Recently, one of my clients advised that she was contacted by someone claiming to be a bank servicing representative with the mortgage company servicing her loan and further claimed that the bank was offering a modification and requested that my client immediately tender the new mortgage payment. My client was excited to hear this especially since the "new mortgage payment" was less than what she was previously paying. Unfortunately for my client, her excitement got the best of her and after she sent in the check which was quickly cashed, she realized that she had been taken advantaged of since the "servicing representative" had disappeared as quickly as she cashed my client's check. There are other types of scams to be on the outlook for, such as, an offer made by an alleged bank representative who states that the bank is going to "write off" the loan if you send in one lump sum payment. It is very tempting to think that the bank will write off the loan for pennies on the dollar, and in rare situations banks have been known to do this, but it is unlikely and before you rush to send out a check to make your mortgage obligation go away, think again and make sure you investigate to see if it's the real deal. Don't be fooled by any scam. This is another reason to entrust your foreclosure matter in the hands of an experienced foreclosure attorney who can minimize this kind of risk while at the same time fighting the foreclosure action.
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In New York, a mortgage is a contract between the bank, as mortgagee and the homeowner/borrower, as mortgagor. The promissory note is also a contract as well as a personal guarantee by the person receiving the funds, the borrower/obligor. The mortgage is an agreement whereby the obligor permits the real property to be used as security for the repayment of the promissory note. If there is a default under the terms of the note and or mortgage, say for example nonpayment, then the bank can elect to sue on the note or instead, elect to foreclose on the real property securing the note. This is called an "election of remedies". Thus, the bank, as mortgagee, could elect to commence a mortgage foreclosure action, or commence an action on the promissory note. The bank can only choose one of the two remedies; therefore, if the bank commences a foreclosure action, it cannot later commence an action on the note and vice versa.
In New York, the promissory note and mortgage are contracts and the six-year statute of limitations is applicable. There is much confusion as to how the six-year statute of limitations applies in mortgage foreclosure cases. In order to know how to apply the statute, we need to know if the loan was accelerated or not. Acceleration occurs when the bank declares the entire loan balance immediately due and payable. Once the loan is accelerated, the bank has six years to sue and failure to commence an action within the six year time period may result in a bar to recovery. If, however, during the six year period the borrower or his/her spouse filed for bankruptcy, the statute of limitations would be tolled, meaning stayed during the bankruptcy along with an additional time period tacked on in favor of the bank. Additionally, if the borrower filed for mortgage assistance during the six year period, the bank may assert that the borrower reaffirmed the debt and that the six year statute of limitations should run from the date of reaffirmation, i.e., the date the mortgage assistance application was made. If, however, the bank did not accelerate the loan but has merely demanded that the borrower pay the loan arrears (missed payments and/or escrow charges, late fees, etc.), then each month that goes by is deemed a continuous loan default. Under this scenario, if the bank waited longer than six years from the date of the first default to commence its foreclosure, the bank would still be able to foreclose since in this situation the six-year statute of limitations applies only to missed payments that accrued more than six years. Since the loan balance was never accelerated, the bank can still foreclose and demand payment for the unpaid principal balance and all charges that accrued less than six years prior to filing the action. It is therefore likely that banks will decide not to accelerate their loan balances until they commence suit. If the bank does commence suit more than six years after the first missed payment, it only forfeits missed mortgage payments and charges that accrued more than six years. As discussed above, if the bank declared the entire loan due and payable (acceleration) then the bank MUST commence suit within the six years, unless of course the statute was tolled by a bankruptcy filing. Additionally, if an action is timely commenced, but later dismissed before trial and at time of dismissal, the statute of limitations has expired or has less than six-months remaining then the aggrieved party, the bank, would be permitted an extension of six months from the date of dismissal to re-file the same action and serve process on the homeowner. Thus, just because the action was dismissed prior to a trial and at a time when the statute of limitations had expired does not necessarily bar the bank from commencing a new action. However, there are exceptions to this rule: the dismissal was on the merits or dismissal was due to the voluntary discontinuance by the bank, or