Attention California

Well, it's the start of Labor Day weekend and amidst all of the long weekend relaxation, beach going or whatever you plan to do,a brief item of note has come up fpor those in California. The state's Atty. General, Kamala Harris, has announced that the final parts of the California Homeowners Bill of Rights have passed both houses of the legislature. They only await Governor Brown's signature to become law and begin helping California homeowners. For details, check with your legislator or the Atty. General's office. Have a great holiday weekend and see you in the autumn!

IMPORTANT: OHIO FORECLOSEES: If you're a victim of foreclosure in the state of Ohio, you may want to pay attention. While most foreclosures are unfortunately legitimate, there are, unfortunately, those that turn out to be fraudulent or erroneous and that possibly should not have occurred. In late July, a suit was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, alleging fraud in a number of foreclosures. Seven homeowners were named as plaintiffs, but as it's a class action suit, others can be added. For details, check with the firm filing the lawsuit: Kaufman & Co. of Cleveland. There are also four or five other law firms involved in the filing, but a call to Kaufman should reveal if you're someone who should consider joining in as a plaintiff. As always, good luck.

HOMEOWNERS RESOURCES TO HELP AVOID FORECLOSURE: You've heard me talk about the recent $25 Bn settlement between 49 states and the five largest mortgage lenders, as well as a number of other recent items to help you avoid a possible foreclosure. In line with that information, I'm providing for your info and use a number of websites that give specific guidance and help in these and related areas. Take them down; contact as many as you feel would be helpful in your case and good luck in your efforts. (Due to space involved in their info, I cannot provide specific info on each one beyond what I note here. The rest of the details will come when you log on. www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com -- this relates to the actual $25Bn settlement; www.oag.ca.gov/hbor -- helps with the recently passed California Homeowner Bill of Rights which goes into effect on 1-1-13; www.hud.gov/counseling -- alternatively, call (800) 569-4287; helps homeowners seek loan mods for free; www.independentforeclosurereview.com -- Helps those who were foreclosed upon in 2009 and 2010 get a fre review of the foreclosure by federal regulators to check for errors in the process, which could lead to compensation to the homeowner.Deadline is 12-31-12, so don't wait!; www.consumerfinance.gov -- From the new government agency that oversees both housing issues and credit cards, from the consumer's point of view; www.makinghomeaffordable.gov -- the site for the Federal foreclosure prevention program, it has links to a number of subjects including loan mods, underwater refis of homes, reduction of loan principal and loan payment forbearance for unemployed owners; www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org -- the site for a California state run program offering temporary mortgage help for unemployed, catch-up payment aid for those behind on payments, reduction of loan principal and other things. These may not cover the entire waterfront of helpful sites out there, but they make a damn good starting point. As always, good luck.