What should you do if you are being harassed for a debt that you did not sign for? Here are some ideas:
Now that the real property market is at it’s high, we are seeing many more second mortgages seemingly coming out of the woodwork. Despite years of inactivity, including no communications with a borrower, second mortgages are now threatening foreclosure if payments aren’t resumed to them. What can you do if you hear from a second mortgage which you thought was charged off, included in a government settlement back during the foreclosure/financial crisis, discharged in bankruptcy or maybe included in a prior loan mod?
Besides filing a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint, which we recommend, there are a number of defenses that we utilize to prevent a foreclosure. The first involves raising federal statutory protections which require notice to the borrower of transfer of ownership, transfer of servicing and periodic statements. Failure to comply with any of those requirements under the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), and the Real Estate Settlement Procedure Act (“RESPA”) can create statutory and actual damages.
Bankruptcy may present options to either pay off the second mortgage under terms you can afford, or even strip it off the property in the right circumstances. You can challenge the amounts owed by objecting to any proofs of claim filed in a bankruptcy. You can also surrender the house and discharge any remaining debt.
I saw today that WeWork filed bankruptcy and is terminating many of its leases. If you or anyone you know is in need of a new “home” we have new and professional office shares in South Tampa for attorneys or other professionals. Our space is a little different from most in that all of our offices have doors, and we understand what legal professionals need. For instance, there is someone at the office to greet clients – and we are owner occupied.
More photos and information is available on our website www.southtampaworkspaces.com. You can also email us at info@southtampaworkspaces.com.
Consolidation before December 31, 2023 will help some borrowers maximize benefits under the Account Adjustment. After the account adjustment, the qualifying PSLF payments made on loans later consolidated will be credited to the consolidation loan based on a weighted average of the qualifying payments on the underlying loans. This will also help you to have one start/end date for PSLF forgiveness.
Those with Perkins loans or FFEL loans should definitely consider December 31, 2023 their deadline to consolidate their loans to Direct in order for prior payments to now count toward PSLF as well as future payments. Remember, you can consolidate even one loan. Think of this as a kind of refi – to a different type of loan. Stay within the federal system – this is where all the forgiveness is occuring.
Please see our video on Double Consolidation if you have Parent Plus loans — this loophole may allow you to get into SAVE for a payment that is often MUCH LESS than the Income Contingent Plan (“ICR”). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KX74O4OJ8s
Have student loans that are entering repayment? On hold with your servicer? For hours? Not quite sure what’s going on?
Your servicer is your debt collector — are you certain that whatever they are going to tell you, assuming you get through, is your best option to reduce or eliminate student loan debt? Try this test: call 3-4 times, see how many different answers you get…
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Lots of misinformation out there regarding student loans. If you are receiving a bill, it’s important to speak with an expert or advocate who is on your side — discuss your options, make a plan. You might save many thousands of dollars by doing this!
There are some important deadlines also for the IDR audit/recount, and Parent Plus loans in particular. You may want to consider opting out of the IDR audit if you have a long loan history with gaps between loans — you can combine them and get more credit through a consolidation, then opt back in. But consider a double consolidation if you have Parent Plus loans. If all of this makes no sense to you, then see us, or someone like us!
Channel 13 10/17/23 Following a three-year pause, student loan payments have resumed for thousands of Americans.
The new means test numbers came out:
It hasn’t changed much for Florida except – down 3k for family of 3 though. Very odd, but whatever.
New as of Nov 1: https://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/20231101/bci_data/median_income_table.htm.
In our efforts to help our former clients or new clients move ahead with their life, we offer tips to improve credit or benefit from new programs (with particular emphasis on those with prior financial burdens).
Today, I’d like to summarize some programs that may help to purchase a home even one day after a bankruptcy, short sale or foreclosure. We can also help you secure a knowledgeable Realtor to help in these areas.
The regular FHA HAMP loss mitigation programs will remain in suspension until October 30, 2024 – next year! All foreclosure sales are to be suspended until the same date. Same with Deed in Lieu negotiations.
So what does that mean?
All borrowers who are already in default or at risk of imminent default are supposed to be evaluated under the expanded guidelines of the Covid 19 Recovery Option program. These provisions could be terminated early by Congressional action, executive or agency rules.
I ran across this statistic and wanted to share with you about the DOJ attestation process to discharge federal student loans. A great many are still pending.
Reboot Your Life: Tampa Student Loan and Bankruptcy Attorney Blog