the dismissal was based on the bank's failure to prosecute. See CPLR Section 205 (a). The attached link below will upload this section: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/CVP/2/205 So, let’s assume the bank accelerated the loan three years prior to commencing foreclosure and the action has been inactive in court for another three years. If the borrower's attorney is able to have the action dismissed on the merits of the case then the bank may be barred from commencing a new foreclosure since the six year statute of limitations would apply. "On the merits" generally refers to substantive issues as opposed to procedural issues. For example, if an action is dismissed because the court determined that the homeowner was not properly served, this would not be deemed a trial on the merits of the case, and the bank would be permitted to recommence the same action within six months from the date of dismissal so long as it served process on the homeowner within that time period. If, however, the action was dismissed due to lack of standing then this would be on the merits, and the bank may be prohibited from refiling a new action so long as the borrower raises the statute of limitations defense in the answer. Additionally, if the mortgage maturity date has passed, then the bank has six years from the maturity date to sue. This is not something we see often since most mortgages have a maturity date greater than 15 yrs, but it is something to consider. Ultimately, the issues involving the statute of limitations in mortgage foreclosure actions are very complex and should only be handled by an experienced attorney. Many times, either before or during the foreclosure process, the homeowner's insurance policy lapses, and the bank usually sends notification that unless the policy is renewed or replaced, it will purchase forced placement insurance to protect the bank's interest in the property. More often than not, such notices are ignored and the bank buys such insurance which is usually much more than the cost of the homeowner's original policy. In addition to the significantly higher cost in the premium, the cost is passed to the homeowner. Additionally, this forced placement insurance may not protect the homeowner from personal liability. For instance, if an injury were to occur on the mortgaged property then the forced placement policy may not insure the homeowner against a potential lawsuit. Furthermore, if there is any damage to the mortgaged property, the homeowner also may not be entitled to anything since the s/he may not be deemed an insured under the policy. Homeowners should seriously consider keeping the insurance current otherwise they may have big problems down the road. Homeowners in foreclosure should review their insurance policies and make sure they are covered. Recently, there have been some class actions against banks for purchasing forced placement insurance that did not insure the homeowners. Some of these class actions have resulted in large settlements and many affected homeowners have received notifications to join in the class action; however, these homeowners should seriously consider speaking with an experienced attorney before deciding to join the class. Joining the class in return for a small monetary award could backfire. This recommendation applies to any class action involving a bank. Speak to an experienced attorney before making any decision.
Reverse mortgages are a great way for seniors to use the equity in their primary residence to receive monthly payments to help pay for living expenses. Reverse mortgages are generally associated with the FHA's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Mortgage companies must comply not only with state procedural and substantive laws, but must also comply with FHA and HUD rules and regulations since reverse mortgages are insured through FHA and/or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The mortgage company will likely find out that your dad, the mortgagor, has passed and his passing will entitle the mortgage company to demand that the entire outstanding balance be satisfied. The first thing they will do is determine if an estate proceeding has been commenced and if so, they will serve the representative of the estate with a default notice. If no estate proceeding has been commenced, then the mortgage company will likely seek to file a petition for administration and the court will appoint an administrator. Once the administrator or estate representative is served with the default notice, the estate will have the right to have the mortgage company undertake to have an appraisal done (must be a HUD certified appraiser). If the appraisal shows the value of the property less than the amount owed on the mortgage then the estate is entitled to pay the amount owed the bank or 95% of the appraised value, whichever is less. Generally, if the default is not cured within 30 days, then the mortgage company can move to commence foreclosure proceedings. However, if your dad was married and living with his wife at the house, then his wife may be entitled to stay in the house, but in order for this to occur, certain conditions must be met. There are many other nuances that are too long to discuss, and I recommend that you speak with an experienced foreclosure lawyer who is also familiar with the HUD regulations and contract provisions pertaining to reverse mortgages.
