Ken Lampton's Blog

Who wants to have his mortgage foreclosed? Nobody that I know!

To be sure, foreclosures in Dallas have not reached the colossal proportions we see in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. But even one preventable foreclosure is one too many. So arm yourself with information at a workshop on Friday.

The City of Dallas, Fannie Mae, and North Texas Housing Coalition are sponsoring a foreclosure prevention workshop on Friday, April 24, 2009, from 2 PM until 8 PM.

The workshop is being held in downtown Dallas in Ballroom A at Dallas Convention Center, 650 South Griffin Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

For more information call North Texas Housing Coalition at 214-946-3500, ext. 10.

You should attend if:
1) you are behind on your mortgage payments.
2) you want to learn more about home retention programs, and
3) you would like to speak with HUD-certified counselors.


The North Texas Housing Coalition is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization made up of over 300 organizations and individuals united by the desire to improve and increase affordable, working class housing in North Texas. Click here to link to their website.

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Ken Lampton, CRS
RE/MAX About Dallas
www.m-street-dallas.com

You know how it is. There is always a criminal element who will find a way to exploit the latest government programs in order to make a quick buck. Now that so many people are concerned about the possibility that their mortgage might be foreclosed, the crooks have set up elaborate con schemes to separate people from their money. Sadly, if you are about to be foreclosed and you fall for one of these schemes, you will lose your house.

There are criminals out there who are contacting people (whose homes are listed on foreclosure lists), claiming to be employees working for the new Making Home Affordable program. They are stealing people's identities and they are soliciting advance payments for services they promise to deliver later. In some cases they are persuading people to sign over the deeds on their homes!

Here's a message from the Making Home Affordable website:

1) There is never a fee to get assistance or information about Making Home Affordable from your lender or a HUD-approved housing counselor.
2) Beware of any person or organization that asks you to pay a fee in exchange for housing counseling services or modification of a delinquent loan. Do not pay – walk away!
3) Beware of anyone who says they can “save” your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house. Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt.
4) Never submit your mortgage payments to anyone other than your mortgage company without their approval.

The United States Department of Justice and other federal agencies have partnered with state authorities to track down the criminals who prey upon consumers seeking assistance. Click here to read more about these efforts.

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Ken Lampton, CRS
RE/MAX About Dallas
www.m-street-dallas.com