Attorney General Biden’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force announces June 8-9 housing workshops

Statewide events to provide on-site opportunities to discuss mortgage modification with lenders, learn about government programs, and connect with housing counselors

Wilmington, DE – June 3, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — On June 8th and 9th, Delaware homeowners are invited to attend free statewide housing workshops sponsored by the Delaware Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force, in conjunction with the Delaware State Housing Authority and the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The workshops are aimed at facilitating loan modifications, reducing foreclosures, and providing educational information to help resident stay in their homes.

The June 8th and 9th workshops are offered amid continued record-setting foreclosure filings in Delaware, which surpassed 6,000 in 2009. Filings have continued near that same pace, up slightly (6%) for the first four months of 2010, to 2,044 vs. 1,925 during the same period last year. A more disturbing but not unexpected trend is the record pace of sheriff sales of foreclosed homes, with June’s monthly record of more than 500 homes expected to be broken in July with close to 600 homes.

“Attorney General Biden’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force is taking action to reduce foreclosures and combat housing scams statewide,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Charles Butler. “We urge homeowners who have missed mortgage payments or are concerned about losing their homes to foreclosure or housing fraud to attend these workshops and get free help they need and deserve.”

Homeowners who are worried about missing a mortgage payment, are facing foreclosure, or suspect foreclosure fraud are urged to attend and receive immediate on-site help from housing professionals. At each workshop, mortgage servicers, state employees, and HUD-certified housing counselors will discuss mortgage modifications, the Delaware Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP) and other government homeowner programs, and foreclosure rescue scams.

Homeowners who wish to meet on-site with their mortgage servicer are encouraged to bring information about current income and details about their current mortgage, including loan number, monthly payment, interest rate, and loan balance.

Certified housing counselors from many non-profit agencies across Delaware will also be onhand to meet with homeowners, including YWCA, Neighborhood House, Hockessin Community Center, CCCS of Maryland & Delaware, First State Community Action, Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC), Interfaith Community Housing, and NCALL.

For more information about the June 8th and 9th housing workshops, call the Attorney General’s Foreclosure Hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or visit www.deforeclosurehelp.org or www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/mortgageforeclosure. Media interested in attending these workshops should contact Jason Miller at the Delaware Attorney General’s Office at (302) 577-8949.

CONTACT JASON MILLER
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
PHONE (302) 577-8949
CELL (302) 893-8939
Jason.Miller (at) state.de (dot) us