An interesting case has come down where a New York State Supreme Court Judge has ruled in favor of HSBC which was accused by the NYS Attorney General to have purposefully delayed filing foreclosures in New York. The NYS Attorney General has yet to decide to appeal the decision. See: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-31/hsbc-wins-dismissal-of-new-york-foreclosure-practices-lawsuit
Many homeowners have war stories about how their individual foreclosure cases have dragged on for years. Sometimes, the delays are welcomed by homeowners who have no viable way to make affordable mortgage payments. Others, however, are more than qualified and willing to resume making mortgage payments, but due to a long delay in the bank filing for foreclosure, the outstanding loan balance has increased significantly which has the effect of increasing the amount of the mortgage payment and thereby potentially preventing these homeowners from being granted an affordable loan modification later down the road. These homeowners may want to save their money and put it aside so that they can pay down the arrears later on so that they increase their chances to receive an affordable mortgage modification; however, this approach may not work in every case since each case is different. What is true in every case is finding an experienced foreclosure attorney who can navigate the homeowner through the murky waters of a New York mortgage foreclosure. As for the HSBC case referenced above, it will be interesting to see if the attorney general appeals to the appellate division. Stay tuned! Many homeowners are denied a mortgage modification, mainly due to insufficient monthly income; however, sometimes the lenders deny a modification in error. It is difficult to comprehend, but the bank employees are not always 100 percent knowledgeable when it comes to knowing all the rules and regulations. There are numerous programs and each has its own set of rules and regulations. Without knowing your situation, I can only speculate that your application was declined due to insufficient income; however, I will be happy to review your matter should you wish to meet with me. You only have thirty days to appeal the denial, and you should contact a experienced New York Foreclosure/Loan Modification attorney ASAP to determine if the denial was improper.
A deed in lieu of foreclosure is when the homeowner (mortgagor/borrower) conveys the mortgaged property to the bank and then the homeowner vacates the house. In return the bank discontinues the foreclosure and the mortgage is cancelled out. This method will typically work if there are no other liens against the property. If the homeowner has a judgment lien or a second mortgage against the property then the bank holding the first mortgage will likely not agree to a deed in lieu but may however consider a short sale. Typically a short sale is done when the mortgage amount exceeds the fair market value of the property, and as a result, the homeowner will need to have the bank agree to take an amount less than the full amount owed on the mortgage. The bank is under no obligation to consent to accepting a lesser amount in satisfaction of its mortgage. If it will consider taking less then it will order an appraisal to determine the value of the property and then decide what the sale price of the property shall be. At this point, the homeowner will typically retain a real estate broker to list the house at the price set by the bank. If the homeowner gets offers less than the listing price, the Bank will have to be notified, and it will have to agree to accept a lower amount. This is usually time consuming since the banks are slow to respond and the delay can result in losing the offer. Most homeowners are not aware of the deed in lieu option and real estate brokers typically will not mention this option since they will not receive a commission. Incidentally, any homeowner considering a short sale should have an attorney review the listing agreement before it is signed. Brokers will usually try and get the homeowner to commit to a one year or more listing agreement when in fact the time period is negotiable and the homeowner is better served by having a much shorter listing period, say for a few months. The broker commissions, attorney fees and other costs associated with the sale of the property will likely be netted from the gross sale proceeds at time of closing and the balance would go to the bank in return for it issuing a satisfaction or a release. Typically, the borrower will not receive any part of the net proceeds at closing; however, it is possible to push the bank for a payment that will help the homeowner find alternative housing after the closing, and this is usually a few thousand dollars. This type of payment may also apply in the deed in lieu of foreclosure situation. With respect to both the deed in lieu of foreclosure and the short sale options, the bank will likely forgive the portion of the unpaid mortgage debt, but it is recommended that this be put in writing so that there is no issue later on; however, if the bank agrees to issue a satisfaction as opposed to a mere release of the mortgage lien then the borrower should be protected. Since a short sale and a deed in lieu will almost always involve situations where the mortgage sum is greater than the value of the property, the homeowner must be mindful that the IRS and NYS Department of Finance may deem the forgiveness of part of the mortgage debt by the bank as income and that must be carefully considered before moving ahead with either option. I have addressed this issue previously in my blog under the heading: Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation or Discharge of Indebtedness.
Many clients have come to me and tell me about their terrible experiences dealing with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and how it drove them into foreclosure. It's bad enough to have a home severely damaged and then get swept up in red tape with insurance companies and home improvement contractors, but then have to move out and seek temporary housing so that the home can be rebuilt or renovated all along while paying rent and still having to pay the home mortgage is too much for anyone to bear. Although the government did impose a one year moratorium on foreclosures, many homes are still caught in the storm of red tape and delay in getting the home restored or rebuilt. Faced with this situation, what does one do? Is there a defense in the foreclosure action whereby one can claim that the storm was an act of nature and therefore, the court should excuse the mortgage default? Perhaps and maybe it should be a defense. However, the individual circumstances regarding each case will be of utmost importance in asserting this defense. It is equally of utmost importance to seek out advice and guidance from an experienced attorney who can navigate through the levels of complexity in such inexorable circumstances.
