Wells Fargo in court over reverse mortgages

Bloomberg news reports, "Wells Fargo Sued Over Reverse Mortgage Policies by Borrowers"

“Wells Fargo & Co. was accused in a group lawsuit of ignoring federal rules on reverse mortgages and forcing homes into foreclosure instead of giving heirs a chance to buy them.

“Estates and surviving spouses have the right to purchase properties at 95 percent of appraised value after the death of a borrower who took out a federally insured reverse mortgage, lawyers for a California man said in the complaint filed Aug. 3 in federal court in San Francisco.

“Wells Fargo hasn't been notifying heirs of this right and has been starting foreclosures if demands aren't met for repayment of the full mortgage balance, according to the complaint filed by the son of a California homeowner. The plaintiff, Robert Chandler, also sued the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae.”

Wells Fargo alleges that it complied with HUD guidelines; guidelines that only came into effect in April 2011.

Read the full story.

For your next title order or if you have questions about what you see here, contact
Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.,

Vested Title Inc.
165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 201-656-4506
E-mail vti@vested.com - www.vested.com

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Meanwhile, talking about title insurance

The New York Times’ Mary Ann Haggerty writing writes “Paying for Title Insurance” in the Sunday real estate section.

She begins,

THERE’S not much you can do about title insurance.”

“If you take out a mortgage to buy a home, you have to buy this specialized form of insurance. If you refinance a mortgage, you have to rebuy it. And comparison shopping may not save you much money, as premium rates throughout the New York area are regulated.”

And that’s true. What you are doing when you select a title agent is one thing, seeking the best service.

What is service? In our book, service is thoroughness in the examination
of title, communication with the client, professionalism in the resolution of
title issues (and they do exist,) and promptness in getting you to the closing
table.

We look forward to serving you in the future.

Read the full article.

For your next title order or
if you have questions about what you see here, contact
Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.
Vested Title Inc.
165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 973-227-0645
E-mail vti@vested.com - www.vested.com

title insurance agent essex county refinance

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Wells Fargo settles mortgage-abuse case for $85M

The AP reports,

“Wells Fargo & Co. has agreed to pay $85 million to settle civil charges that it falsified loan documents and pushed borrowers toward subprime mortgages with higher interest rates during the housing boom.

“The fine is the largest ever imposed by the Federal Reserve in a consumer-enforcement case, the central bank said Wednesday.

“Wells Fargo, the nation's largest mortgage lender, neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The bank agreed to compensate borrowers who were steered into higher-priced loans or whose income was exaggerated.”

Wells Fargo was accused of inflating borrowers' incomes on loan applications from 2004 until 2008. Sales reps also pushed borrowers towards subprime loans, even if they were eligible for lower rate mortgages.

“Between 3,700 and roughly 10,000 people could be compensated under the
settlement, the Fed said. The payments will likely range from $1,000 to
$20,000.”

Read the full report.

For your next title order or

if you have questions about what you see here, contact

Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.

Vested Title Inc.

165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 201-656-4506

E-mail vti@vested.com - http://www.vested.com/

Stephen Flatow Wells Fargo mortgages fraud subprime

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For some borrowers, adjustable rate mortgages are the key

The New York Times’ Maryann Haggerty writes about The Appeal of Adjustable Rates

“THE 30-year fixed-rate loan has earned its reputation as the sensible, conservative move in the aftermath of the financial crisis, especially with near-low interest rates. But despite risks, some borrowers still are getting or keeping adjustable-rate loans, which have even lower rates.”

“Adjustable rate mortgages generally attract borrowers when rates are high. The rate is set for a specific time — generally one, five or seven years — and then it adjusts to prevailing rates within boundaries. That means payments can go up. Payment shock has caused plenty of problems over the years. [From the Ed – shows us the cases.] Rates can also go down, as borrowers who took out ARMs five to seven years ago are finding now. But it’s tough to imagine how rates could get much lower than now, short of Japan-style negative rates.”

 According to Sari Rosenberg of Manhattan Mortgage Company whom we’ve worked with, “If a person is debt-averse and has a history of paying off his or her mortgage within 5 to 10 years, then he or she would definitely consider an ARM.”

Who else would benefit?  According to Ms. Rosenberg, “I have another client who knows he is selling his home within the next few years and even with the closing costs he will be saving money,” so he took out a three-year ARM.

“Keith Gumbinger, a vice president of HSH Associates, a financial publisher in Pompton Plains, N.J., said, “ARMs are good for borrowers with short-term time frames, usually seven years or less.”

“Conversely, ARMs aren’t wise for borrowers who plan to stay put, Mr. Gumbinger said, or those who would have trouble managing rising payments. That includes people who expect cash-flow strains, such as those starting a family.”

Is an ARM right for you?  A savvy mortgage counselor can help.  Read the full story.

For your next title order or

if you have questions about what you see here, contact

Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.

Vested Title Inc.

165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 201-656-4506

E-mail vti@vested.com - www.vested.com

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Foreclosed? How long before the new mortgage?

The New York Times writes about “The Post-Foreclosure Wait.” The good news is that, “mortgage troubles won’t necessarily shut you out of the housing market forever.”

As the economy and real estate market continue to struggle, millions of Americans have lost their homes through foreclosure, short sale (when a property is sold for less than is owed) or a deed in lieu of foreclosure (when the bank takes ownership without foreclosure).

Even if you think you never want to own a home again, clean credit is important. Bad credit can make it more expensive to rent. In some fields, especially financial services, it can make it difficult to find or keep a job.

What affects recovery speed?

In a short sale where the balance is forgiven and no deficiency is recorded in public records, recovery can be quick.

A foreclosure or bankruptcy can weigh you down for years.

As long as 7 years.

But if someone has gone through foreclosure and still has a mountain of debt and not enough income, bankruptcy is worth considering, said Tracy Becker, the founder of North Shore Advisory, a credit-restoration company based in Tarrytown, N.Y. Sure, it will be another hard blow to your credit rating — but your credit most likely is already “wrecked,” at least for now, she said.

OK, so you have pushed the plunger,

And what about a future mortgage? Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration set guidelines for how long a borrower must wait after a “significant derogatory event.”

There are plenty of asterisks and conditions. But to generalize, the wait is longest after a foreclosure. Extenuating circumstances like a job loss, illness or divorce reduce the wait.

With such circumstances, Fannie and Freddie specify a two-year wait after a short sale, deed in lieu, or discharge or dismissal of bankruptcy, and three years after foreclosure. Without extenuating circumstances, waits can extend to four years after bankruptcy and seven years after foreclosure.

Read the full report.

For your next title order or

if you have questions about what you see here, contact

Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.

Vested Title Inc.

165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 201-656-4506

E-mail vti@vested.com - www.vested.com

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