Foreclosure Nation

I put an offer on a house last July for more than what they owed JP Morgan Chase it then went to a negotiator in Sept. But no one contacted me, it was put in as a short sale because of the commission. They asked for more documents, then went to foreclosure, I had that stopped, then they wanted even...

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I am also a Pres. of a condo assoc. Does this mean that property's that have been vacant for 2 years without paying main. will sit there for another couple of years with no one paying? The atty.'s have been sitting on these properties that the banks have given them to foreclose on. I could tell you...

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Hello Shari, I recently losr my job and had a baby, my husband and I are considering letting our primary residence go into foreclosure. We have an FHA mortgage and live in Colorado, which is the only public trustee foreclosure state. Is there any way that we might be assessed with a defficiency jud...

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You wrote about homeowner walkaway morals and I'm stuck wondering. Maybe finding you is my answer. I got into my loan responsibly in 2001 - fixed 30 I can afford. House repair issues plus market puts me upside down at $50k... I have $25k rainy day cash. My father just passed... and since age 7 alway...

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Hi Shari Olefson We are buying houses at the courthouse foreclosure auction, but the interesting story, is the banks are not releasing much inventory into the market, they are managing the slide downward in price, by artificially limiting supply. Here in Broward County there are 300 foreclosures ...

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I really like your book, it's a great read - I've gotten an education just in what I've read so far. Anyway, I hope I'm not imposing but I wanted to know if you were by chance going to follow-up with a second edition to the changes that have taken place in real-estate market, government and financia...

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I am a Restate Broker & developer in Bradenton FL.My company is Bradenton Propertes Inc.for 30ys.I copleted 5 homes at the end of 2007 as the sales market crashed so I turned them in to rentals.Taxs,Insurance and mtge payments made them a negative cash flow which I cannot aford so I have decided to ...

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Hi! I just finished listening to you on 97.1 WASH FM in Washington DC, I live in Sterling, VA and work for the Federal Government. I'm single, no kids, no debts and own my single family house. In spite of what's happening to the economy, I'm doing well financially and my question is, should I acce...

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My house is being foreclosed. I'm only a littel bit underwater and I think maybe I can get a new loan but everyones says it will take time. Someone at work told me I can get more time by if I file bankruptcy. Is that a good choice for me?...

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Ocean Reef Club Radio (a good trade) I became a fan of your book. Great book by the way! ...

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Shari, I heard your interview in NPR and was really grateful for all the information you put out. We are not facing foreclosure, and can afford our house for now but as military family we will need to move in less than 2 years. We have been in the property for 4 years and thought back in 2005 that...

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Shari,How should we decide to keep or let go of our home? We are working with Affordable Homes, made all 3 pmts even though it took every penny. My husband has become disabled and I just lost my job.We put $70K down pd $220K 3 yrs ago home is worth around $100K now not sure if it's even worth trying...

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My fiance was left with a considerable amount of debt and a terrible credit rating from his divorce. I am not working right now. The house is a mfg. home 5/3 on 20 acres. The land has a 1st and 2nd mtg. Between the house and land, and two vehicles we spend almost $4,500 per month. Including the...

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Hi My wife's sister has walked away from her home. There is no income loss, she has had the same job for several years. She was current on her payments but just over extended. She has a first and a second mortgage totaling 110K. Her home is worth about 60K. She also had some credit card debt. Her ...

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Hi Sheri, I have a home which I am considering letting go since it was refinanced in 2005 and now is underwater. What would happen to the money I have left? #1. #2, what are the expences associated with the foreclosure process. I have private mortgage insurance and does that help? I live in C...

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Dear Ms. Olefson, I am a Realtor but also a homeowner. I read your article in January Realtor magazine that I received and wanted to direct your attention to our (myself and my husband) story as it was posted on a Consumer website. Please do not hesitate to open the link because it could make a...

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: a friend of mine’s son purchased a condo a couple of years ago. At the last minute, the mortgage company said that he would not independently qualify, and she signed as a guarantor. He later lost his job, and after about a year, without telling his mother, stopped paying the mortage and left ...

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Hello Shari, I read your article in the Costco Connection and found it to be a wonderful, concise treatise on why people should try to stay in their homes vs decide to default because they owe more than their home is worth. I would like your permission to post this on my blog www.activerain.com/...

