Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Why Struggling Homeowners Get No Help
The administrative mistakes of the largest lenders is surpassed only by their arrogance.
With all the rhetoric spewed on American homeowners by banks and politicians about "continued efforts" to help struggling homeowners you would think that the now depressingly familiar stories of lenders unwilling to help would have stopped. People who deal with mortgage lenders and borrowers hoping for help know that the horror stories continue.
Big banks like J.P.Morgan Chase, Bank of America & Wells Fargo are realizing unprecedented profits.They measure their assets in trillions of dollars. Helping struggling homeowners is not a priority. They make no mistake about that. Bank of America & Wells Fargo have announced that they are cutting 30,0000 jobs. A move likely designed to appease shareholders and likely detrimental to anyone hoping that they may get help through a mortgage modification or some other "foreclosure alternative" they've applied for.
Together the George W.Bush and Obama administration spent over a trillion dollars of taxpayer money to bail out big banks and corporations with no requirement to utilize any portion of that taxpayer money to help struggling homeowners. No "quid pro quo" as it's called. No responsibility or obligation to help hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners while these same corporations continue to enjoy tremendous profits. The struggle to hold big banks accountable is somehow delegated to state and local governments. Most of these fights are insignificant. They are merely a nuisance to big banks because of their size and financial clout. NY City officials consider banking as important to them as the auto industry is to Detroit.
The Obama administrations parade of mortgage relief programs have failed miserably, largely due to the lack of any requirement by lenders to adhere to them. Any government program that has been touted by the administration as mortgage relief attaches financial incentives for banks. Like a reward for a good grade. It's like asking banks to choose between record profits or "atta boy"
What does it take for the American people to wake up? What would it take for the American public to say "no more"? I struggle everyday with these questions and I always come away with this. I know that the answers are in the American public, not the politicians, not the power mongers and not the corporate giants feeding off taxpayer money. Unless we Americans regain control of "our government" we will continue to spend days and nights struggling for answers in our own lives.
George Sinacori
GES Real Estate, LLC
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Bank Regulators Set New Foreclosure Rules
The new rules reportedly will require a single point of contact for borrowers trying to modify loans or in the foreclosure process. Regulators will also require that "appropriate deadlines" be set for banks to give a decision on wether or not a modification or other foreclosure alternative workout can be arranged. Banks will also be required to ensure that staffing is adequate enough to handle the flood of foreclosures and loan modifications in their systems.
Some banks are already taking steps to implement changes and meet the new requirements before the June deadline. For example, J.P.Morgan Chase has announced that it is developing new software programs that will make it easier for borrowers to track loan modification requests. They also claim to now provide each borrower with a "relationship manager"to help them through the loan modification or foreclosure maze.
Citigroup says that they will provide a "concierge" service that will help guide deinquent borrowers at risk of default. Banks and mortgage servicers will also be required to meet new guidelines from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that strive for more loan modifications and stronger efforts to keep homeowners in their homes. Servicers will be required to approach borrowers early and frequently after just one missed payment. Fannie and Freddie will reward the servicers for completed modifications and penalize them for failing to meet timelines in the process.
These changes are presently scheduled to go into effect during the 2nd quarter of this year.
George Sinacori
GES Real Estate LLC
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
U.S. Home Prices Continue Falling
The overall economy is directly affected by the housing crises. Many jobs are eliminated, retail sales are slower and confidence in the economy is lower than it needs to be in order to sustain any economic recovery. As I've indicated in several previous blogs, an economic recovery may not be possible without a housing recovery. The ripple effect as housing prices continue in a free fall provides no positive influence in the lives of so many people dependant on a healthy real estate market.
Political posturing has resulted in a parade of failed programs at taxpayers expense. The administration promised many things but delivered on virtually none. The creation of Home Assistance Modification Program or HAMP promised to save millions of Americans from foreclosure. "It will give millions of families resigned to financial ruin a chance to rebuild" President Obama said "it will shore up housing prices". Congress set aside $50 billion for foreclosure prevention and the administration projected that 3 to 4 million homeowners would benefit from loan modifications. To date only a small fraction of those numbers have been realized.
