Real Estate: Inland Empire tops dubious foreclosure list


As the amount of homeowners who are losing their homes increases here in the Inland Empire area, the question remains whether they are prepared for what is ahead. Even the most financially sound households are suffering due to this increase in home foreclosures in this area. Unfortunately for many homeowners that will be losing their piece of the American dream, there are many yet-to-be-seen issues that they will have to deal with as a result of their loss. Apart from the obvious problems these homeowners are facing, many are unprepared to face the difficulty of knowing their options, the amount of time they may have after losing their home, and what are the best alternatives when one wants a new start as soon as possible.

So where does one turn to for advise in handling these issues that can be overwhelming to anyone un-prepared for the unknown?

Before one answers this question, one should take heed of one really good piece of advise presented in the attached article. That is, that homeowners facing these troubles should "move slowly and get as much advise as possible."

Indeed, the problems often elevate because the homeowner is too quick to look for a solution which often complicates matters even more. Instead of solving the problems, the so-called "solution" piles on to the problem already present. Often, homeowners are too quick to hear an advertisement, whether on television or radio, that promises them assistance that's going to solve all of their problems and that they won't have to worry about losing their home to these unfair banks and lending institutions that took advantage of them and who they will bring to justice. All this, of course, for a few thousand dollars from the homeowner who typically has no idea what the money they are spending is really for. These outfits use fancy words like 'foreclosure validation' and 'audits' and 'foreclosure complaint' to justify their charging the innocent, and now really victimized, homeowner thousands of dollars that they often do not have.

What turned out to be the problem is that the homeowner acted too quickly and got the wrong advise. It may come as a surprise to many, but the home foreclosure process in the state of California can take anywhere from 6 months to a year and often much longer depending on the individual circumstances. While it is important for a homeowner to not sit around waiting for their bank to all of a sudden forgive their loan default because of how unfair they have been or some other similar miracle (which may have taken place at one time or another), the homeowner should take heed to be real about their particular situation and take time (a week or two won't hurt) to consult with friends and family whom they can really trust and then consult with at least 2 or 3 professionals (preferably an attorney) who can clarify the issues and suggest a number of realistic options and solutions for one to take without any obligation.

Listen - you deserve a homeowner deserves to get good advise from a good and capable attorney that is looking out for the homeowner's best interests.  A really good attorney is one who can explain the problem, gives you honest advise, offers an uncomplicated solution that makes sense and executes the solution. It does not have to be a mystery. Your life has enough complications without having another group of people complicate your situation even further by your not being able to hold that group accountable for their undelivered promises and assurances.

Attorney John Molina and his team brings an extensive amount of experience in this area of real estate and related areas that has helped our clients find a real solution to the overwhelming problem of home foreclosures in the Inland Empire and surrounding counties. Our attorney firm focuses a great deal of our practice in utilizing the most up-to-date laws and case rulings in the field to help homeowners move beyond this very difficult time in their financial and emotional life.  This focus has given our team a comprehensive and thorough understanding of each client's individual case.

If you need help with these complicated areas, feel free to contact us and schedule a free no-obligation with attorney John Molina in order to get started on the right path. Call toll free (888) 790-5053. We are here to help.

Post-Foreclosure Tenants now have less time to stay in their homes!

The beginning of this year proved to be one of the hardest times for many families facing an increasing number of home foreclosures.  As of January 1, 2011, tenants and soon-to-be former homeowners living in homes in the process of foreclosure, have less time to pack up and move out of their homes.  That was the date that the protection accorded to this class of people under the California Foreclosure Prevention Act (CFPA) of 2009, was set to end.  Under CFPA, the foreclosure process was temporarily changed by requiring that banks wait an additional 90 days before selling the homes at auction. (In more ways than one the CFPA was only a temporary fix considering the massive and rapidly growing problem of foreclosures, especially here in California, where we rank 3rd from the top in the entire nation of the most foreclosures according to a recent study by RealtyTrac).

Before the beginning of this year, many tenants and homeowners had some breathing room between the beginning of the foreclosure process and the eventual sale of a home at auction.  This was the case, especially for people I would call 'unsuspecting tenants' living in homes where the homeowners have stopped paying their monthly mortgage payment to the banks many months before. For many of these tenants, the first time they find out about there being any problem with the homes they are living in is when they receive a paper entitled "Notice of Default." While it can be argued who stands to lose more in the whole foreclosure process, no one is going to argue that a lot of 'unsuspecting tenants' who have signed a year or longer lease with a homeowner are the biggest 'victim.'

It's important for 'unsuspecting tenants' going through this foreclosure process to know what their rights are through this whole ordeal. Many are confused about what is going on because they hear different explanations from different sources.  A "Notice of Default" and any resulting "Notice of Trustee Sale" can be very intimidating to anyone who is not informed about what the foreclosure process is and what it all means to them in the near future.  Some 'unsuspecting tenants' may be misled into agreeing to something with either the soon-to-be former homeowner or representatives of the bank itself, without knowing what their options are.

If you are an 'unsuspecting tenant,' and/or a soon-to-be former homeowner, and need to be informed about the foreclosure process, or need to what your options are before making a decision about your home, you need to talk to competent legal counsel who can assess your particular situation and advise you of what steps, if any, need to be taken.  Attorney John Molina is that competent legal counsel.  Call Mr. Molina at his office for a no-obligation free phone consultation at (714) 224-1860 or (951) 840-7868. Let us be on your side in uncertain times like these.