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I reside in CA but have 5 second home properties in FL that are pending foreclosure. I understand that the bank will 1099-c on short sale or DIL. If it forecloses (not a forgiveness of debt) will I be responsible for the tax owed on the difference or whole loan amount? How can I defend myself? ...

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Hi. Shari. I saw you on CNBC last week. I live in Miami and I've also seen you on 10 here before. My question is about mortgage modification comopanies. I hired one 7 months ago and so far I do not think they have done anything. My home is still in foreclosure and how they are not returning my ca...

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Hi, I saw you yesterday on C-SPAN. I really enjoyed it and would like to get in touch with you for any news about real estate. I have a property in Las Vegas and it's under water...way under... Don't know really where to go for advise..very confusing situation... I think I will walk away and start a...

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2 Questions: At what point will investment properties cash flow??? I seems to me that investors bought properties that had no yield and bled cash - and the justification for buying them was that they would keep going up in value.....That said, is there an opportunity to set up a Limited Partne...

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Hello Shari:My legal representation in this foreclosure action seems to have failed me so far. In March I retained an attorney who promised an "excellent" result if the appraisal of the property came in at or below the amount of the mortgage and the appraisal came in almost $100,000 less than the ...

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Shari— I viewed the presentation you gave in Ft. Lauderdale on C-SPAN-2 this evening. I really enjoyed it. I’m a developer, an affordable housing policy adviser to the City of San Diego and the owner of a firm specializing in the work out of distressed commercial assets (Class A residential ...

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I have two 'investment properties' in which both tenants had to move out because of financial problems and I have not been able to find new tenant and cannot bear the expense of the mortgage and the association dues that accompany both the New York City co-op and the Park City Utah condominium. I us...

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From predatory lending to non responses my situation includes all. We owned our home and bought it with cash so we did NOT take on more than we could chew. However, due to very expensive adoptions including cars and educations for children we decided against a bankruptcy as our savings were gone...

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Hello Shari, I saw your recent interview on C-span 2, and found it very informative. I too am looking for help. I've spent 26 years in the automobile business and have been laid off. I need advice as to how to handle modification, which I have applied for and have no answer after 4 months. Also, I n...

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I saw you on channel 10 last Saturday and am wondering can you tell me what difference it makes on my credit report for a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure? My bank does not want to take a deed but my wife says, so wht why bother....

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I heard you explain the forclosure process on chan 10. but im being foreclosued and i just got a letter about mediation, that is that. can you please explain it?...

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My wife saw you on chanel 10 and wrote down this website. she said you were also on cnbc as a economic crisis correspondant and maybe you can help us. We are both teachers. Our loan will be adjusting in two years. When we bought the broker told us we could just get a new loan when the rate on this...

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I've been hearing a lot about banks not wanting to modify my mortgage because they'll make more money of they foreclosure on me. Is this true? How are some people able to get modifications then? Should I even bother trying?...

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Shari, Thanks for the excellent book. I have read it thoroughly and will keep using it as a reference in the future. I am about to default on my mortgage for a condo in miami beach. I have been working with the bank to settle on a deed in lieu for the past 3 months. The bank in question is Wells Far...

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Thanks for your thoughts on the CSPAN program. ...

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Just saw your 5/09 preesentation via BookTV on C-SPAN that aired this afternoon. Not many folks you can trust out there these days but I read you as trustworthy. I have good credit for now (FICO 720) and a good credit history but am recently on unemployment due to RIF and economy. I am struggling t...

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I need help. In spite of my best efforts, including my sending monies to cover mortgage payments, Wells Fargo has proceeded with a foreclosure and sale of the house in which my bedridden sister and I live. I have been trying to work this out since March. I am desperate. ...

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My family is going through a foreclosure right now. We love your book, Foreclosure Nation, and were wondering if you had any recommendations for foreclosure defense attorneys in northern New Jersey. Thank you for your wonderful work!...

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I saw your article in the Sun. I practice mortgage litigation in Las Vegas. I also have a blog called Nevada Foreclosure Mediation ...

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I was wondering if you have any thoughts on what borrower foreclosure defense attorneys? I really don’t know what attorneys are truly handling and having luck getting through to lenders in lieu of litigation. I know that many have been assisting borrowers for a few years with negotiating loan mods ...

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I have just watched your excellent presentation on CSPAN. (I know it originally was done back in May.) I certainly plan to purchase your book, "Foreclosure Nation." I was especially struck by your statement about how our sociological changes, what we are willing to accept today vs decades ago, are p...