By catering to lenders unwilling to provide any necessary mortgage financing to qualified borrowers the government has shown that it's allegiances are most certainly to the biggest contributors to political war chests and not to so called "main street" Americans. Companies servicing mortgage loans are mostly large banks who regularly lose paperwork and quite possibly advise homeowners to do things that may not be in the best interest of the homeowner. Banks deny many who actually qualify for modifications. In some cases lenders may approve a modification only to proceed with a foreclosure filing, misleading the homeowner. These types of tactics are designed to keep the homeowner paying something while the lender pursues the foreclosure action.
Government official haven't gone after, fined or otherwise cracked down on lenders for not complying with programs that they benefit from. Unwilling to flex it's muscle against the deep pockets in the banking industry none of the promises or projections have materialized.
In order to understand the relationships between government and banks we can take a look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Two Government Sponsored Entities that together hold most of the financial risk involved with mortgage defaults, were appointed by the Treasury to oversee the banks and the foreclosure prevention programs that the administration rushed into place. Obviously not my idea of an independent overseer. In fact Freddie Mac filed documents stating that imposing penalties may "negatively impact our relationships" noting that some of these are our largest source of revenue in mortgage loans. Well, that may say it in a nutshell. Housing and the economy will struggle until we fix what's wrong with the system. That may require putting people in place who truly have nothing monetary to gain.
Bad Credit? No Credit? Get a Prepaid Visa RushCard
Monday, February 7, 2011
Foreclosure: Know Your Options
In a short sale the homeowner and mortgage servicer agree to allow the property to be listed and sold for an amount less than what's owed. HAFA is designed to streamline the process and make it easier for a homeowner to work with the loan servicer. A homeowner accomplishing a successful short sale may receive up to $3000 toward relocation expenses. Additionally, mortgage servicers and investors are offered incentives although it should be noted that there is no requirement for them to participate in the program and that ultimately they adhere to their own guidelines.
Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is another option that homeowners may have. If a homeowner makes a "good faith effort" to sell the property but is not successful a deed-in-lieu may be considered. The homeowner voluntarily surrenders the property and transfers ownership to the lender. Requirements are that the title is clear and there aren't any other mortgages or liens against the property.
In order to participate in the HAFA program servicers are required to evaluate for a loan modification before considering other options. If it's determined that a modification is appropriate the homeowner is entered into a trial modification program.
For more information on Knowing Your Options or for a free brochure call me 561-306-6736 or email ges.rellc@ymail.com
George Sinacori
GES Real Estate LLC
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
States sue BofAm over Loan Modification failures
Hundreds of homeowners kept making their mortgage payments because Bank of America repeatedly assured them that their loans were being modified. Instead, many lost their homes anyway. According to Goddard, "They were deceived into continuing to make mortgage payments when they had no hope of saving their homes.”
Nevada and Arizona are among the states hardest hit by homeowners who have defaulted on mortgages in the last few years as adjustable payments soared, people lost their jobs, and home values collapsed. One out of every 99 households received a foreclosure notice last month in Nevada, according to RealtyTrac Inc., and Arizona’s rate wasn’t far behind.
The Arizona attorney general’s office was deluged with consumer complaints and launched an investigation more than a year ago. The Arizona lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, alleges that the bank has repeatedly violated the consent agreement that was expected to lead to loan modifications for thousands alleging that Bank of America failed to make timely decisions on modifications and went ahead with foreclosures. The lawsuit asks for contempt citations against the bank for violating the consent agreement with the state. It also seeks restitution for consumers, civil penalties, legal fees, plus $25,000 for each consent agreement violation and up to $10,000 for each violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act.
Nevada’s complaint accuses the bank of operating its loan modification program in violation of the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act. It seeks civil penalties and restitution along with other fees.
For more info on foreclosures, loan mods, short sales, buying or selling real estate in todays complex evolving housing market contact me directly at 561-306-6736 or email : ges.rellc@ymail.com
http://ges-realty.com
George E. Sinacori
GES Real Estate, LLC
Friday, April 16, 2010
Short Sale or Foreclosure Seem To Be The Only Choice
Modifications now look like nothing more than a band aid, temporarily stopping the bleeding for a few. Eventually just about everyone who owns a home will either need to sell or will decide that it's beneficial to just walk. People are beginning to ask "is it worth sacrificing health and well being" in order to avoid losing a house. As the housing market continues to struggle, more and more are deciding that it's time to move on. After all if the market isn't going to recover any time soon it may be time for folks to begin considering their own personal recovery.
