Don’t Fall For Foreclosure Help Scams

May 4th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate Chatter

You may have seen the signs around Miami.  They scream out at you.  “Don’t Lose Your Home!!”  “Stop Foreclosure Now!” And if you find yourself on the short end of a Miami-Dade county foreclosure proceeding, you might stop and listen.

There are a lot of scam artists out there.  It sickens me to think that people whose homes are being foreclosed on are easy prey for these scams.  Why don’t we kick them while they’re down, right?  It’s wrong!  It’s unscrupulous.  And it’s being done all over the country not just here in Palmetto Bay and the Redland.

If you are in the midst of a foreclosure proceeding it is almost certain that you’ve received letters from individuals and firms letting you know that they can help you avoid foreclosure.  That’s because a foreclosure proceeding begins with a Lis Pendens, which is recorded by the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts and makes your  name and address a matter of public record.  As if that were not enough, there are signs posted all over Miami that claim they can help you save your home.  Before you call anyone, please arm yourself with some information.  Yes, there are some legitimate people trying to help (while earning a living for themselves), but more often than not, the people aren’t out to help you, but to help themselves.

Some of these people will tell you that they will work with the bank on your behalf.  Some will ask you to mail them whatever payments you can afford as they work out a payment plan to get you back on track.  Some may even convince you to sign over the deed to your home under the pretense that it’s required in order for them to be able to help you.  Please don’t do it!  

If you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage payments but the bank has not yet started the foreclosure process, the worst thing you can do is avoid the bank’s phonecalls and ignore their letters.  Banks are more likely to try to work out a mutual arrangement today more than ever before.  If you find yourself in an adjustable rate mortgage that is about to reset it’s quite possible that the bank will work with you to get you a rate that is fixed and works for you.  What have you got to lose by trying?  If you don’t speak with your lender, they can’t help you.

So when you pick up the phone in an attempt to get some help for your mortgage woes, make sure you’re calling your lender instead of some scam artist just out to rip you off.  Did you know that the FBI investigates these scams?  Here’s a link to a story of a ring working in California scamming homeowners in trouble of losing their homes.

If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.  Don’t fall victim to a scammer.

Spoken by Maggie Dokic | Discussion: 3 Comments »

Miami Real Estate Blog Hacked

April 20th, 2008 Categories: Community News

Last Sunday The Blog That Ate Miami, along with several other Real Estate Tomato blogs, was hacked into. The entire site went down. Visitors to the Redland Palmetto Bay real estate blogsite would have been presented with an error page upon entry.

Although the site is up now, it is not back to normal. For instance, I can’t insert pictures into my posts. It’s been a week and Jim Cronin and his staff at the Tomato have worked tirelessly to restore not only my site, but all the others affected. My sincere thanks go out to Jim, Jason and others at the Tomato who have worked tirelessly after the attack.

I would also like to extend my apologies to the readers of my blog. Those of you who come to The Blog That Ate Miami to get your Miami real estate news may have wondered what was going on. Now you know. I’m still here and will continue to provide pertinent real estate information to the Miami real estate market. At the same time, the blog will be tweaked until it’s back to normal. Thanks to all for your understanding and patience.

It’s good to be back!

Spoken by | Discussion: 10 Comments »

The Blog That Ate Miamis Last Post

April 1st, 2008 Categories: Community News

It saddens me to tell my now-nine loyal readers that I won’t be writing any more. I’ve just gotten too busy to deal with a silly blog. All you agents who wondered why anyone would even waste their time blogging were right. I can’t keep up with a blog, work and family too.

Where will you find out where the best milkshakes in the Redland can be found? Who’s going to keep you posted on livestock running amok through the streets (OK it was one horse on one street)? And worse, who’s going to keep you posted on real estate stuff every once in a while? I’m not sure, but it won’t be me.

For those of you getting your knickers in a bunch, don’t. Look at the date. My Little One is planning lots of pranks today. I figured I’d join her. =)

Spoken by | Discussion: No Comments »

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