foreclosure

Foreclosure, What Does It Mean? – Part 2

November 22, 2023 by Elliot Schlissel

The Homeowner’s Response

Upon being served with the summons and complaint, regarding notice of the foreclosure lawsuit, in the event you wish to keep your home and contest the foreclosure lawsuit, you need to file a verified answer. This is a response to the summons and complaint, and it will outline any defenses you have to the lawsuit. Be advised if you do not file an answer or you simply fail to respond the court will rule in the case that you have defaulted and the lawsuit will go faster and you’ll lose your home more quickly.

Foreclosure Settlement Conference

Usually within 60 days after your lender initiates the foreclosure lawsuit the Supreme Court in the county where the house is located will schedule a legally mandated foreclosure settlement conference. The purpose of this conference is to see if there’s a way to resolve the foreclosure lawsuit without the homeowners being forced from their home. At the foreclosure settlement conference, issues such as mortgage modifications, forbearance agreements, short sales and other issues will be discussed.

The Discovery Phase

If you put submit a written answer in the foreclosure lawsuit and you contest it, a period begins called the discovery phase of lawsuit. During this time, both you and your lender can request pertinent information and documents from the other side to prepare your respective arguments during motion practice or trial.

Motion For Summary Judgment

In most cases, the financial institution will file a motion for summary judgment. This is a motion by the bank’s lawyers, which asks the court to issue a judgment of foreclosure based solely on the evidence presented in writing. They will claim a trial is not necessary because the case is so one sided. For a homeowner to be successful in defeating the motion for summary judgment, the homeowner simply needs to show there is some issue that should be dealt with at trial. Any issue which is not 100% clearly in the bank’s favor will be the basis for the for the judge to deny the bank’s application for summary judgment motion.

Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

If the judge rules on the summary judgment motion in favor of the bank, the Court will issue a final judgment of foreclosure and sale and an order to auction off your home. If there is an auction order given, a referee will be appointed, who will sell your home on the Supreme Court steps or in a courtroom in the Supreme Court on rainy days.

Can I Stop A Foreclosure From Moving Forward?

Yes! There are numerous defenses, affirmative defenses, counterclaims and other legal actions which can be taken to stop foreclosures from moving forward and tie up the case in court from three to seven years. The banks have experienced law firms representing them. The best way to you protect your investment in your home and your ability to continue to live in your home with your family is to hire an experienced foreclosure attorney.

The law office of Schlissel DeCorpo have been defending homeowners regarding mortgage issues for more than three decades. They can be reached at 516-561-6645, 718-350-2802, 631-319-8262 and 914-998-0080 or emailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Foreclosure, What Does It Mean? – Part 1

November 14, 2023 by Elliot S. Schlissel

Foreclosure is the initiation of a lawsuit for the rights to ownership of the property. It seeks to remove from the owners from living in the property and having the property sold at auction to satisfy an unpaid mortgage on the property. The foreclosure process can be initiated by the financial institution’s attorneys as they have a vested interest home which has been used as collateral for the loans.

Start Of The Foreclosure Process

The foreclosure process begins after the homeowner’s default, which technically occurs when they have missed mortgage payments on their home mortgage loan. The number of payments a homeowner can miss before a default notice is sent depends on the financial institution and its policies with regard to defaulted loans. Generally speaking, if you are three months behind on your mortgage payments, your house can be placed into foreclosure.

Missing a Payment – What Should You Do?

If you miss one payment your mortgage company will generally allow you a grace period of up to 15 days during which time you can pay that amount due and avoid late charges. If you do not remit your payment by the end of the grace period, your lender may try to contact you and remind you you’ve missed your payment and advise you that you now owe late fees in addition to your payment. If you get one of those late payment letters it is suggested you contact your financial institution and make arrangements to catch up on your mortgage payment.

What If You Can’t Make Your Mortgage Payments?

If you miss one or more mortgage payments and you do not have the financial capability of catching up on your mortgage payments, you can take action to avoid going into foreclosure or into a pre-foreclosure situation. There are plans such as forbearance agreements, mortgage modifications and other programs which financial institutions have to assist homeowners who have incurred their financial difficulties.