With foreclosures again on the rise many are attempting to move a property through a short sale whereby a seller will sell for less than what is owed on the mortgage. A tedious and complicated process because the first mortgage lender will decide how much they'll accept after all outstanding debts against the property are considered, including any HELOC or 2nd mortgage. A short sale requires that the property be listed with a Realtor and required documents must be submitted to the lender.
Foreclosure filings in March totaled 367,056, jumping nearly 19 percent from February and up almost 8 percent from March 2009, according to RealtyTrac.
It was the highest monthly total since January 2005, when RealtyTrac began issuing its reports.
Lenders repossessed nearly 260,000 properties in the first quarter – a record for any quarter, and a 35 percent increase from a year earlier, RealtyTrac said.
More than a year after the Obama administration launched its foreclosure prevention program, only 230,000 homeowners have gotten permanent modifications with lower monthly mortgage payments, (according to a report Wednesday by the Treasury Department) while more than 1.4 million homeowners received offers for trial modifications, which typically last for three months. A band aid.
The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is lagging well behind the pace of the crisis, and most homeowners in financial trouble will never receive help, according to a report this week by a congressional oversight panel.
For every borrower who avoided foreclosure through the federal program last year, another 10 families lost their homes, that report said.
For more info or for a complimentary consult please call or email me at 561-306-6736 or rebuygeorge@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Lenders Fail to Modify Homeowner Loans
According to Bankrate.com just 2000 homeowners have received loan modifications beyond the typical 3 month trial period nationally in the 7 months since the administration issued it's guidelines to lenders in order to help homeowners avoid or avert foreclosure. That equates to approximately 4 successful modifications per month per state. Lenders will typically stall short sale efforts simply because they can't see beyond dollars and cents. If the Bankrate.com information is correct they have danced around and away from folks asking for modification assistance and the Fed isn't concerned.
The Obama administration's claims of 500,000 homeowners being helped may be little more than political grandstanding again at the expense of homeowners who have been brought to their knees financially leaving many without any other recourse but to eventually walk away and try starting over somehow.
If you need help or have question regarding todays real estate and mortgage markets in SE Florida please call me directly 561-306-6736 or email your questions to rebuygeorge@yahoo.com Find more information about the SE Florida Real Estate market at GES-Realty.com
Monday, June 1, 2009
Foreclosure Trends in Southeast Florida

The pie chart above indicates current foreclosure trends in Palm Beach county. Of almost 15,000 homes county wide in the foreclosure process 89% are in the preforeclosure stage. That of course does not mean that they will all be foreclosed or that they are all currently for sale. What it does mean is that there are still a lot of homes that need to be sold at current market prices.

Saturday, February 14, 2009
Stimulus - American Recovery??

First let me say that they haven't even begun to figure anything out. I have lots of issues with the handling of the Economic Tsunami fiasco being called the "American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009"
Providing banks with billions of dollars in (taxpayers) bailout money with no requirement as to how that money could be used should never have happened. But it did. Not addressing the core or root of the problem, which is housing is still another short sighted, arrogant, ignorant message that our fearless politicos unashamedly send. The message is simple, when it comes to housing banks are more important than individual homeowners.
I tend to look at economic problems in business as if they were a barrel of water with a hole in the bottom. Unless you plug the hole you'll never refill the barrel. In order to plug the hole we need to address housing which requires addressing property values as they relate to mortgages. Unless lenders agree to modify each and every mortgage to current market value the barrel bottom will remain unplugged. Marking down mortgages to market value could quickly stabilize housing. People could confidently sell a property at market without "permission" to reduce the amount owed from a bank allowing sellers to sell with their heads above water. Banks and lenders could concentrate on loaning money to borrowers rather than foreclosing on properties. Many buyers who have gone back to the sidelines after a horrific experience with a short sale attempt would come back into the market and begin buying again. This time directly from sellers. Buyers and sellers today are not market makers. In what there is of a housing market banks and lenders are today's market makers. In order for any free market to thrive and survive it must be comprised of buyers and sellers. When you take them out of the equation (one or the other) there is no market. Stabilizing mortgage values in housing will stimulate spending even further. Any homeowner having or anticipating problems going forward would feel much more confident spending if they weren't so preoccupied with the unknowns. Sellers of homes would again become buyers and stimulate new construction. Buyers of homes buy furniture, TV's, appliances, equipment. Corporations hire when consumers spend, consumers spend when they are confident in the future, housing has always been the key and from my perspective it remains the key. Plug the hole in the barrel before you throw more water into it or it will just drain out of the barrel as it has since the first stimulus attempt in 2008 under the previous administration. And the subsequent $700 billion failed corporate bailout last year. You can't fill a leaky barrel. Fix housing, reset mortgages to today's market value and we can restore the economy.
