Monthly Archives: April 2011

The MERS Decision Story

Fallout from the Michigan Court of Appeals decision tossing out two foreclosures by MERS is sweeping the state of Michigan. Had a call yesterday from someone whose closing was canceled at the last minute, because, MERS had done the foreclosure and quit claimed the property to the bank, which had agreed to sell the home…

The Truth About Michigan Foreclosure Law Changes

Less than two years ago, Michigan foreclosure law was changed in the face of the greatest foreclosure crisis since the Great Depression. Mortgage companies were required to send an initial foreclosure notice that gave the homeowner the opportunity to request a modification. If he did so, the house went off the foreclosure track for 90…

The Truth About Bankruptcy And Forgiveness Of Debt Income

DISCLAIMER:  NOTHING IN THIS POST IS MEANT AS TAX ADVICE, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL I was shocked to hear that some of my clients were about to pay income tax because of 1099-C forms received on rental properties they had abandoned. Being my clients, they had already filed Chapter 7 and received discharges. Which means, no…

The Truth About The Foreclosure Crisis

Detroit

An essential part of the real estate bubble was mortgage securitization, the process by which mortgage loans were sold into investment trusts from which bonds were sold. It was mortgage fraud from A to Z, from the selling of mortgage backed securities trusts, before the trusts were full of mortgages. From the ratings agencies, assuming…

The Foreclosure Scam Story

Wreckage in Barrie

False advertising fills the airwaves: “the secret credit card companies don’t want you to know.” The secret? They don’t tell you is, you pay, and get no guarantee of anything. The State of Ohio busted a foreclosure scam outfit operated with attorneys. Check with your state’s Attorney General’s office. Better Business Bureau, not so much….

What You Need To Know About Chapter 11

You may run a small business, that is, or is not, incorporated. If it is a corporation, the corporation has to file for Chapter 11 to get bankruptcy relief. But, you do not have to be a corporation to file for Chapter 11. You may run a store, own and rent a bunch of houses,…