Principle Reduction for Mortgage Loans
A recent Wall Street Journal article discusses the ongoing conflict regarding principle reduction for mortgage loans. As the article stresses, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac—two of the largest holders of mortgage loans in the United States—usually do not permit principle reductions of loans (where the more »
Housing Discrimination in the News
A recent Boston.com article illustrates the perils of housing discrimination in Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against a North Attleborough apartment complex owner for discriminating against applicants with children. This owner reportedly tried to discourage renters with children from more »
“Strategic Default” and Foreclosure Defense
If you have been following the news in the last few weeks, you have probably heard about the New York Times’s editorial Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans. In this opinion piece, the author gives his reasons for more »
Transfers to Housing Court
Massachusetts’s trial court system has a unique forum for resolving housing matters: Housing Court. Housing Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters related to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants or owners of residential housing. In addition more »
FAQ: What is a Right-to-Cure Notice? When Am I Suppose to Receive This Letter?
Question: What is a right-to-cure notice? When am I suppose to receive this letter? Answer: A right-to-cure notice is a letter that your servicer must send you prior to foreclosure that gives you an opportunity to reinstate your mortgage loan. The notice more »
Injunctive Relief
Sometimes, a party in a landlord-tenant case needs the court to do more than simply award monetary damages or possession of the property. In such cases, injunctive relief can be a good option. An injunction is a court order that mandates or more »
Proposed Reforms for Massachusetts Property Tax Foreclosures
I don’t write too often about property tax foreclosures, but it is a topic of increasing importance for Massachusetts homeowners. A property tax foreclosure, compared to a standard residential mortgage foreclosure, is a judicial proceeding in court. A homeowner facing more »
FAQ: Can My Home Be Foreclosed While I Am Applying for a Loan Modification?
Question: Can my home be foreclosed while I am applying for a loan modification? Answer: Generally, no. Recent loan servicing regulations prohibit “dual tracking”, a procedure where servicers review loan modifications while simultaneously pursuing foreclosure. These regulations restrict servicers from more »
The Truth, The Truth, and Nothing But the Truth: Do Not Lie in Court!
A recent Florida foreclosure case demonstrates why you should always tell the truth in court, whether it be for a foreclosure defense case or any other matter. In this case, the homeowner raised numerous arguments to the foreclosure, each of more »