Today’s tough economic times have brought one welcome consolation to homeowners in distress – an unprecedented chance for loan modifications on home mortgages.

The recent unveiling of the government’s $75 million dollar program gives homeowners an array of options for loan modifications – ones that can help keep homeowners in their homes, and reduce their monthly payments to something far more affordable.

While there are restrictions and oversights on the programs, these stability plans and loan modifications can oftentimes cut a monthly mortgage payment in half (which goes a long way in assisting struggling homeowners in regaining their financial footing.)

As experienced attorneys specializing in loan modifications, we know you have questions:

• Are any of these loan modification programs right for me and my situation?
• How do I qualify?
• What steps do I have to go through?
• How much money can I really save?
• What are the fees and costs?

If you’re a struggling homeowner, these new programs were designed specifically with you in mind!

Rest assured, the American Dream is not dead. And  now – with  the help of a wide assortment of loan modifications available today – it’s no longer dying, either.

These programs may be just the lifeline you need, but there are complexities involved. You just need guidance from an experienced professional.

At the Law Offices of Ronald Weiss, we’ll help you sort through the sea of programs and paperwork, and get you started on a path to calm your financial turbulence as you set sail for a more secure tomorrow. 

 

Which One is Right One for You

There are many bankruptcy lawyers in Suffolk County, so how do you choose the best one for you? How do you sift through all of the possibilities, and find the one that will best fight to protect your interests? The one that will always give you the best legal counsel, while treating you with compassion and respect?

Many people facing financial difficulties tend to become paralyzed with fear, and wait so long to seek help that oftentimes bankruptcy seems like the only solution. Sadly, many bankruptcy lawyers in Suffolk County are happy to steer their clients down that nice, tidy, formulaic path, because doing so often involves far less work than sitting down with a client and educating them about the many options available to them (as well as the correlating benefits and repercussions for each option.)

At the Law Offices of Ronald Weiss, however, we do things a bit differently. We’re among the best bankruptcy attorneys in Suffolk County because we believe in taking the time to truly converse with you, our potential client – to get the facts unique to your specific situation. Only then do we begin to strategize to custom-tailor a plan specifically for you.

So remember, when it comes time for you to choose from among the many bankruptcy attorneys in Suffolk County, choose wisely. While all men may be created equal, all bankruptcy attorneys in Suffolk County are not. Call the Law Offices of Ron Weiss today, and let us show you the many options available to you.

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Long Island foreclosure lawyers and bankruptcy attorneys are reporting that they are finding a large increase in the number of people consulting them about loan modifications. The need for loan modifications is understandable, given the current economic climate.  Also the fact that financial institutions are realizing that while loan modifications may result in a lowering of their profit margins, are willing to accept this as being better than no profit or even a loss.

When a borrower defaults on loan repayments and the property is foreclosed everyone involved loses. The borrower has lost his house and financial institution is left with a property that will be next to impossible to sell at a profit. Lenders are not interested in the property – their business is to make profits from lending money.

If banks and finance companies are willing to offer loan modifications as a way of avoiding foreclosures, what’s the problem? Shouldn’t the homeowner just grab anything that may ease the financial burden and give them a chance to keep the house? Unfortunately it’s not quite that simple.

Even when they have no choice but to ask for loan modifications, the financial institutions will try to attain the maximum benefit they can from the revised terms. There’s nothing wrong with that – it is their job to make money where they can. But what seems to be benefiting the homeowner may not be the full picture. Let us take just one example given by the NACBA or the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys – when loan modifications are done, less than 10% of the modified loans result in the principal loan balance being reduced. What may seem to be a benefit may not really be. Since it is a business negotiation, homeowners should always negotiate for the best possible repayment terms they can get.

It seems the residents of Suffolk and Nassau Counties are discovering the complexities of loan modifications now being offered and negotiated. That is why consulting a Long Island foreclosure lawyer has become an important part of any loan modification discussion. A Long Island foreclosure lawyer will understand the long term implications of the modifications and advise you what is in your best interest and what is not. With expert legal advice, you can negotiate the best possible loan modifications.

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New York State is far from immune to the problems of bankruptcies and foreclosures. Even the up market areas of Nassau and Suffolk Counties are finding this to be a growing problem.  This is a problem that is hurting mortgage companies and banks, as much as it is hurting the financially distressed home owner. When a foreclosure occurs, no one wins.

