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Real Estate & Property Law

The Home Equity Theft Reporter

Welcome to The Home Equity Theft Reporter, a blog dedicated to informing the consumer public and the legal profession about Home Equity Theft issues.
By r morris

Post Frequency: 25.7/day

Last Entry: September 06, 2017 at 04:02:00

Texas Judge Gets Five Years Probation For Using Forged Signatures To Obtain Mortgage On Home Owned By Another

Posted on July 02, 2010
In Edinburg, Texas, The Monitor reports:Elsa Municipal Judge Hilda Caceres was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation for faking required signatures on a $227,000 loan application. An Hidalgo County jury took three hours Tuesday night to convict the suspended magistrate on four counts of forgery after a trial in which she maintained the charges amounted to nothing more than a personal

AZ AG Tags City, Utilities w/ Fair Housing Suit Alleging Failure To Provide Service To Customer Due To His Religion, Failure To Accommodate Disability

Posted on July 02, 2010
From the Office of the Arizona Attorney General:Attorney General Terry Goddard [] announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Colorado City, Arizona, the City of Hildale, Utah, Hildale-Colorado City Utilities, Twin City Water Authority, and Twin City Power for alleged violations of the Arizona Fair Housing Act...

Homeowners Cautioned To "Look Before You Leap" When Dealing With Loan Modification Rackets Peddling Foreclosure Rescue Quick Fixes

Posted on July 02, 2010
In St. Paul, Minnesota, the Star Tribune reports:Patricia Goff got taken not once, but twice, by shoddy loan modification companies promising to fix her mortgage woes for an upfront fee. Neither delivered and now Goff, 47, is facing foreclosure on the Rosemount home where she lives with her husband and 21-year-old son -- unless she comes up with $34,000 -- more than Goff earns in a year...

Connecticut Court Strips Delinquent Developer Of Condo Association Control Amid Allegations Of Violations Of Unit Owners' Rights

Posted on July 02, 2010
In Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford Business reports:A Hartford Superior Court judge has ordered a third party receiver to take possession of all accounts and records of the Bushnell on the Park Condominium Association, as the property's majority owners continue to face a host of legal and financial problems...

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Countrywide Illegally Steered & Overcharged Blacks, Latinos In Home Financing Transactions, Says Illinois AG In Reverse Redlining Lawsuit

Posted on July 01, 2010
From the Office of the Illinois Attorney General:Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced [] that she has filed a lawsuit against Countrywide, a subsidiary of Bank of America, for unlawfully discriminating against African American and Latino borrowers in home mortgage sales, in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Illinois Fairness in Lending Act...

NJ AG Scores $5M Consent Judgment Against Outfit Accused Of Upfront Fee Loan Modification Ripoffs

Posted on July 01, 2010
From the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General:Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced today that a New Jersey loan modification company and its owners have agreed to a judgment of $5,051,253 to settle civil charges they defrauded homeowners who sought help in avoiding mortgage foreclosure...

Indiana AG Tags Another Loan Mod Outfit w/ Civil Suit; Alleges Ex-Cop Seeking To Lower House Payments Was Screwed Out Of $1K By Out-Of-State Operation

Posted on July 01, 2010
In Corydon, Indiana, the Louisville Courier Journal reports:Larry Green thought he found the solution to his mortgage problem when he heard a radio ad. Green, a retired state trooper who has lived in his Harrison County home since 1983, wanted to lower his 9 percent interest rate to something more manageable...

Foreclosed Homeowner Allowed To Stay Put Pending Litigation Accusing Wells Fargo Of Blindsiding Family With Home Sale During Loan Mod Negotiations

Posted on July 01, 2010
In Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Review Journal reports:Tyree Brown, the homeowner who complained that Wells Fargo Bank blindsided him with a foreclosure during loan modification negotiations, has won the first round in court. District Court Judge Douglas Smith signed a preliminary injunction [], temporarily preventing the buyer from evicting Brown, his two sons and his fianc�e from their

Cuomo Tacks On 31 Outfits To Calling Card List Of Loan Modification Rackets Around The Country Being Reminded To Observe NY Law

Posted on June 30, 2010
From the Office of the New York Attorney General:Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo [] expanded his investigation into mortgage rescue companies that abuse New York homeowners. As a part of his ongoing investigation, Cuomo is sending over 30 additional cease and desist letters to mortgage rescue companies warning them to immediately end all misleading and illegal conduct...

California AG Starts Probe In Effort To Ensure That Tenants In Foreclosed Houses "Aren't Rousted From Their Homes In Violation Of The Law!"