The Start of the Foreclosure Process In New York

Here’s how the foreclosure process in New York works. The financial institution which holds the mortgage on the home hires a law firm. The law firm drafts the summons and complaint. The summons and complaint is filed in the county clerk’s office of the Supreme Court in the county where the property lies. The lender, after filing the summons and complaint, also files a document called a “Lis Pendens”. This is a public notice legal action has been taken regarding your home and this puts everyone on notice that there is a problem with the title to your home and you no longer have good title to the house. Thereafter the lawyers for the financial institution, higher a process server to go to your home and serve you with a copy of the summons and complaint in the foreclosure lawsuit.

Filed Under: Foreclosure Tagged With: foreclosure, What Does It Mean? - Part 1

Homeowners Motions in Foreclosure Lawsuits

September 26, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

A homeowner can make a motion to dismiss the bank’s lawsuit in a foreclosure case based on a jurisdictional basis or the fact that there are meritorious defenses to the complaint submitted by the bank. Examples of a basis for dismissing the lawsuit brought by the financial institution are: lack of standing, failure to obtain proper service on the defendants, violation of the statute of limitations, fraud in the inducement and various other defenses and affirmative defenses available to homeowners.

Cost of Foreclosure Litigation

Banks and financial institutions are worth billions of dollars. Homeowners, who work for a living, have limited financial assets to engage in sophisticated litigation with financial institutions. The financial institutions bringing the foreclosure lawsuit are spending money belonging to their shareholders. On the other side of the situation, the homeowner is putting his hands in his own pocket to fight the foreclosure lawsuit. It is therefore important for the attorneys for the homeowners to maximize the impact of their legal action and litigate the matter in the most cost efficient means. It should be pointed out, in my experience, bank’s are often prepared to spend more than $25,000.00 bringing motions to obtain a foreclosure judgment against homeowners to cause their home to be sold. This puts a heavy financial burden on the homeowner to defend against these motions.

Conclusion

There is a process during the litigation of a foreclosure lawsuit where each party can make motions asking the Judge prior to a trial to grant them relief. The bank asks for relief in a motion for summary judgment and/or judgment of foreclosure and sale and the homeowner usually brings a motion to dismiss the litigation. If you are facing foreclosure, the best way to deal with all of the issues and problems is to hire an experienced dedicated foreclosure attorney.

Elliot S. Schlisel is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. He has been representing homeowners in foreclosure lawsuits, helping them obtain mortgage modifications and dealing with numerous other problems related to improper conduct of financial institutions for more than 45 years. He can be reached for a free consultation at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure Tagged With: foreclosure

Litigation Strategies in Foreclosure Cases

August 20, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

The first thing homeowners need to do in defending a foreclosure case is to put a written response in to the summons and complaint. This written response is called an answer. This avoids what is referred to as a default in the lawsuit. A default amounts to an admission of the allegations made by the bank in their lawsuit are correct. A homeowner can assert defenses, affirmative defenses and counter lawsuits in an answer to the summons and complaint. By contesting the lawsuit the foreclosure case will move very slowly through the courts. The more time the homeowners are in their home the more likely they will be able to come up with a final resolution, whether it be a mortgage modification, a forbearance agreement or another means of keeping their family in their home.

The Answer to a Foreclosure Lawsuit

When a homeowner is served in a foreclosure lawsuit depending upon the type of service he or she receives they have either 20 days or 30 days to respond. The response must be in writing. Affirmative defenses can be alleged in the answer to protect the client and to create the legal grounds for having the case dismissed. In addition, a counter lawsuit can be brought within the confines of the answer asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit completely because of some inappropriate action by the financial institution or the failure of the financial institution to comply with some federal, state or local ordinance.

Defending The Foreclosure Case

Financial institutions are very heavily regulated, they must comply with state, local and federal laws with regard to all aspects of the lending process, the mortgage application process and the handling of a foreclosure lawsuit. Affirmative defenses such as lack of standing, redlining, violation of Truth and Lending Laws, predatory lending, “duel tracking”, failure to provide necessary documentation, failure to provide adequate notice, failure to provide proper service, fraud and issues related to loan modifications can be raised. A counter lawsuit brought against the bank can also seek financial damages from the financial institution.