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After watching Ms. Shari Olefson on BookTv, I thought that maybe there is a chance to save my deceased sister's dream houses in Fort Myers. My sister,Lynda Brisbois,worked as a J . A. in Lee County. She had a vision to provide housing for single, nontraditional women and families. She worked hard...

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I hesitated to send you this as I know you are quite busy but, having seen you on Booktv, I think you will be interested. Back in the eighties we moved to Temple Terrace, a bedroom town of Tampa. We picked out a house in the lower price range. We could have paid cash but that would have r...

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Good morning, I recently saw your book's spot on the Saturday morning news. My home is currently being lost to foreclosure action. My wife and I would like to save our home. Is there someone that I can speak to, to get a direction to moves toward in saving our home. ...

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Good morning, I come to you this morning hopping that I will be able to sleep better at night with out the fear of loosing my home, I don't know were I went wrong but I'm hopping that you will be able to help me. I have been going through some rough times for the past 11 months I was unemployed w...

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CNBC "Call of the Wild" with Larry Kdlow. Shari You were awesome. My husband keeps CNBC on in his office and I randomly walked in just now and started screaming that you were on! I loved the way you asserted yourself in the group. You rock!!!...

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I loved your you tube videos. Your right on the money ...

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Friday, June 26, 2009 Real Estate: BookshelfThe Business Review (Albany) - by Review by Philip Schwartz So what is a foreclosure nation? In her new book with that title, Shari B. Olefson writes that it’s a nation “replete with illiquid, distrustful, often insolvent lenders; distressed comp...

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Good afternoon Shari, I own an investment property and am working with my realtor towards a short sale. He specializes in this area although I'd feel more comfortable with legal represenation for the loss mitigation aspect and after some research you clearly look to be the best. Please let me kno...

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This is a message for Ms. Shari Olefson regarding her possible interest in doing a speaking engagement/book signing in Tampa for the Friends of the Library. I would appreciate this message being routed to her attention. Thank You. ...

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Mrs. Olefson, I read your comment about keeping people in their homes. I agree with you that the MHA, H4H, etc... are not very effective. I have come up with a program called a short payoff refinance. It has help one client reduce his monthly payment by $1,750, and his mortgage balance by $80,000. S...

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Very Informative and Timely! Just read Foreclosure and want to highly recommend it to anyone wanting to have some clear understanding of the reasons for the real estate meltdown and how to handle financing issues going forward. Very practical, useful and insightful. A real handbook for the times....

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A Must Read! Wow! It's rare to find a book that is so topical and so detailed. If you want a better understanding of the current foreclosure crisis, get this book. If you want help understanding how the mortgage and foreclosure processes work in general, get this book. Olefson has laid it all out...

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A Real Winner! Real estate attorney and educator Shari Olefson is an expert in the current mortgage crisis and its effects on homeowners, and here explains legal and financial terminology and how the national mortgage system works. From choosing a mortgage professional and deciding which product fi...

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What a Call To Action! This is THE most comprehensive, easy to read book on a topic I knew very little about ever. I was looking for a quck way to get up to speed on this whole crises and especially the parts that will affect my home value. Anyone with similar concerns needs to read this book. It e...

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Beach books: Real estate turmoil provides good reading Haven’t heard enough bad news lately? Try “Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream” by Shari Olefson, a Florida-based real estate attorney. In her book, Ms. Olefson takes a sobering look at the sub-prime and speculative affliction t...

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Much More Than I Expected I just finished reading the book, and I'm pleasantly surprised with how detailed, and how current all of the information is. The book gives an enlightening history on how the mortgage process started in America, all the way through to the point where the real estate "bub...

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Olefson is on the Mark! Ms. Olefson has hit the nail on the head. I appreciated the no nonsense approach to this huge issue. This is a great read for homeowners and professionals alike. Money well spent....when there's not a lot of money around to spend!! ...

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The Best Book On The Foreclosure Crisis Shari Olefson has hit the ball out of the ballpark! "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream" is a masterpiece. Ms. Olefson, a renowned South Florida commercial real estate attorney/mediator and partner at Fowler White Boggs in Ft. Lauderdale, has...