Posted on June 30, 2010
From the Office of the California Attorney General:Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. [] launched an investigation aimed at protecting the rights of the "forgotten victims" of the housing market collapse -- the tens of thousands of tenants facing eviction from buildings that have been foreclosed by banks...

BofA Screw-Up In Handling Automatic Withdrawls To Be Applied Toward Mortgage Payments Leads To Loss Of Home, Says Foreclosed Owner In Lawsuit

Posted on June 30, 2010
In Jefferson County, Texas, The Southeast Texas Record reports:A Groves woman has filed suit against a bank that she says failed to automatically withdraw mortgage payments from her account, causing her to face foreclosure and eviction. Charlenee Renee Hardee claims she first learned of the foreclosure on her house when she received an eviction notice posted on her door...

NY AG's Recent Calling Card To Loan Modification Operators Around The Country Warns Of Personal Financial Liability For Officers Of These Outfits

Posted on June 29, 2010
In a cease and desist letter that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo recently sent out to over 180 loan modification outfits, he offered this friendly admonition to the firms, as well as to the individuals operating these rackets who mistakenly believe they can hide behind their corporate veils to shield themselves of personal financial liability for their actions:Recently, the New York

Cleveland Housing Judge Hands Out $13M In Fines To Pair Of Out Of State Owners Of Dilapidated Real Estate

Posted on June 29, 2010
In Cleveland, Ohio, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:Cleveland Housing Judge Raymond Pianka has fined two out-of-state real estate companies about $13 million -- the largest collective fines the court has imposed -- for their persistent failure to fix derelict property conditions...

Struggling HOAs Use "Reverse Foreclosure" To Mitigate Problems Due To Foot-Dragging Lenders Reluctant To Foreclose On Underwater Condos

Posted on June 29, 2010
Lexology reports on a court ruling that came out earlier this year in Florida on the use of so-called "reverse foreclosures" by condominium and homeowners' associations to stick foot-dragging, foreclosing lending institutions with the title to unwanted underwater units...

Judge Unsympathetic To "Poor Business Decisions" Defense As Title Agent Gets 11+ Yrs For Looting Escrow Cash; 15 Refin'cing Homeowners Left w/ 2 Loans

Posted on June 28, 2010
In Fort Wayne, Indiana, The Journal Gazette reports:The courtroom was packed Friday to see what sentence Joseph Garretson would receive for running what state officials called one of the worst fraud cases they had seen. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull ordered the former title broker to spend 11 1/2 years in prison and to pay more than $3...

BofA To Rescind Foreclosure Sale After Media Intervention Attracts Attention; Jerked-Around Homeowner Says She'll Believe It When She Sees It

Posted on June 28, 2010
In Wheat Ridge, Colorado, KDVR-TV Channel 31 reports:The Wheat Ridge woman who had the Bank of America sell her house out from under her could be getting her home back. On Thursday FOX31 News first reported 61-year-old Stephanie Martin's story. She's lived in her home for 20 years and now takes care of her 84-year-old mother and 7-year-old granddaughter...

Woman Cops Plea In "Rescue" Racket That Clipped Homeowners Of $35-40K; Three Felonies To Be Reduced To Misdemeanors If Scammer Coughs Up Restitution

Posted on June 28, 2010
In Santa Barbara County, California, the Lompoc Record reports:The manager of a Los Angeles-based foreclosure consultation business which had a Santa Maria office, entered a no-contest plea this week to eight counts of committing prohibited foreclosure practices...

Philly Feds: F'clsure Rescue Operator In Sale Leaseback, Rent Skimming Scam Stalled Lenders w/ Bogus Bankrptcy Filings, Stiffed IRS On Illegal Profits

Posted on June 27, 2010
From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania):Gennaro Rauso, who owned and operated a real estate management company that purported to help financially distressed homeowners with their foreclosure problems, was charged [] by information with several mortgage fraud related offenses...

MD Feds Obtain Guilty Plea From Loan Officer Who Screwed Homeowners By Stripping & Pocketing Their Home Equity In Sale Leaseback F'closure Rescue Scam

Posted on June 27, 2010
In Baltimore, Maryland, The Annapolis Capital reports:An Annapolis loan officer admitted [] he promised to help two homeowners avoid foreclosure, only to strip them of their equity and leave them homeless. James Dan, 45, faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced Sept...

"Morgan Stanley Knew They Were Making Loans Designed To Fail!" Declares Massachusetts AG After Scoring $102M Settlement In Subprime Mortgage Case

Posted on June 27, 2010
In Boston, Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reports:Attorney General Martha Coakley has won a $102 million settlement from Wall Street?s Morgan Stanley & Co., money that will help more than 1,000 Massachusetts homeowners who are in foreclosure or saddled with unwieldy subprime mortgages...