Some homeowners who have successfully modified their mortgage may decide later on to transfer property to another family member, such as a son or a daughter for estate purposes. Any transfer, even if merely a transfer of a part interest may trigger a due on sale/transfer clause in the modified mortgage which would mean that as soon as the property has been transferred, the bank can declare that the entire unpaid balance is immediately due and payable. For example, if you own the mortgaged house outright and decide to convey to your grandchild or perhaps decide to convey the house to your sibling then you may be unwittingly triggering the due on sale/transfer provision in the mortgage and the bank can demand that you pay the unpaid balance. However, the due on sale/transfer clause is preempted by the Garn-St. Germain Depository Act of 1982 (see U.S. Code section 1701j-3(d)). The act specifically provides that due on sale/transfer provisions are not enforceable under the following situations:
(1) the creation of a lien or other encumbrance subordinate to the lender’s security instrument which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property; (2) the creation of a purchase money security interest for household appliances; (3) a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety; (4) the granting of a leasehold interest of three years or less not containing an option to purchase; (5) a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower; (6) a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property; (7) a transfer resulting from a decree of a dissolution of marriage, legal separation agreement, or from an incidental property settlement agreement, by which the spouse of the borrower becomes an owner of the property; (8) a transfer into an inter vivos trust in which the borrower is and remains a beneficiary and which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property; or (9) any other transfer or disposition described in regulations prescribed by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Based on the aforementioned situations, the examples I gave above where the owner conveys the mortgaged property to a grandchild or to a sibling may not be protected under the act. Before making any transfer of mortgaged property, speak to an attorney who specializes in mortgage litigation. A process server must always comply with the service of process rules as contained in section 308 of the CPLR (Civil Practice Law and Rules). Generally, a process server will serve a homeowner as a named defendant in a foreclosure summons and complaint by way of three means: 1. In hand delivery (the preferred choice), 2. substituted service on a person of suitable age and discretion (a person residing with you) or 3. nail and mail (the least preferred choice of the three). There are other less common methods of service which I will not discuss for purposes of simplicity. Each of the three methods of service mentioned require the process server to file an affidavit of service with the county clerk's office. Nail and mail service generally means that the process server tried to serve you or someone of suitable age and discretion at the property where your reside, but was unable. The standard generally requires that if the process server cannot effectuate in hand service or substituted service after three attempts, usually on three separate days and at various and reasonable times of day and/or evenings, then the process server can serve you utilizing the nail and mail method of service. This essentially means that if the process server made three reasonable attempts at serving you, but was unsuccessful then s/he can tape the foreclosure summons and complaint to your front door or leave it somewhere conspicuous near the door and within 20 days s/he must mail an additional copy of the foreclosure summons and complaint to your residence. The envelope containing the foreclosure summons and complaint must not indicate it is from an attorney's office and only indicate "personal and confidential" on it. The process server must then file the affidavit of service within another 20 days from the date of mailing. In your case, it appears that the process server may have chose the nail and mail approach, but I can't be sure until the affidavit of service is reviewed. If the affidavit of service indicates that the summons and complaint were served personally on you, via in hand delivery or via substituted service on someone residing with you, then it would appear that the service may be what is commonly referred to as "sewer service". If this is the case then you would be able to contest the service. An experienced New York foreclosure attorney can review your service and provide guidance on the best way to proceed. Call my office, and I will be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Best regards, Arnold M. Bottalico, Esq.
