PRE-FORECLOSURE NOTICE

Pre-foreclosure NoticeNew York has a specific statute that requires a lender to provide 90 days notice to a homeowner before they initiate a foreclosure lawsuit. The failure of the lender to provide the 90 days notice can in the answer to the foreclosure lawsuit provide a defense to the foreclosure lawsuit. In the event you have a defense such as a failure to serve a pre-foreclosure notice or the statute of limitations, which talks about the time period the lender has to initiate the lawsuit, these defenses must be specifically plead in the answer to the Summons and Complaint. To protect yourself, it is highly recommended that you contact a law firm that handles foreclosure defense to draft the answer for you and take the appropriate legal action in the Supreme Court to protect your rights and possibly get the lawsuit dismissed.

Time to Answer

Under New York State law if served with a Summons and Complaint, you have 20 days to submit a written response to the Summons and Complaint, which is called an Answer, if the Summons and Complaint is personally handed to you by a process server. If you receive the Summons and Complaint that is dropped off at your home or sent to you by another means, you have 30 days from the time of service to respond to the Summons and Complaint. If you do not provide a written response to the Court and the bank’s attorney within the appropriate time limitation, you have defaulted in the foreclosure lawsuit. A default is an indication that you are not contesting the lawsuit which is designed to sell your home and cause you to be evicted. This is always a mistake!

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

TYING THE FORECLOSURE LAWSUIT UP IN COURT

Tying The Foreclosure Lawsuit Up In CourtA sophisticated foreclosure lawyer can often tie a foreclosure lawsuit up in court any where from 2 to 3 years. This can give the homeowners the ability to obtain a new job or jobs if they are unemployed, organize their finances, work out mortgage modifications and get their home foreclosure issue straightened out.

Mortgage Modifications

Mortgage loan modifications take time to work out. If you are already behind on your mortgage, you will fall further behind during the process of obtaining a mortgage modification. A foreclosure attorney can tie up your case in Court to give you the time to obtain a mortgage modification before you lose your home.

Selling Your Home In Foreclosure

Many people do not understand that you can sell your home even if it is in foreclosure. The sale of a home in foreclosure may be a bit more complicated than a sale when a home is not in foreclosure, but the home is still saleable. Selling the home will allow the homeowner to pay the bank off and reap the benefits of the increase in value of the home. In addition the homeowner gets to keep the balance of the equity paid at the time of closing after paying off the mortgage. These sums can be utilized to purchase another home in the future.

Selling the home is only one option a homeowner has when their home is in foreclosure. There are many other options available. A consultation with a New York foreclosure defense attorney will be the best way to determine how the homeowner should deal with their situation involving the foreclosure on their home.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

SALE OF A HOME IN FORECLOSURE

SALE OF A HOME IN FORECLOSUREA foreclosure lawsuit is initiated by the attorneys for the lender by filing a Summons and Complaint in the County Clerk’s office of the county where the home is located. Thereafter the Summons and Complaint is served on the homeowners by a process server. The end of a foreclosure lawsuit is the sale of the homeowner’s home. The sale is an auction sale where anyone can come and bid as long as they have at least a third of the money up front and the rest within a few days.

The Home Is Under Water

There are cases where the foreclosure sale will not provide enough money to repay the mortgage loan. This is a situation where the home is called said to be Under Water. Under water means that the home is worth less than the amount that is owed on it. In these situations, the bank can move for a deficiency judgment against the homeowner. Here is an example of that situation: The homeowner owes $850,000. The home is sold for $750,000 at the foreclosure sale. There is now a deficiency of $100,000. The homeowner still owes the bank the $100,000. This means the homeowner can lose their home and still owe the bank a lot of money. Filing a bankruptcy can stop the foreclosure sale and in certain circumstances eliminate deficiency judgments against the homeowner.

After the Sale

After a home is sold at a foreclosure sale the new owners need to notify the homeowners of the details of the sale. Then the new owners start to take action to have the prior homeowners removed from the house. Unfortunately, the loss of a family’s home is a very unpleasant experience.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

FORECLOSURE IN NEW YORK

FORECLOSURE IN NEW YORKIn New York a foreclosure is a court supervised process. A lender retains an attorney and files a lawsuit to enforce the lender’s right to take the home back for failure of the homeowner to fulfill their requirements of making payments under the mortgage. Prior to initiating the foreclosure lawsuit the lender must give the homeowner a ninety (90) day pre-foreclosure notice. The purpose of this notice is to inform the homeowners that they are in default under the terms of their mortgage. This notice also provides the homeowners with information regarding how they can receive help to deal with the foreclosure process.