One of the items in the "new" Stimulus revisits a failed attempt from the previous plan. Last years legislation approved a First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit up to $7500 with certain restrictions. This shortsighted piece of legislative work required that the credit be paid back to the government, albeit interest free, over a prorated period to the IRS and in full if you sold before it was fully paid back.
"Hooray" they got it right this time but my goodness why do they have to fail before the light goes on. Is this going to help? The last measure was an absolute failure and this one is doomed as well until the correlation between home values and outstanding mortgages are seriously attacked.
- In 2009 you are eligible to receive a tax credit up to $400 per individual and up to $800 per married couple based on 6.2% of your earned income. This fades once incomes of $75K for individuals or $150K for couples are reached. You are eligible whether or not you have a Federal tax liability. This according to a summary of the stimulus bill that the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees released.
- If you're fortunate enough to be able to buy a "new" car this year the taxes both State and Federal are deductible. Stipulations are on income limitations.
- Unemployment benefits are not taxed up to the first $2400 of benefits you receive.
- Health Insurance. If you get fired, your company is required to allow you to pay to keep your health insurance, generally for up to 18 months. Now, the federal government will subsidize 65 percent of the premium for up to nine months. You need to have been forced out of your job between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. There are also income limitations in the year you receive the subsidy.
I've attempted to list some of the items that you and I may directly benefit from as the hundreds of billion of dollars are dispersed in yet another attempt by a clueless Congress, Senate & Administration to "get our economy back on track."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Todays Mortgage Rates

Current mortgage rates are much more attractive than I can ever recall. A qualified borrower may now be able to obtain a 30 year fixed rate mortgage for less than 5%. Todays rate is an incredible 4.87%. It's amazing.
Anyone with any type of adjustable rate mortgage taken years back should be taking a hard look into reducing or solidifying that mortgage payment for the long term. Considering that many of us will now be forced to remain in our current homes for many years to come a low fixed rate mortgage makes sense. Selling a home today is difficult. Market prices are below what most are willing or even able to accept. Homes selling are either foreclosed properties being discounted by lenders or short sale properties with a lenders agreement to accept less than what they are owed on the current mortgage. These sales make todays market and consequently todays market price. Buyers willing to take advantage of todays rates and prices are looking to foreclosed homes first. Unless a private seller is able to compete with these market prices thier home understandably will not sell.
Alternatively a homeowner may consider a loan modification. Many lenders today are willing to reduce the interest and monthly payments on mortgages that they currently hold in order to keep a good borrower in that home. A loan modification makes sense if your mortgage is higher than the market price of your home. In other words, as a result of the decline in home values and your lenders overzealous lending practices in the past, you are upside down in your home mortgage. Loan modification and refinance require similar documentation although they are completely different. For example with a refinance you can shop for a new rate, term and lender. A loan modification must be negotiated and provided by your current lender. In a modification the lender decides what to offer you, if anything and you than have some time to decide if you'll accept the newly presented terms. If you choose to accept, a new payment plan will begin on a predetermined date. Rarely will a lender reduce the principal amount owed on a loan. More likely the rate is lowered below current fixed rates for a period of 3 or 5 years reducing the monthly payment accordingly.
Refinancing until the market mends may be the best next step. A new fixed rate loan at todays historically low rates may reduce your present or future monthly payments considerably. The monthly savings on a $100,000 mortgage at 7% refinanced to 5% is approximately $125 monthly. On a $200,000 mortgage the savings is $257 monthly. That's more than $3000. a year. If you were to invest that same $3000 recieving a nominal 3% annual return will give you approximately $16,400 after 5 years. That makes sense. Lowering monthly payments in order to save money in a very tough economy is not just good, it's a giant step in the right direction.