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Radio interview on WIOD Good evening I was fortunate to catch your interview this morning and heard you mention something about the ability for a resident to petition to have their real estate taxes reduced…Would you be so kind as to advise where and who I can contact regarding this possi...

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Shari - I heard you on the radio yesterday afternoon and have a question. I've heard that the filing fees for banks to file a forelcosure action in Florida increased dramatically June 1. First, is that true? And second has that stopped the number of foreclosures or had any other impact?...

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Just saw you on BookTV, and thought you were just great! You did not address my particular issue in you presentation, so thought you might guide me in an "immediate need" situation. I recently moved to GA from Ft. Lauderdale, so I know the laws are different, but here goes.... My 88 year old m...

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Hi Shari, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed watching this program. Your discussion was very interesting, and you did a great job fielding all those questions! ...

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Shari, I caught your book lecture of 5/26 on C-Span2 this weekend. Great presentation and clearly spot on! It is still unimaginable how the problem was able to build for so long with so few voices sounding the alarm. I was actively consulting to the industry in 2004 and 2005 and advised my cl...

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I saw Shari on BookTV this weekend, and was so moved to finally hear someone who was answering the questions I was asking. I can't wait to get my hands on the book. I've been asking for years, "What happens when everyone has a refrigerator?" (Refrigerators were what was used as the example "widg...

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I heard you on the radio today and am wondering if you can explain the "Golden Rules" you were talking about again. I'd like to explain them to my daughter. Thanks, Alice...

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My neighbor has not paid his mortgage in over a year. I know this because he;s pretty proud of it and has told me so. What's going on in this country???? PS I heard you on the radio a few weeks ago....

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I saw you on Tampa Fox13 today 5/28/09. I am 3 months behind on my mortgage. I am currently in loss mitigation with my lender for a 2nd time. I am interested in a loan modification. Is it wise to try and do it yourself or hire an attorney to negotiate it for you? Everything I've found on line recom...

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From Fox 13 Tampa, Kathy Fountain's "Your Turn" I have an FHA loan that is not held by FNMA or freddie Mac. My home is a mobile unit. I am late on my payments. what are my options?...

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In February, 2009 I missed 1st mortgage payment on both my primary residence and investment property. Savings used for property down payment, credit cards cancelled after 6 months of non-usage, HELOC cancelled by Countrywide, presumably due to severely diminished property values. Countrywide e...

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Dear Ms. Olefson, How do I do a “Deed in Lieu? This is my situation: Today I saw you on the Kathy Fountain show on the local Fox station. June 15th I will officially be behind 2 mortgage payments. As a REALTOR in this area, I am aware of the tortuous process of Short Sales. I’ve submitt...

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I purchased my house 3-yrs ago, during the peak of the real estate market. Like many homeowners who bought during that period, my property is underwater. As a result, I've fallen 5-mos. behind on my mortgage payments. I've also attempted to negotiate a loan mod. with my lender to no avail. I'm consi...

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We are currently behind on our mortgage by 2 months. We have a countrywide loan which is now (Bank America) our monthly payment is now been raised because the bank paid the property taxes for this current due . Because we paid our last property tax’s late. So they went ahead and paid for this tax pe...

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From Tampa Fox 13 Kathy Fountain's "Your Turn" I bought in 2005 with 20% down and have a fixed rate 6% mortgage. My property value has gone down 35%. Now that I am underwater I cannot refinance. My property went from $266K to $200K. Do you have any suggestions?...

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From Tampa Fox 13 Kathy Fountain's "Your Turn" I bought in 2005 with 20% down and have a fixed rate 6% mortgage. My property value has gone down 35%. Now that I am underwater I cannot refinance. My property went from $266K to $200K. Do you have any suggestions?...

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From Tampa Fox 13 Kathy Fountain's "Your Turn" I am about to default on my mortgage. I have been trying to find an alternative with my lender for the past 8 weeks in their affordable housing program department. What can I do?...

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Hi Shari I saw you on C-Span great job. I am one of those folks you talked about that over extended but for good reasons. We took equity from our home so that we could stay in it when were get old and made it ADA accessible. Well in the process we now owe more than the house is worth. We do not ...

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Hi Shari, my question is about refinancing possibilities for my primary residence (single family home) in Dade county. I am not upside-down based on the amount owed on my primary mortgage (but I am over 80% ltv ratio). However when you add in my 2nd position (which was required for purchasing the ho...

