Foreclosure Defense, Foreclosures

Zombie Properties Increase as the Number of Foreclosures Climb

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The number of homes abandoned by their owners just before foreclosure has continued to increase for a second consecutive quarter in 2022, as the number of foreclosure cases continue to rise. These types of vacancies are commonly referred to as “zombie homes” or “zombie properties.”

According to real estate data provider, Attom, a total of 7,707 residential properties facing foreclosures have been vacated by their owners in the third quarter of 2022, increasing by 1.8 percent from 7,569 from the prior quarter. These numbers are up 2.2 percent from 7,538 vacated in the prior year. This increase represents the second consecutive quarterly increase in the number of zombie properties.

student loan debt, Student Loans

$32 Billion in Student Loan Forgiveness Granted by Biden Administration: How to Apply

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The Biden administration approved a total of $32 billion in student loan forgiveness over the course of the last year. Here’s a quick overview of Biden’s recent student loan forgiveness plan announced this week:

    • $10,000 for federal student loan borrowers who didn’t receive Pell Grants (only applies to those earning less than $125,000 a year or couples earning less than $250,000 a year)
    • $20,000 for federal student loan borrowers who received Pell Grants.
Consumer Debt

Over 40 Percent of Consumers Plan to Take on More Debt Despite Rising Interest Rates

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Approximately 43 percent of American consumers say they intend to accrue more debt in the next six months.  This is despite interest rates increasing, making the cost of borrowing more expensive. This information comes from a recent study published by LendingTree.

LendingTree surveyed more than 1,000 individuals regarding their spending habits. They found that 61 percent of them already carry some level of debt. Approximately 80 percent of consumer debt is linked to expenses that are considered necessary, such as healthcare expenses or other emergencies.

Business Bankruptcy

6 Steps to Returning to the Business World After Bankruptcy

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After a bankruptcy case, the idea of returning to the business world can seem like a pipe dream or a near impossibility. While a bankruptcy case can certainly put a dent in an individual’s credit, it should not hinder that person from successfully starting a business or returning to an already-existing business.

The good news is succeeding in business after a bankruptcy can be and has been done. Many entrepreneurs have gone through personal bankruptcy and come back stronger and better. Several well-known companies, such as General Motors (GM) or Delta Airlines have filed for bankruptcy only to restructure their businesses and rebuild their brands successfully. The following tips can help an individual or business recover after filing bankruptcy.

Consumer Bankruptcy

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Filing for Bankruptcy

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The decision to file for bankruptcy is never an easy one. It takes careful consideration and depends on a number of factors. Before making the decision to file for bankruptcy, ask yourself these questions.

Have All Other Options Been Exhausted?

Bankruptcy is not the only option when it comes to debt relief.  It often helps to first meet with a bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options. A budget is one tool a consumer can use to see what unnecessary expenses can be eliminated, freeing up additional funds to pay off debts. The consumer may also have luck in selling some of his or her assets to pay off various debts. Another option is for the consumer to reach out to his or her lenders to see if some type of payment plan or debt settlement can be reached on the debt.

The consumer may also consider credit counseling. This step should be taken even if the consumer is considering filing for bankruptcy since credit counseling, including a two-hour financial management course from a government-approved agency, must be completed at least 180 days before a bankruptcy discharge is issued.

Consumer News

Florida Sending $450 Check Per Child to Nearly 60,000 Families Across the State

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As the new school year approaches, low-income Florida families will receive a $450 check to help offset the cost of rising inflation. For those who have been worried about the legitimacy of the check, the good news is the check is not a scam but is, in fact, legitimate.

This year, a record state budget was signed into law by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis. This budget included millions of dollars to provide one-time payments to Florida families with young children. These payments included parents with foster children, adoptive families, and single parent households.

Consumer Debt, Credit Card Debt

How to Pay Down Credit Card Balances with High Interest Rates

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Credit card debt has traditionally been one of the more difficult consumer debts to conquer. This is in large part because most credit card balances come with significantly high interest rates. The larger a consumer’s balance gets, the more difficult it can be to tackle the debt. While paying down credit card debt can be a challenge, however, it is not impossible. It takes proper planning and discipline but paying down a credit card balance on a card with high interest rates is possible.

According to LendingTree, the average annual percentage rate on a new credit card is over 20 percent, and rates only seem to be increasing over time, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.  This trend presents a major problem for American consumers with high credit card balances. In fact, according to reports from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, credit card balances reached a high of $841 billion in the first quarter of 2022.

Foreclosures, Housing Market Trends

Florida’s Mortgage Delinquency Rates Increase, Slightly Higher than National Average

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Mortgage delinquencies slightly increased from April to May 2022, but Florida’ mortgage delinquency rates have increased more than the national average. Nationwide, one in every 4,549 housing units had a foreclosure filing in May 2022, according to a recent report issued by Knight Data & Analytics. Florida led all 50 states with a high rate of one in every 2,788 housing units.

The national delinquency rate decreased in May 2022 to a low of 2.75 percent. However, Florida’s delinquency rate stayed at a consistent 2.0 percent. Lenders initiated foreclosure proceedings on 22,099 properties in May 2022. While this number may be down one percent from the previous month, it is up 274 percent from one year ago.

Consumer News, Credit, Credit Card Debt

The Best Ways to Handle Your Credit During Inflation

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The cost of living has continued to rise throughout the first half of 2022, leaving many consumers struggling to make ends meet. It seems the cost of everything has skyrocketed, from groceries to gas. As a result, three in five American consumers say they are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of these individuals are relying on credit cards to pay for necessary expenses, but unfortunately, adding to their credit card debt only complicates financial problems.

student loan debt, Student Loans

Do You Qualify for Student Loan Relief?

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The subject of student loan debt has become a major topic of political discourse. While lawmakers have called for widespread student loan relief, a number of loan forgiveness programs have existed for several years.

One public method of student loan forgiveness is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), although this program has come under fire in recent years. PSLF was created in 2007 with the purpose of helping borrowers working in nonprofit and governmental roles following graduation. If the borrower was able to pay consistently on his or her debt while working in a qualifying nonprofit or government job for ten years, making a total of 120 payments), the remaining debt would be forgiven.