The Filing of the Lawsuit

The lender’s attorneys draft a Summons and Complaint and file it in the County Clerk’s Office of the County in which the home is located. Upon making this filing the attorneys for the financial institution obtains an Index Number which is the tracking number that the case goes through the Courts with.

Service of the Summons and Complaint

After the filing of the Summons and Complaint with the County Clerk’s Office, the attorneys for the financial institution hire a process server who then serves the Summons and Complaint on the homeowner.

Mandatory Settlement Conference

The first step in the legal process is a mandatory settlement conference which allows the homeowner and the attorneys for the lender to discuss solutions to the homeowner’s default in paying their mortgage. This usually involves a discussion of a mortgage modification.

Motion Practice

If the homeowner does not respond in writing to the lawsuit by submitting a written answer or attend the mandatory settlement conference, the lender may move by motion for a default. A default judgment is an indication that the homeowners have taken no legal action to defend themselves in the lawsuit.

Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

If the bank’s attorneys are successful in either obtaining a default judgment on winning a Summary Judgment, the lender’s attorneys will then move for a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. This Judgment appoints a Referee to sell the homeowner’s home at a foreclosure sale.

Foreclosure Sale

A foreclosure sale is an auction sale. The Referee appointed by the Court schedules it and prospective purchasers bid on purchasing the home. The home is purchased for cash at the sale.

Referee’s Deed

After the foreclosure auction sale takes place, the Referee prepares a deed giving the winning bidder legal title to the home.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

90 DAY FORECLOSURE NOTICE RPAPL 1304

90 DAY FORECLOSURE NOTICE RPAPL 1304In every potential residential foreclosure case, the lender or the lender’s attorney must provide the homeowners with a notice 90 days before the foreclosure starts pursuant to Real Property Actions and Procedure Law Section 1304. The requirements of this notice are very specific.

The homeowners each need to receive an individual letter giving them notice of the pending foreclosure. If a husband and wife or 2 owners receive notice in one envelope that does not meet the statutory requirements.

In a recent case the bank sent homeowners two (2) 90 day notices in one a single envelope jointly addressed to both of them. The homeowners challenged the notice. The court found that the methodology of sending two (2) notices in a single envelope was improper. The foreclosure was dismissed.

The Summons & Complaint

After the 90-day notice is served on the homeowners the bank’s attorneys will start working on the foreclosure documents. The first they will do is order a title report. After the 90-day period has expired they will draft a Les Pendens, which has the impact of destroying the title to the house. The Les Pendens is filed with the County Clerk’s Office.

A Summons & Complaint is drafted and filed with the County Clerk’s Office and an Index Number is obtained. The Index Number is a tracking device that denotes the case is in the legal system. The Summons & Complaint are given to a process server who thereafter serves the homeowners.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

Foreclosure Case The Summons And Complaint

Foreclosure Case The Summons And ComplaintThe bank retains a law firm that drafts a Summons and Complaint. The Summons and Complaint is filed with the County Clerk’s Office of the County in which the home is located. The filing of these papers gives the Summons and Complaint an Index Number. This Index Number is a tracking device for the case going through the Courts. Simultaneously with filing this Summons and Complaint, the attorneys for the financial institution file a Lis Pendens. This advises other people that there is a Court case against the property. This has a negative impact on the title to the home.

The Answer

If you wish to defend yourself in a foreclosure lawsuit after being served with a Summons and Complaint, you submit a written Answer. This Answer can include defenses, affirmative defenses and counter law suits. If you do not file an Answer to the Summons and Complaint, it is considered that you defaulted and that you are not challenging the foreclosure. This can result in your your home much faster.

Settlement Conference

There is a mandatory Foreclosure Settlement Conference that is required in all foreclosure lawsuits. At a settlement conference you can discuss mortgage modifications and other issues. If you do not attend the settlement conference, the Court can allow the case to move forward without your participation.

Discovery

Discovery is a process where each of the parties to a lawsuit can obtain information from the other party. The information used can be considered evidence which can be used by each of the parties during motion practice or at a trial, either for prosecution or by the defense.

Foreclosure Judgment

A financial institution can obtain a judgment on default if the homeowner does not submit a written Answer to the Summons and Complaint.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

Foreclosure Consumer Bill of Rights

Foreclosure Consumer Bill of RightsThe State of New York has a residential foreclosure actions consumer bill of rights. This gives homeowners information they can expect if their home goes into foreclosure. The foreclosure legal action is a lawsuit initiated by the bank’s attorneys to repossess the home, sell it and use those funds to pay off the mortgage.

The Foreclosure Process.