The facts and circumstances of each homeowner’s situation is unique. Should you find yourself facing a foreclosure situation, the first step in defending your home, protecting your rights and keeping your family in your home is to retain a qualified experienced foreclosure lawyer.

Elliot S. Schlisel is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. For more than 45 years he has been representing homeowners throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He helps homeowners obtain mortgage modifications. In addition he fights foreclosure lawsuits. He can be reached for a free consultation at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure Tagged With: foreclosure, foreclosure lawyer

How to Avoid Foreclosure of your Home

August 20, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

Financial circumstances in families’ lives can change. These changes sometimes are of a negative manner. If the family doesn’t make their mortgage payments they face the risk of losing their home and being dispossessed. When a homeowner receives a notice they are in default on their mortgage, or a summons and complaint in a foreclosure lawsuit, action should be taken by the homeowners to deal with the situation. Acting like an ostrich and putting your head in the sand and hoping this goes away simply won’t work!

Hire an Attorney

If you are facing future foreclosure or a foreclosure lawsuit has been started against you, the best way to deal with this is to hire an experienced foreclosure lawyer. The earlier in the proceeding you hire a lawyer the better your chances of success will be.

Loan Modifications

Loan Modifications are one of the ways of dealing with a foreclosure lawsuit and the threat of losing one’s home. Mortgage modifications help you modify your current mortgage arrangement. This can eliminate the threat of losing your home. This may enable you to become current on your mortgage payments.

The law firm of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP has been helping homeowners keep their homes for more than 45 years. Our office can offer you advice and guidance with the appropriate action to take regarding a foreclosure lawsuit and/or obtaining a mortgage modification. We can be reached for a free consultation at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure Tagged With: foreclosure, foreclosure lawsuit

The Bank’s Motion in Foreclosure Lawsuits

August 20, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

A foreclosure lawsuit is initiated by the financial institution’s attorneys serving the homeowner with the summons and complaint. Both the homeowner and financial institution can engage in the discovery process where they ask for the documents, records and other information related to the mortgage and foreclosure lawsuit to be provided to them.

Motion Practice

Attorneys for financial institutions are under pressure from the banks to move their cases through the courts as quickly as possible. For this reason if a homeowner submits an answer to the summons and complaint the financial institution will usually make a motion for summary judgment.

The Summary Judgment Motion

A motion for summary judgment alleges there are no questions of fact, all the issues in the case can be presented on paper and there are no real triable issues of fact. Based on this motion, bank’s attorney will allege the court should grant the financial institution a judgment of foreclosure dismissing the defendant’s answer and affirmative defenses. The attorneys will be putting a lot of time and effort in presenting a well documented and well set up motion for summary judgment which shows that the defenses and affirmative defenses by the homeowner are without merit. The plaintiff’s motion papers are at times 7 or 8 inches thick with regard the summary judgment motion.

The making of a summary judgment motion by the plaintiff’s attorneys causes the defendant to fight this motion by submitting opposing papers and if appropriate submitting a cross-motion seeking the case be dismissed.

Motion for Foreclosure and Sale

If the financial institution’s attorneys are successful with regard to having the court grant their motion for summary judgment, they will thereafter bring a second motion for foreclosure and sale. In the motion for foreclosure and sale the court will usually recognize the accounting of the referee as being valid and and correct. This is the last court application necessary before the referee can schedule the sale of the house.

Filed Under: Foreclosure Tagged With: foreclosure

Wells Fargo Ordered to Pay $575 Million Regarding Unfair Trade Practices

July 17, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

In a recent case the Attorney Generals for all 50 States in the United States and the District of Columbia reached a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank. The settlement involves a variety of consumer protection claims and unfair trade practices utilized by Wells Fargo Bank. The settlement was in the amount of $575,000,000.