The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence-sorry no investment properties! Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, qualifies for the relief. This law applies to modifications with principal reductions and to short sales. Unfortunately, this law only applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2014. More information can be found in IRS Publication 4681 or see: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/The-Mortgage-Forgiveness-Debt-Relief-Act-and-Debt-Cancellation-
So let's say in 2015, you are granted an affordable home mortgage modification that includes a significant principal reduction or that you are granted a short payoff and your loan servicer sends notification 1099-C to the IRS that it has cancelled part of the mortgage debt. Unless the government extends the sunset provisions of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act, you will have to include the cancelled amount as income-so much for an affordable home mortgage modification or for a short sale! So you may have thought you hit the jackpot to only learn that you have to pay it back, this time to Uncle Sam. Fortunately there are some exceptions that can prevent this cancellation of debt from being deemed income. The major exception is if you are deemed insolvent at the time of the cancellation of the debt. Insolvency is essentially when your debts exceed the value of your assets. For example, if you have $100,000 in assets but have $150,000 in debt then you are deemed insolvent by $50,000. Assume further that at the time of this insolvency, the bank is waiving $60,000.00 of debt; consequently, you would have to include $10,000.00 in your gross income for the year the discharge occurred ($60,000-$50,000). Another exception is a discharge in bankruptcy. A debt discharged in bankruptcy has no income tax consequences to an individual debtor since it is excluded from the debtor's gross income [IRS Code Section 108 (a)(1)(A)]. If you received a discharge in bankruptcy and also received a 1099-C from the loan servicer, then you will need to file with the IRS form 982 with your tax return. This will notify the IRS that the debt was discharged in bankruptcy. Another exception is when the debt is a non-recourse loan, which means that you are not personally liable for the debt and the creditor can only enforce his or her rights against the property used to secure the debt. Home mortgages, however, are typically recourse loans and the bank can sue you personally for what is owed over the value of the security assuming the debt is greater than the value of the property. Not everyone fits into the aforesaid exceptions; there are other ways to prevent a cancellation of debt from being deemed taxable income, but this must be done with great care. As for a deed in lieu or a short sale, the IRS treats these as sales, not as a discharge of indebtedness. Using the amounts above (assume the value of the property is 100K and the only asset), you would have a potential capital gain of $10,000.00. Although this may be deemed a capital gain for IRS purposes, you may be eligible for the Home Sale Gain Exclusion. This tax break permits you to exclude up to $250,000.00 in capital gains and up to $500,000.00 if married and filing jointly. In order to be eligible, you must own and occupy the property as your primary residence for at least two years during the last five years prior to conveying the deed in lieu or closing on the short sale. See IRS Publication 523 for a detailed explanation: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p523/ar02.html Below is an excellent article written by the creators of Turbo Tax: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Home-Ownership/How-to-Avoid-Taxes-on-Canceled-Mortgage-Debt/INF12033.html Consulting with an experienced New York foreclosure lawyer and tax consultant are highly recommended. Long Island, NY Foreclosure: Mortgage Modification of First when there is a Second Mortgage6/14/2014 Many times when a homeowner is granted a loan modification on the first mortgage, there may be a second mortgage or home equity loan that remains in default. The big question is what to do about this second mortgage? Typically the second mortgage has been in default for sometime and there is a resulting arrears. Many times when the first mortgage company agrees to modify, it usually will require the homeowner to start making trial payments soon thereafter so there is not much time to get the second modified. Notwithstanding, the second mortgage company typically will only modify after the first mortgage is modified anyway. Usually then the homeowner will start the trial period with the hope that the second will modify its mortgage favorably to the homeowner. If, however, the newly modified mortgage payment on the first mortgage combined with ordinary household expenses consumes most of the homeowner's monthly income then there may be nothing left over for the second mortgage, making a modification of the second mortgage unlikely. If the second mortgage company is unwilling to settle for much less than what is owed it then the second mortgage may just hang in limbo with its arrears increasing by the day--an unsettling feeling to any homeowner. However, under this situation, the second mortgage company probably won't foreclose if the first mortgage is owed an amount near the value of the house, but if the amount owed on the first mortgage is significantly less than the value of the house then the second mortgage company would need to seriously consider its right to foreclose on its second mortgage.
It is worth mentioning that if the amount owed on the first mortgage exceeds the value of the property, the homeowner may have the ability in bankruptcy to have the second mortgage lien stripped off the property. This is the case in the 11th Circuit, but as of now, it is not the case in New York, well at least not in the Eastern District of New York. I do not believe that NY has a "wrongful foreclosure" defense per se; however, if the bank has commenced a wrongful foreclosure in a New York court, then you will need to give specifics as to why you believe the foreclosure is wrongful. The facts supporting a wrongful foreclosure are case sensitive. For example, if the bank knowingly or negligently claimed to be the owner of the mortgage when it really wasn't, then one could assert that the bank's actions are wrongful and unconscionable; this defense must be raised or it will be lost. This would not only be a defense but could serve additionally as a counterclaim which would serve as a basis for damages. But again, they must be raised in the answer or be lost. There are some exceptions to this general rule, like if you could not have learned of the bank's wrongful conduct at the time the answer was due. In such cases, you would have to raise the defense and or counterclaim via motion soon after you discovered the wrongful conduct.