The foreclosure process starts by the homeowner receiving a ninety (90) day notice that the home is going into foreclosure. After ninety (90) days a Summons and Complaint will be served upon the homeowner. The homeowner at that point should immediately contact a foreclosure attorney. There are many actions the foreclosure attorney can do to help the homeowner. The foreclosure attorney can stop the foreclosure from going forward and sometimes tie it up in court for years. The foreclosure attorney can pursue on behalf of the homeowner a mortgage modification or forbearance agreement or other arrangements to help the homeowners and their family stay in the home.

The Response to a Foreclosure Lawsuit

When the homeowner retains an attorney, the attorney for the homeowner will file an answer to the foreclosure lawsuit. This stops the foreclosure lawsuit from going forward and allows homeowners to assert their rights. A failure by the homeowner to submit a written answer to the foreclosure lawsuit puts the homeowner at risk that the foreclosure lawsuit will move forward more quickly through the court and the homeowner will not obtain notice of the sale of their home until it is too late to stop it from being sold.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

Foreclosure Timeline

Foreclosures are initiated when homeowners miss their mortgage payments. If a homeowner is between 16 and 30 days behind on their mortgage, a late charge is assessed against them. In these situations the financial institution, or its loan servicing company, will usually notify the homeowner with regard to the late payment issue.

3 Months Behind on Mortgage Payments

When a homeowner is 3 months behind on mortgage payments the financial institution, if they decide to move forward with a foreclosure, must send the homeowner a foreclosure notice a minimum of 90 days before initiating the foreclosure lawsuit. The purpose of the 90 day window is to give the homeowner an opportunity to work out an alternative resolution of the mortgage issue with the financial institution. The 90 day notice must provide how much the homeowners are behind and what they would need to pay to bring the mortgage current. In addition, the 90 day notice must provide the homeowner with names and telephone numbers of a minimum of 5 government approved not-for-profit housing counselling agencies serving the area where the homeowner resides.

90 Days Behind on Mortgage Payments

If the homeowner falls 90 days or more behind on a mortgage, the financial institution or its servicing agency may bring legal action to foreclose on the home. It involves the hiring of an attorney on behalf of the financial institution to file a Summons and Complaint against the homeowner and file a “Lis Pendis” which has a negative impact to the title of the homeowner’s home.

Once the Summons and Complaint has been Served

After the Summons and Complaint has been served on the homeowner and the lender files the proof of service with the court, a Foreclosure Settlement Conference is usually scheduled by the financial institution’s attorneys. During the Foreclosure Settlement Conference a judge or referee meets with the homeowner, the homeowner’s attorney, and the attorneys for the financial institution. The referee or judge looks into whether there is an alternative resolution of the case instead of the house being sold in the foreclosure. The attorney for the homeowner or the homeowner must bring to this Settlement Conference proof of income, a minimum of 2 recent pay stubs and recent tax returns.

Foreclosure Mediation

The Foreclosure Settlement Conference in the court does not relieve the homeowner of the responsibility of providing a written Answer to the Summons and Complaint. The failure of the homeowner to respond to the Summons and Complaint can result in a default which will allow the foreclosure to go through the courts more quickly.

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

Video : Foreclosure Process

The Summons and Complaint

The Summons and ComplaintA foreclosure lawsuit is initiated by the attorneys for the bank by drafting a Summons and Complaint. It is then filed with the County Clerk’s Office in the County in which the property is located and the attorneys for the bank receive an index number and a filing date which is attached to the front of the Summons. The bank attorneys then hire a process server who serves the Summons and Complaint on the homeowner.

If the homeowner is served personally, the homeowner has twenty (20) days to respond by submitting a written Answer. If the homeowner is served by any other means, the homeowner has thirty (30) days to respond to the Summons and Complaint by submitting a written Answer.

The response to the Summons and Complaint is called an Answer. An Answer can contain admissions or denials. It can also contain defenses and affirmative defenses. As part of the Answer the homeowner can counter sue the bank for various relief including setting the mortgage aside. An experienced foreclosure lawyer will often put 100 to 120 paragraphs in the Answer.

Representing Yourself

There is an expression: “The man who represents himself has a fool for his lawyer”. Do yourself a favor, hire an experienced foreclosure defense lawyer to represent you and your family if you are facing a foreclosure. The attorneys for the banks generally have extensive experience in bringing foreclosure lawsuits. They often bring more than 100 of these cases per month. The bank attorneys know how to process the foreclosures and know the ins and outs of the court system. You need someone on your side at least as good as them!

schlissel-headshotThe law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping families deal with mortgage and foreclosure problems for more than 30 years. We can be reached at 718-350-2802, 516-561-6645 or 631-319-8262 or by e-mail at info@sdnylaw.com.

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