Wells Fargo Acted Improperly

Wells Fargo agreed to this settlement based on numerous improper actions it took and laws it violated. Among the many improper actions and laws it violated Wells Fargo charged customers for mortgage rate lock extension fees.

Wells Fargo has acknowledged millions of deposits, credit card and other accounts were created without the consumer’s permission. Wells Fargo was involved in the transfer of funds without consumer authorization. Wells Fargo acknowledged these improper actions took place between 2002 and 2017.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated “the settlement held Wells Fargo accountable for its widespread victimization of its customers through unfair and deceptive trade practices.”

Wells Fargo Acknowledges Problems

Wells Fargo’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan stated: “this agreement disclosed our serious commitment to making things right in regard to past issues as we worked to build a better bank.”

Elliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. Elliot is a foreclosure attorney. He represents homeowners with regard to mortgage modifications and defending foreclosure lawsuits throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached for a free consultation at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure, Mortgage Modification Tagged With: foreclosure

Foreclosure Lawsuit Dismissed The Statute of Limitations Had Expired

June 7, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

In the case before Justice Peter Mayer who sits in Supreme Court in Suffolk County, Rokoetz had executed a note and mortgage. This note and mortgage secured a lien against his home. Rokoetz defaulted in making payments on this mortgage. CS First Boston brought a foreclosure lawsuit in Suffolk County. They were granted an order of reference to sell the property and the matter was thereafter settled under a written agreement in 2007.

The Second Foreclosure Lawsuit

In 2017, 10 years after the original lawsuit had been started, the plaintiff brought a second foreclosure lawsuit against Rokoetz. Rokoetz moved for dismissal of the foreclosure lawsuit claiming the action was barred by the 6 year statute of limitations. Counsel for the financial institution claimed CS First Boston lacked standing to commence the 2005 foreclosure lawsuit as the mortgage was not assigned to it until after the commencement of the lawsuit. They therefore claimed they lacked authority to accelerate the loan. They claimed the loan was never properly accelerated until the plaintiff did so in the 2017 lawsuit.

The Loan was Accelerated

Justice Mayer found that the CP Boston’s claims were not valid. He ruled that CS First Boston’s 2005 complaint constituted an acceleration of the loan and the 2007 agreement did not constitute an unequivocal affirmative notice to Rokoetz that the acceleration had been revoked. Justice Mayer ruled Rokoetz had established the lawsuit was commenced outside the 6 year statute of limitations and was therefore untimely and needed to be dismissed.

Elliot S. Schlisel is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. He has been litigating foreclosure cases throughout the Metropolitan New York area for more than 45 years. He can be reached for a free consultation at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure, Foreclosure Defense Tagged With: foreclosure

Homeowner Failed to Assert Affirmative Defenses: Bank Granted Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

May 6, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

In a matter before Supreme Court Justice Howard Heckman, who sits in Suffolk County, a bank brought a foreclosure lawsuit against Bourie. The bank claimed in the lawsuit Bourie defaulted in making his mortgage payments. The bank eventually brought a motion for summary judgment asking that the answers submitted by Bourie be stricken. In response to the bank’s summary judgment motion, Bourie argued the bank failed to prove service of the Summons and Complaint in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

“Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”

The bank in its opposing papers pointed out Bourie had failed to assert the affirmative defense of the bank’s alleged failure to serve a mortgage default notice. Justice Heckman ruled Bourie’s failure to submit an affirmative defense of the bank’s failure to serve him with a notice of default acted as a waiver of his rights to assert compliance in opposition to the bank’s summary judgment motion. Justice Heckman also ruled Bourie waived his Fair Debt Collection Practices Act defense by his failure to assert it as an affirmative defense in his answer. The judge granted the bank’s summary judgment motion and allowed them to move forward with the sale of Bourie’s home.

Conclusion

When the bank initiates a foreclosure lawsuit, a homeowner has either 20 days or 30 days to submit a written answer to the bank’s lawsuit. In the answer the homeowner must allege all of his defenses and affirmative defenses to the lawsuit. If the homeowner fails to list a defense or affirmative defense to the lawsuit, it is considered that he has waived his right to utilize this defense or affirmative defense in his case.