Call me directly with any questions you have on refinancing, buying or selling a home, loan modification, or current mortgage rates and terms. I'll be glad to help. 561-306-6736.
Friday, December 19, 2008
How Mortgage Relief Options Work
Forbearance -Temporarily suspends all or a portion of your monthly payment, followed by a formal plan using another option listed here to return your account to a current status. Your hardship is expected to be short term in nature, or you know that you will be able to pay a particular amount on a specific future date and continue with your payments from that point forward.
Repayment Plan - Adds a portion of past due amounts to your regular monthly payment until your account is current. Your hardship is expected to be short term in nature, and may even be over, and you have the ability to make an increased payment for a short period of time.
Partial Claim - Returns your account to a current status using funds from your mortgage insurer or guarantor. Your mortgage is insured and your hardship is short term. Subject to mortgage insurer or guarantor approval.
Modification - Makes your payment more affordable by permanently changing one or more of the terms of your original note and mortgage. Delinquent amounts can sometimes be added back into the loan balance. You can afford a reasonable payment that is less than your current payment and/or you don't have enough cash to bring your loan current.
Assumption - Transfers title to a credit-qualified buyer, even if your loan is non-assumable. You can not make any payment but want to avoid foreclosure.
Short Sale - Allows you to sell your home for its current value, even if it is worth less than what you owe when you can not make the payments but want to avoid foreclosure.
Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure - Transfers title to the property back to lender to satisfy the amount you owe. You can not make the payment but want to avoid foreclosure and you have had your home listed for sale for at least 90 days. This option is reserved for the most extreme situations and is subject to investor approval.
For more information or help with these options please call me directly at 561-306-6736 or send an email to rebuygeorge@yahoo.com .
Friday, November 21, 2008
Loan Modification & Credit Solutions

Is your property worth less than your mortgage?
Are you having difficulties keeping up with your mortgage payments? Are you carrying high credit card and other unsecured debt? Has your credit score been hurt as a result? Many of us today can answer yes to at least one of these questions and some are facing all of these problems with little or no help.
What if you could lower your mortgage payment to an affordable level? Would you take advantage of an opportunity to reduce the prinipal on your loan or to lower the interest rate?
If you could improve your credit score to a credit rating that you would find acceptable and beneficial would you?
If you could renegotiate most of your credit cards and debt would you?
The answer to these questions is obvious. Of course you would, we all would and with todays credit solutions now we can. As part of our committment to providing "Simply Better" client services GES Real Estate is offering the following additional services:
- Loan Modifications (reduce your payments and keep your home)
- Short Loan Refinance (refinance to a lower affordable mortgage)
- Short Sale Mitigation (sell your property for less than you owe)
- Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure (avoid foreclosure and further obligations)
- FICO Enhancement (quickly and effectively improve your credit score)
- Debt Settlement (free up cash and reduce your credit card debt 50% or more)
GES Real Estate together with a network of attorneys and credit specialists with many years of experience in the credit markets is able to offer any or all of these services designed to help clients emerge from very difficult times with a much stronger more positive financial position while enjoying immediate relief from the financial pressures and uncertainties they now face.
We have all the tools necessary to help in these very trying times. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions regarding Loan Modification:
- You do not have to be late to negotiate a modification or short sale
- Option ARM and negative amortization loans are negotiable
- Non owner occupied homes are negotiable as are duplex etc.
- Rates can be negotiated lower than normal or par
- Terms can be extended beyond 30 years
A loan modification can consist of any or all of the following;
A. Rate lock (i.e. 3 yr fixed, 5 yr fixed, 30 yr fixed)
B. Rate reduction (ie.7.25% to 5.5%, 5.95% to 3.25%, 11. % to 6.5%)
C. term extension (ie.15yr term to 30yr term, 30yr term to 40yr term)
D. Principal Reduction
If you or anyone you know need to lower your mortgage payments to an amount that you can realistically afford, improve your credit score or settle your unsecured debt please call 561-306-6736 or 877-566-2430 or email me at rebuygeorge@yahoo.com for a private consultation.