlement-mortgage-payments
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Obama Administration Announces Modifications to the Home Affordable Refinance Program to Help Underwater Homeowners

South Florida has embraced the new modifications being made to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), which include eliminating some appraisals and loosening underwriting requirements, making it easier for underwater homeowners to alleviate their mortgages. To qualify homeowners must be current on their payments, and the mortgages must be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
These revisions are projected to help tens of thousands of South Florida homeowners who have not qualified for other government relief programs. The government is doing away with a cap that prevented borrowers whose mortgages exceed 125 percent of the value of their homes from being eligible for the program. Other changes include reduced risk for lenders and lower fees for borrowers. Nearly half of all single family homes with a mortgage in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are worth less than what is owed, according to third-quarter data from real estate website Zillow.com. People who otherwise may have been tempted to walk away from their homes will be able to qualify for some of the lowest mortgage rates on record and possibly pay off their homes faster.
To read more on this story visit:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-harp-revisions-20111115,0,4175968.story?track=rss

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

President Obama Announces New Program to help ‘Underwater’ Homeowners Reduce their Monthly Mortgage Payments

The Obama administration recently unveiled a new government program aimed to provide assistance to ‘underwater’ homeowners who owe more than their properties are worth and help reduce their monthly mortgage payments. The goal of the program is to keep families in their homes and lower interest rates for responsible lenders. Those who qualify for the program will be eligible to refinance their mortgages at a new low rate, near 4 percent.

This plan is part of what the Obama administration calls the “We Can’t Wait” campaign. In order to be eligible for the program homeowner loans must be backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Final details will be published in mid-November 2011. The plan comes as an official revision to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), which began at the start of Obama’s term. It was initially designed to provide assistance to as many as 5 million homeowners; of which only 822,000 (one-tenth) have been helped by the program.

However, HARP had several barriers that resulted in its lack of success. These barriers included: limiting the program to lenders owing 25 percent more than the worth of their home, upfront fees, and banks concerns that they would be ultimately responsible in the case of a default. Officials backing Obama’s new program hope this will reallocate money and help stimulate economic growth and development.

To read more on this story visit:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/fhfa-announces-new-program-to-help-underwater-homeowners/2011/10/24/gIQAG1oUCM_story.html

Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.