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Hi Shari I run The Orlando Villa Owners Association and I would like to run an article about foreclosure for our home owners. As the expert in this field, are you able to write an article for our members. If not, can you point us in the right direction to get an article so we can inform our me...

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Shari - I saw you on Kathy Fountains show this week. I saw you a few weeks ago too and bought the book. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing to help people. The book is priceless! I have a question that I dont think anyone has asked yet. What happens if the bank's lawyer doe...

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Hi Ms. Olefson, I was wondering if you could explain to me the reason why the people on the deed of the house (or mortgage, not sure which is the one) cannot be changed for them to be qualified for the home rescue plan. My husband died almost 3 years ago and I am trying to refinance to get a ...

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Shari, I hold a second mortgage on a home I sold in 2006 and the borrower has turned out to be a deadbeat. I've attempted to work with him in good faith by delaying payments and forgiving interest but that didn't help. He is now 5 months behind in payments and has made himself impossible to cont...

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I was listening to you on WIOD about a week ago and ordered the book I got this past Friday and can't wait to read. My question is we've all heard that my next door neighbor is in foreclosure and hasn't paid his mortgage for months. He also appearantly has not paid his lawn company or his pool servi...

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Shari: I was listening this morning to you this morning on 94.9 in Tampa Bay. I was wondering if you know of any help for someone who is not behind in payments and has paid on time since purchasing the property 3 years ago. My house is now way below what I borrowed. I would have to say it is about 6...

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My mortgage is for $155,000 and the home value now is $85,000. Is there a program out there that will refinance you for the ACTUAL and PRESENT value of the home? ...

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My boss said he heard something about the bank paying you if you do the new Obama plan. Is that true? He said your were on channel 10 this week ened talking about it. ...

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In February, 2009 I missed the 1st mortgage payment on both my primary residence and investment property. I had used up all of my savings for the property down payment. My credit cards had been cancelled after 6 months of non-usage. And my HELOC was cancelled by Countrywide, presumably due to severe...

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Hi. I saw you on TV 10 and am wondering if I give the bank a deed to my townhouse (I think it’s called a deed in lieu?), do I have to move out right away? My husband and I owe about $75,000 more to the bank than its worth so we have no problem giving it to the bank if we can avoid having to pay back...

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Good morning Shari. My daughter and I have seen you many time on the news and appreciate your help. She wrote down the website and said I should email you. If I give the bank a deed in lieu or foreclosure can I buy another house? We really prefer to not rent. I think it's like throwing money away es...

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I wanted to email you this week end but our internet access at home was not working. Can you please tell me the difference between a deed in lieu of foreclosure and a cash for keys? Thanks, Rob ...

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Shari. I saw you again on channel 10 saturday. I know you've been on that show a few times. My bank has said they will allow us to do a short sale but they want us to sign a promissory note to pay back the money the short sale doesnt cover. Have you ever heard of that? Would you advise us to do that...

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Im just wondering, why would a bank agree to do a short sale? don't they lose money? ...

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Shari, I have walked from my house and have just been served by the first lender, the second home equity loan will certainly get shorted in a sale and file a judgement on me...some attorneys tell me to file chapter 7 now and some tell me to wait untill after the judgement(s) are recorded...who is ri...

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I closed down my business, and I gave the bank who lend me the money for my business my house as collateral. My question is if there is a way for me to keep the house ? I can pay my mortgage even though I no longer have the business. I owe $300,000 on my house mortgage and the house has a value of $...

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I hear about recourse and non-recourse states. What is Pa.??? ...

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Shari, I was listening to you interview last week on WIOD and heard you mention that you have names of mortgage brokers who could help those of us that are upside and can't get a modification, but are paying on time. Would you please share the names of companies that I may be able to check with? Tha...

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Does being upside down mean the same thing as being underwater? How do I know if I am this? ...

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Dear Shari: My husband and I watched your interview on Fox 13 News today. Some of the stories were exactly like ours. I am a CLA, CP, and took the two-day exam (16 hours),that included learning Latin, writing a brief, and other areas of the law. I was the point liason between my firm and the Clerk...

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hi Sheri i was very illiterate about finance when i bought my house in 2001with 2 loans of 12.75% 0f 30000$ and $120000 for 8%.so tough time make me file a chapt 13 in 2005 get out of it 8 months ago credit score now about 610 what can i do to refinance this mess and don't lose my 10 years of reside...

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