Elliot S. Schlissel is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. The firm has been representing homeowners throughout the Metropolitan New York area regarding foreclosure matters for more than 45 years. He can be reached at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure, Foreclosure Defense Tagged With: bank foreclosure, foreclosure

Representing Yourself in a Foreclosure

April 18, 2019 by Elliot Schlissel

Representing Yourself

My office has been representing homeowners in foreclosure cases for more than 45 years. Often homeowners come to me and they tell me they have been representing themselves in a foreclosure. When I ask them how they are doling, they say well we were doing fine. This means the homeowner has hit a brick wall. If you need an operation would you engage in surgery on yourself? No homeowner should ever represent themselves in a foreclosure. At a minimum they will be greatly outmatched. Financial institutions have unlimited money to hire lawyers. Lawyers who engage in foreclosure practice sue hundreds of homeowners in multiple courts throughout the Metropolitan New York area. They have extensive experience in litigating foreclosure lawsuits.

The Stubborn Homeowner

In spite of what I have indicated above, our office sees quite a few homeowners who have been litigating their own cases. A large majority have done a poor job. However, occasionally I run into bright, articulate homeowners who are actually doing a good job in representing themselves in the foreclosure lawsuit. For those homeowners I ask them several questions. How to do you plan on questioning yourself if you are on the witness stand? Can you explain to me how you can establish the foundation for presenting evidence to the court? When I ask these questions the homeowners are usually dumbfounded.

Foreclosure Defense Lawyers

Most lawyers are not familiar with the process of defending foreclosure lawsuits. The defense to a foreclosure lawsuit involves specialized pleadings. The best defense to a foreclosure case would be to prove the homeowner has made the payments. However, this is almost never the case. The defenses to foreclosure lawsuits usually deal with sophisticated statutory defenses. Truth and Lending Laws violations, violations of state and federal banking laws, failure to provide proper notice, failure to serve a summons and complaint in conformity with statutory requirements, failure to act in good faith with regard to foreclosure mortgage modification conferences, failure to provide the appropriate documents at the closing and the list of legal defenses goes on and on.

Hire an Experienced Foreclosure Defense Lawyer

Only attorneys with intimate knowledge of the underwriting process of mortgage loans, the regulatory requirements financial institutions need to comply with and knowledge of the ins and outs of foreclosure cases can provide a specialized level of representation for homeowners. The banks hire experienced attorneys to bring their foreclosure actions. Homeowners should not rely on just any attorney to represent them. They should only hire experienced foreclosure defense lawyers with a track record of successfully representing homeowners.

Before hiring a foreclosure defense law firm ask them how many articles he or she has written regarding foreclosure cases. Our law office has been diligently litigating foreclosure lawsuits and helping homeowners obtain mortgage modifications for more than 45 years. We have kept hundreds of homeowners in their homes. We are available for free consultations. We pride ourselves in keeping our clients in their homes. We can be reached for a free consultation at our offices in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties at: 516-561-6645, 718-350-2802 or 631-319-8262. You can also e-mail us at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.

Filed Under: Foreclosure, Foreclosure Defense Tagged With: foreclosure

The Homeowner’s Response

Foreclosure Settlement Conference

The Discovery Phase

Motion For Summary Judgment

Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

Can I Stop A Foreclosure From Moving Forward?

Start Of The Foreclosure Process

Missing a Payment – What Should You Do?

What If You Can’t Make Your Mortgage Payments?

The Start of the Foreclosure Process In New York

Cost of Foreclosure Litigation

Conclusion

The Answer to a Foreclosure Lawsuit

Defending The Foreclosure Case

Hire an Attorney

Loan Modifications

Motion Practice

The Summary Judgment Motion

Motion for Foreclosure and Sale

Wells Fargo Acted Improperly

Wells Fargo Acknowledges Problems

The Second Foreclosure Lawsuit

The Loan was Accelerated

“Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”

Conclusion

The Stubborn Homeowner

Foreclosure Defense Lawyers

Hire an Experienced Foreclosure Defense Lawyer

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