That’s why financial institutions are now actively pursuing the option of mortgage modifications as a means to allow people to retain their homes. Mortgage modifications are meant to reduce the financial burden on the homeowner and allow him to continue to remain in possession of his property, while paying off the mortgage at a more convenient rate. Often the total amount of the outstanding balance is also reduced to make the payments more workable. This is not charity on the part of the financial institutions. Mortgage modifications may result in a lowering of their profits, but a reduced profit is better than no profit or the loss you would suffer when a foreclosure takes place.

It is important for homeowners to understand that mortgage modifications are a business practice and not just blindly accept whatever restructuring the financial institutions offer. This misplaced sense of gratitude that homeowners show when offered mortgage modification is something that finance companies use to their advantage.

Always remember the mortgage modifications are being offered because it is in the interest of the finance companies not to foreclose on the property. When a foreclosure happens you both lose. If you are looking for or being offered mortgage modifications, you need to be clear of what it is you are getting and what is expected of you. This is business, so don’t be afraid to negotiate hard.

Mortgage modifications can com with complex issues and many people in the Nassau and Suffolk areas are contacting Long Island foreclosure lawyers for advice on the mortgage modifications being offered to them by the financial institutions. It is not just a case of trying to prevent foreclosure for Long Island residents. The financial institutions want to salvage as much for themselves as they can from the situation and while the mortgage modification terms may be better than what you originally had, they may not be as good as what you can negotiate for.

Consulting a Long Island foreclosure lawyer will enable those involved in the mortgage modification process to make sure that the new deal they are getting is the best one available and that there are no hidden issues that could cause problems later on.

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Over the last few months we have seen what can happen not just to homeowners, but to the economy of a country, and even the world, when mortgages go wrong. Even the residents of affluent areas like Long Island are suffering. One might have thought mortgage problems would be more manageable. The number of people consulting foreclosure lawyers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties has seen a big increase.

In mortgage modifications & negotiations, people tend to focus on the interest rate. While this is a critical factor and needs to be given ample attention, there are other factors that are often overlooked and can cause as much harm.

When you are shopping around for a mortgage, always ask for a no obligation quote. This will allow you to avoid revealing your income details to everyone and keep your credit rating from being subjected to too many lender inquiries. At the same time, when you have to provide income details, make sure they are accurate and verifiable. Mis-stating your income even once, can affect your credibility and how much the mortgage is going to cost you.

If your credit is not the best, do not allow lenders to use that to push you into excessive interest rates, fees and unfair conditions. Be up front about your credit rating and sooner or later you will find a lender who will be genuine in their efforts to give you a fair deal.

Remember, you have a right to question the need for any condition that does not seem fair or necessary to you. It is the lenders job to convince you of why it is required. Shop around for mortgage offers and study comparisons. You will find wide variations in the terms and conditions. If need be, get an expert to tell you what is right for you. A mortgage with a low interest rate, but impossible conditions can cause several problems.

Consider the penalties for things like defaults and prepayment very carefully. This is where many of the pitfalls are hidden during mortgage negotiations.

Also, remember knowing what to avoid is not the same as being sure you get the best. That’s something that should be left to experts like Long Island foreclosure lawyers who know more about mortgage negotiations and their complexities and ramifications than others. They have seen what happens when a mortgage goes wrong and are the best ones to point out where you should look for additional benefits and where the dangers lie.

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Over the last generation, private employer-sponsored retirement plans have replaced traditional pension benefits programs. This was fine while the going was good and the economy prospering.  The biggest advantage of the plans was that they were so easy – the contribution was deducted from the salary, so not only did people not miss the deduction, they had to do nothing themselves. The problem is that with things so automatic, people did not ever think about what was going on with the money they placed in these plans. Everyone presumed that it would magically appear upon retirement to take care of their post-career days.

Unfortunately, this is the real world and there is no room for magic. The banking and stock market collapse of the last few months has caused huge erosion in the values of 401(K) plans and other retirement funds. People, even in up market areas like New York’s Nassau and Suffolk counties are suddenly finding themselves bereft of any form of financial security for their post employment life. While younger workers are actively looking at other savings and investment options, those closer to retirement have little time to find a viable alternative that will allow for adequate resources to accumulate by the time they retire.

As a result bankruptcy and foreclosure have become major concerns. These are frightening terms for most people. Rather than bury our heads in the sand, it is better to face up to the facts and find solutions and remedies to the ills that the loss of savings has caused. And the best way to do this is to contact a local bankruptcy lawyer. It is never too early to start protecting yourself from the consequences of the losses you have suffered through no fault of your own. Bankruptcy is not the end. It is merely a stage in our financial life and a good bankruptcy lawyer will be able to help you get over the hurdle with the minimum of difficulty and assist you in finding ways to repair the financial damage inflicted on you.