Federal Appeals Court To Review Ruling Lifting Statewide Injunction On All BofA Foreclosures In Utah

Posted on June 27, 2010
In St. George, Utah, KCSG-TV Channels 14, 16 reports:A Notice of Appeal to Federal Judge Clark Waddoups court order vacating an Injunction against Bank of America and its subsidiary ReconTrust Company halting all foreclosures in Utah was filed Friday, June 25, 2010 by St...

Lawsuits Say MERS' Status As Mortgage Holder A Fraudulent Attempt To Dodge Filing Fees, Taxes Legally Required To Be Paid When Home Loans Are Assigned

Posted on June 27, 2010
In Reno, Nevada, The Reno Gazette-Journal reports:A Reno law firm has filed two lawsuits alleging fraud against a nationwide mortgage registration firm, and if those legal actions prevail, the firm and dozens of mortgage lenders could be liable to Nevada?s counties for billions of dollars in compensation and penalties...

200+ Renters Given 72 Hours To Vacate 4-Story Buildings As City Officials Declare South Florida Apartment Complex With Rusted Staircases Unsafe

Posted on June 26, 2010
In Lauderhill, Florida, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports:Sydney White and his family spent all day Wednesday loading their belongings into a moving truck, worrying about where his new home will be. His anxiety was triggered by a pink letter posted on his door Tuesday afternoon, telling him and other residents they had 72 hours to leave Brampton Court, a complex of four buildings in the 4500

Illinois AG Hammers 5 Home Repair Contractors In Seperate Suits Alleging Outfits Pocketed $167K In Upfront Payments & Performed Substandard Or No Work

Posted on June 26, 2010
From the Office of the Illinois Attorney General:Attorney General Lisa Madigan [] urged consumers to use caution when choosing home repair and remodeling contractors as she announced five lawsuits filed against home repair businesses,(1) alleging they defrauded Illinois consumers of more than $167,000 in down payments by performing substandard work or no work at all...

Oregon AG Reaches Resolution Of Consumer Complaints With Two Loan Modification Outfits

Posted on June 26, 2010
From the Office of the Oregon Attorney General:Oregon Attorney General John Kroger [] announced two settlements that will provide refunds to Oregon homeowners and prohibit two connected Orange County, California companies from doing further loan modification work in Oregon...

PA Attorney Faces Bar Charges For Alleged Failure To File Objections In One Client's Foreclosure Action, Communications Problems In Landlord Dispute

Posted on June 26, 2010
In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, The Citizens Voice reports:Wilkes-Barre attorney Jim Hayward [...] is facing disciplinary action over allegations he violated professional-conduct rules. The allegations include failing to keep clients informed, not filing court documents for clients, not using a written fee agreement and not paying court fees on time...

Mississippi AG Warns Consumers Against Online Rental Scams Advertised On Craigslist

Posted on June 26, 2010
In Jackson, Mississippi, WLBT-TV Channel 3 reports:A good priced house in a normally higher priced neighborhood is reason for consumers to put up a red flag. Craigslist is one of the fastest ways to find a great deal in today's market, as thousands of home rental listings dominate the online ad site...

Armed With Search Warrant, Feds, California State Bar Pay A Visit To Law Center Offering Forensic Loan Auditing, F'closure/Loan Modification Services

Posted on June 25, 2010
In Oceanside, California, North County Times reports:Agents with the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the State Bar of California served search warrants Wednesday at two related Oceanside loan modification businesses. The raids took place at the First American Law Center, 615 Mission Ave...

Six To Cop Pleas In Flipping Racket That Left Unwitting Would-Be Homebuyers Under Rent-To-Own Deals, Straw Buyers, Foreclosing Lenders Holding The Bag

Posted on June 25, 2010
In Fort Myers, Florida, The News Press reports:Seven defendants accused of participating in a more than $3 million mortgage fraud scheme appeared in state court [] with six of them ready to enter pleas. Before Lee Circuit Judge Edward Volz Jr., attorneys for Paul Bosnyak, Brian Chili, Erling Hall, Jeremy Hatlee, Trinity Ruffino and Mark Wallen indicated their clients were ready to enter pleas and

Indiana AG Files Suit Against Loan Modification Firm Accused Of Screwing Homeowners Out Of Upfront Fees & Failing To Successfully Assist Homeowners

Posted on June 25, 2010
In Evansville, Indiana, the Evansville Courier & Press reports:Attorney General Greg Zoeller came to the Civic Center [] to file the suit against Mortgage Modifiers LLC, based in Tampa, Fla. The complaint alleges that the firm took $907 from Karen Helmbock, an Evansville resident, in return for services intended to prevent her from losing her home in a foreclosure...

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