BTW, defenses that are not waived in New York even though not raised in the answer are: the defense asserting that the complaint fails to state a cause of action, failure to name a necessary party defendant, the defense that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, and RPAPL 1303/1304 notice requirements---these defenses even though not raised in the formal answer can still be raised later in the litigation, but generally must be raised before judgment with the exception of the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction defense, which defense can be raised anytime even after judgment. In the above example, even if the defense of standing was not timely raised in the answer, one may still be able to argue later in the litigation that the bank's complaint fails to state a cause of action based on the fact that the bank's cause of action cannot be satisfied if it is not the holder of the subject note and mortgage. Long Island, NY Foreclosure: How does a foreclosing bank prove standing in a foreclosure action?5/28/2014 In a foreclosure action, a plaintiff generally has standing where it is both the holder or assignee of the mortgage and the holder or assignee of the underlying promissory note at the time the foreclosure action is commenced.
Sometimes, however, the mortgage may have been assigned to the foreclosing bank, but the promissory note was assigned to a different bank. In such cases, the courts generally deem that the mortgage passes with the promissory note despite the assignment into a different bank. The mortgage is deemed an inseparable incident to the note (see MERS, Inc. v. Coakley, 41 AD3d 674, 674 [2d Dept 2007]. Thus, an assignment of a mortgage without the underlying debt is a nullity ( see Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. v Barnett, 88 AD3d 636, 637 [2d Dept 2009]. Today, it is common for foreclosing plaintiffs to commence a New York Foreclosure action as trustee which was named in a pooling servicing agreement. These agreements add layers of complexity to the already complex law regarding standing. This is a separate matter that will be discussed in a future post by me. Always consult with an experienced New York foreclosure defense attorney. Question:
My neighbor is moving off Long Island, NY and wants me to acknowledge that his fence is 1 ft over the property line. Should I sign anything stating that 1 ft beyond the fence belongs to my neighbor? Answer: When I handle these type of cases, I will usually get a copy of the client's survey and a copy of his/her neighbor's survey along with copies of the deeds to both properties. I then review these documents against each other for discrepancies. If there are discrepancies then that opens up a whole set of issues for a later discussion. If we are dealing with property on Long Island, then it is likely that the property lots are on a subdivision map and more likely than not there is no real boundary dispute. It may just be a fence that is not properly placed on the record boundary line and the surveys may show this assuming the fence in its current location existed at the time the survey(s) were commissioned. Sometimes neighbors will agree that if the fence does encroach onto adjoining property then the fence can remain so long as it is standing and when it is replaced the new fence will be installed on the record line. This would likely apply in your situation. If, however, your neighbor wants you to acknowledge that the property line is to be where his fence is then that could be problematic. Signing a boundary agreement could potentially result in serious zoning law issues. Also, if there is a mortgage on your property, signing a boundary agreement with your neighbor could create issues with the bank. Lastly, depending on the circumstances, your neighbor may have a basis to assert adverse possession. I recommend that you speak with an attorney experienced in real estate litigation. My firm handles these situations, and I would be happy to help you. Long Island, NY Foreclosure: Does the foreclosure stop if I apply for a mortgage modification?5/15/2014 It absolutely does NOT! I can't begin to count the number of times I've heard clients say to me that a bank representative told them that they don't need to worry or do anything until the bank makes a final decision regarding the loan modification. Well, yes you do need to do something about the New York foreclosure lawsuit which is separate and distinct from the mortgage loan modification--they are two different animals. If you don't do anything about the foreclosure lawsuit, you will be in default which makes it easy for the bank to foreclose on its mortgage. This is especially true if you are ultimately denied a mortgage modification or fail to make payments pursuant to a mortgage modification. Before you decide what action to take, consult with an experienced Long Island, NY foreclosure attorney.Unlike other state jurisdictions, New York does not permit a foreclosed homeowner to redeem the home after a foreclosure auction. Despite this, if the homeowner can demonstrate for instance that the foreclosure sale was improperly conducted then the homeowner may have a basis to ask the court to set aside the foreclosure sale. There are numerous technical requirements that must be complied with when any foreclosed property is being auctioned off at a public sale. Another potential and independent basis for setting aside the foreclosure sale is when the homeowner filed for bankruptcy prior to the auction. This can get complicated if there were multiple bankruptcy filings which goes beyond this response. Lastly, if the homeowner can demonstrate that s/he was not served with a copy of the foreclosure summons and complaint, then this would serve as an independent basis to not only have the sale vacated but to also have the foreclosure action dismissed. It cannot be stressed enough that anyone faced with a New York foreclosure should consult with an experienced New York foreclosure lawyer. The home is the most important asset and needs to be protected to the fullest extent.Pursuant to discovery demands, Wells Fargo released an internal foreclosure manual that may suggest improper internal procedures. See the following link: http://nypost.com/2014/03/12/wells-fargo-made-up-on-demand-foreclosure-papers-plan-court-filing-charges/
