Millions of homeowners in the US have been victims of mortgage fraud and don't even know. The very fact that their mortgage documentation was incomplete or incorrect may be enough to remedy their situation if they are upside down in their home or save their home from foreclosure.
You Be Aware LLC has announced the dates of their first FREE mortgage workshops aimed at educating homeowners about their rights if they are facing foreclosure or if they are upside down owing more on their house than it is worth. They also advise homeowners about how to determine if they have been a victim of predatory lending or worse still, mortgage fraud.
The first workshop is to be held in Orlando, Florida on Saturday October 3rd and followed by events in Brevard County, Broward County and Tampa on the 10th, 17th and 24th October. The events are in a workshop style and presented by an attorney with extensive experience in defending consumers facing foreclosure and are totally free to anyone registering to attend.
You Be Aware is a consumer information and advocacy organization that provides its members with a variety of services and relies on Power in Numbers to be able to deliver them at little or no cost. They are also quick to point out that they do not offer mortgage modification which they say consumers can and should do for themselves with their lender. A spokesman for the company explains what is behind the mortgage workshops:
“Millions of American families are either in foreclosure, pre-foreclosure or behind with their mortgage payments and millions more are upside down in their home where their mortgage is more than the home is worth. Many have also fallen victim of predatory lending practices without even knowing it. Homeowners need practical help and advice about their situation. They need to understand that they have rights and, in many cases legislation on their side, that can help their situation. Through our free workshops we are able to at least provide homeowners with a starting point at no cost and without the fear of getting ripped off by the plethora of companies ready to take advantage of those in need of help.”
The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 signed into law in June this year was seen as a lifeline for homeowners who face foreclosure or who have seen mortgage payments rise dramatically as Option ARM’s kick in. However, few consumers are aware of the provisions of the act and even the lenders’ own statistics reveal that even fewer are benefiting from them.
Florida has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation with more than 62,000 foreclosure notices being registered with the courts in August alone and bringing the total to more than 500,000 homes in foreclosure in the state.
One of the guest speakers at the mortgage tworkshops will be Attorney Rick Torpy who has extensive experience of defending homeowners in foreclosure. When asked what he hoped the events would achieve he said;
“Millions of homeowners who are either facing foreclosure or upside down in their homes are unhappy with the way their lender has treated them and are ready to do something about it. Many of them were enticed by low rate and low payment options offered to them by the banks and fell victim to predatory lending practices. Through You Be Aware we intend to assist these defrauded homeowners by educating them about their rights and what legal recourse they may have. Anyone that is facing foreclosure, behind with mortgage payments or owes more on their home than it is worth should take the time to attend the workshop. There is absolutely no cost for attending and they will gain education and information that could just save their home or change their financial position.”
If any homeowner would like to attend one of the workshops the company says they are welcome and should call 1-800-594-2125 to make a reservation or register online through their website www.YouBeAware.com/workshops.
