Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Foreclosure relief available | Inside Real Estate News

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers

Colorado borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2011, may be eligible for payment under the $25 billion national mortgage foreclosure settlement, Attorney General John Suthers announced on Monday afternoon.

Suthers said that claim forms are being to sent to eligible borrowers during that time period who had mortgages serviced by Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. These are the nation?s five largest mortgage servicers that agreed to the settlement with the federal government and attorneys general for 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The settlement, which took effect in April, earmarked approximately $1.5 billion in payments for two million borrowers nationwide who lost their homes to foreclosure during that period and had their loan serviced by one of the settling servicers. The exact payment will depend upon the total number of borrowers who decide to participate.

?This payment is intended as partial compensation for the mortgage servicers? illegal conduct and servicing abuse,? Suthers said. ?By participating, borrowers do not give up any legal rights. They?re free to participate in this settlement and also pursue other legal remedies such as filing a lawsuit or participating in a class action, if they so choose.?

Last week, the national settlement administrator mailed notification postcards to the eligible borrowers nationwide. In Colorado, packets containing a letter from the Attorney General, claim form, instructions and answers to frequently asked questions are being mailed to eligible borrowers beginning today and continuing through Oct. 12.

Suthers urged eligible Colorado borrowers to complete their claim forms and return them as soon as possible in the envelope provided, or file them online at the National Mortgage Settlement website listed at the end of this article. The deadline for all claims is Jan. 18, 2013. Payment checks are expected to be mailed in mid-2013.

The one-page claim forms are simple to complete, according to Suthers? office.

Eligible borrowers do not need to prove financial harm to receive a payment, nor do they give up their rights to pursue a lawsuit against their mortgage servicer or to participate in the Independent Foreclosure Review Process being conducted by federal bank regulators. More information about that program is available at www.independentforeclosurereview.com.

Eligible borrowers may get a payment from this settlement even if they participate in another foreclosure claims process. However, any payment received may reduce payments borrowers may be eligible to receive in any other foreclosure claim process or legal proceeding.

Borrowers who believe they may qualify for a payment, but did not receive a notice because they have moved, should contact the settlement administrator directly to provide that information:

Borrowers should not need to pay anyone to file their claim, according to Suthers office. The Attorney General?s office warns all homeowners to be aware of settlement-related scams. Do not provide personal information or pay money to anyone who calls or emails you claiming that they are providing settlement-related assistance. If you believe someone is conducting a settlement-related scam, contact the Colorado Attorney General at 1-800-222-4444.

The national settlement followed state and federal investigations, which alleged that the five mortgage servicers routinely signed foreclosure-related documents outside the presence of a notary public and without personal knowledge that the facts contained in the documents were correct.? This civil law enforcement action also alleged that the servicers committed widespread errors and abuses in their foreclosure processes.

Broad reform of the mortgage servicing process resulted from the settlement, as well as financial relief for borrowers still in their homes through direct loan modification relief, including principal reduction.

For more information about eligibility and filing a claim:

  • ?www.NationalMortgageSettlement.com
  • Email: administrator@nationalmortgagesettlement.com
  • Call toll-free: 1-866-430-8358 (hearing impaired: 1-866-494-8281). The line is staffed Monday through Friday from (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

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Source: http://insiderealestatenews.com/2012/09/foreclosure-relief-offered/

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