The discovery process is a vital step in defending against a foreclosure action, and it must be done with great care. Generally, if the bank never recorded the mortgage then the bank has an unsecured loan and it can potentially lose its priority over other liens if it does not do anything to protect its interest. If the bank has a duplicate original mortgage then it can record it in the land records where the property in located and it will have a secured mortgage as of the date it was recorded. If it does not have a duplicate original mortgage then it will need to commence a lawsuit seeking to confirm the mortgage. If the borrower received the loan proceeds at closing, then it is likely the bank will obtain the relief it is seeking. However, sometimes the homeowner has defenses that can prevent the bank from obtaining the relief it is seeking. If there are defenses, then they need to be raised otherwise they will be lost. It is best to consult with an experienced attorney to make sure there are no valid defenses before a decision is made to not answer the complaint.
This issue comes up often. When a tenant is served in NY, the tenant is uncertain if s/he should continue paying the rent to the landlord who is in foreclosure. Generally, the tenant is still legally obligated to pay the rent to the landlord. It is important to know if when the landlord gave the mortgage to the original bank if s/he executed an assignment of rents over to the bank. If s/he did, then the bank may have the right to collect the rents. If the bank wants to enforce the assignment, it likely will then seek to have the court appoint a receiver to collect the rents; however, this is unlikely if the property is a single-family home. Generally, once served, a tenant can hold back rent, but the landlord can bring an eviction proceeding based on non-payment. If so, the tenant will need to be prepared to deposit the back rent into the court or directly to the landlord. If the property is eventually sold at a foreclosure auction, the landlord would likely lose all ownership rights in the property and would no longer be entitled to the rent. In this situation, the tenant's lease will survive until the end of the lease period and rent will be paid to the new owner of the property. Generally speaking, if the tenant was a month to month tenant then s/he would have 90 days to relocate. Assuming the tenancy was for a term other than month to month, it could be terminated if the new owner wants to move into the property and the new owner would need to terminate the tenancy with a required 90 day notice. For more information see the following site:
http://www.occ.gov/publications/publications-by-type/comptrollers-handbook/ptfa.pdf It depends. If the foreclosure complaint is verified then the foreclosure answer must be verified too. Sometimes the foreclosure complaint will not say it's verified so you need to check to see if there is an actual verification. If the foreclosure complaint is verified and the foreclosure answer is not, then the bank attorney can reject the foreclosure answer. The bank attorney must indicate the basis for the rejection and it must be done timely. If the foreclosure answer is rejected, then it is likely that the time period to answer would have already expired. If so, then the homeowner's foreclosure answer is treated as a mere notice of appearance and the homeowner will be deemed in default unless the bank attorney grants an extension ( unlikely at that point) or unless the homeowner brings a motion compelling the plaintiff to accept a late verified answer. In the latter case, the courts will generally grant this relief so long as the motion is timely made and there is a good reason for failing to verify the answer. Even if the foreclosure complaint is unverified, if the foreclosure answer is to have counterclaims against the foreclosing bank then the foreclosure answer will need to be verified so long as those counterclaims allege fraudulent conduct on the part of the bank. Bottom line is that New York foreclosure litigation is fraught with danger to the untrained; it is important to protect the home by making sure an experienced foreclosure attorney is representing you.
Q: I just was served with a summons in a foreclosure action. It says I have 20 days to answer. Should I ignore it?
A: By no means ignore it; you need to respond as soon as possible and if not you run the risk of being in default. Your house can be taken from you by the bank. You may have very good defenses and you need to consult with an experienced Attorney to ensure that your rights are fully protected. |
AuthorArnold M. Bottalico is an experienced Long Island, NY foreclosure attorney with over 25 years of experience, and he welcomes your questions and comments. Archives
September 2018
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