If loss of your savings or other impacts of the ongoing recession have caused you problems with your mortgage payments, contacting an experience foreclosure lawyer in your area is something you should not delay. Foreclosure is a complex issue and with the government implementing innovative programs to help people who are having mortgage problems. Seeking help from an expert may be able to help you to stop home foreclosure.

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Many people labor under a mistaken impression that bankruptcy means a person has lost everything. Far from it. Bankruptcy means that a person is having cash flow problems and is unable to repay their debts.

Bankruptcy law firms in Nassau County are reporting that people who are facing bankruptcy, and who are unaware of the governing laws often lose far more than they need to.  Bankruptcy is a complex issue, and now, with the recession making things even worse people are on edge about their cash flow and retirement funds.

Nassau bankruptcy lawyers, say that most people are unaware of the protections offered to them under bankruptcy laws. It is common for people facing bankruptcy to liquidate their 401(K) and other retirement savings in an effort to pay off creditors and prevent bankruptcy. What they do not realize is that they are doing themselves more harm than good by these actions. In most cases, these funds are not enough to pay off the outstanding debts, and the partial clearing of debts does not stop bankruptcy proceedings. Also, the sudden liquidation of the retirement funds places a needless tax burden on the debtor.

Retirement savings should not be liquidated in bankruptcy cases.  Most forms of retirement savings are not affected by bankruptcy since they are not considered to be part of the estate which is liable for paying the debt or are exempt from creditor claims.

Various laws passed over the last few years have also offered additional protection to those facing bankruptcy. The trouble is that people either do not know about them or are unable to grasp the intricacies and appreciate the amount of protection they are entitled.

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What caused our present financial crisis? Bad mortgages that turned sour, which were followed by a huge wave of foreclosures.

If you are one of those who have been badly affected by what has happened to our economy, it’s time to take inventory of your financial position. How safe are you and how strong are your long term resources? No one can say with any certainty when things will begin to improve and even when they do, how long it will take for us to get back to the levels of prosperity of years past. Maybe we should not reach those levels – at least not in the same form. Perhaps what we had was built on quicksand. It would be a mistake to repeat the same process all over again. And this does not apply only to banks and Wall Street. It applies to individuals too. It’s time to look at long-term security, no matter what the short term problems may be.

Suffolk County and other prosperous regions in and around New York are seeing a rise in the number of people who are contacting them. These people may not be in any immediate danger of either foreclosure or bankruptcy, but they are engaging in long term planning and are factoring in these possibilities, so that they are prepared for any eventualities.

Being realistic about the problem of foreclosures makes sense. Despite the government’s well-intentioned promises to find ways of protecting the homeowner, the realities are that nothing much is happening or can be expected to in the immediate future. For example –the Bush Administration’s Hope for Homeowners program promised last year to shield 400,000 families from foreclosure. The actual results as of last February were a mere 25.

Understanding bankruptcy and foreclosure process is critical to long term planning. Bankruptcy is not the end of the road – there’s quite a bit of protection for retirement and some other forms of savings. Getting the right advice well in advance and modifying financial plans to take into account various scenarios is the key to long-term financial security.

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Allen Stanford and Bernie Madoff - just two of the villains that the stock market collapse has shed the spotlight on. They are the high profile scammers, but there are a lot of smaller crooks running around desperately trying to hide from the spotlights. And the number of spotlights is growing every day. After Madoff and Stanford, people are taking a far greater interest in the savings and investments they took for granted for so long. The fact that so many have lost their savings and are facing bankruptcy and foreclosure is heart breaking. There needs to be an increase in awareness for everyone to monitor their investments more closely.

For far too long people have made investments and adopted the mentality “Okay, I’ve put in the money, now let someone else worry about growing it.” It doesn’t always work that way. It’s your money and while you can follow the advice of others and allow them to use and expand the wealth you have trusted to them, autopilot does not exist in the investment world. People who misuse your money and lose it are guilty of criminal theft. But those who sat back and never took an interest in what was being done with their money may be guilty of being negligent.

Many areas are reporting the amount of people at risk of losing their homes along with their savings have grown exponentially. Bankruptcy is no longer something that happens to other people; it’s a reality that is staring many in the face.

The good news is that those who are being pro active and seeking professional legal advice, are taking steps to protect themselves and their families from the unpleasant future that may be waiting. Foreclosure and bankruptcy are complex subjects that do not necessarily mean financial ruin. There is a great deal of protection available for those who are suffering financial problems.

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