Fraud Information
If you believe you are dealing with a company that is violating the law or state regulations, consider filing a complaint with the appropriate state agency. Some escrow companies, generally those operating as a part of a title company, are licensed by the California Department of Insurance. Others, generally independent companies, are licensed by the California Department of Corporations. The complaint forms for each of these agencies may be accessed at the website indicated.
The Department of Corporations regulates mortgage lenders and services and escrow agents. The complaint form is at: http://www.corp.ca.gov/about/complaint.asp
The Department of Insurance handles alleged improper handling of an escrow transaction by a title insurer or underwritten title company. The complaint form is at:
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/contact-us/0200-file-complaint/
Important Short Sale information (click here)
Loan Modifications (click here)
Foreclosures Up 5% from Summer to Fall 2009
Buying a Foreclosure? What you should know. (click here)
Foreclosure & IRS Tax Implications (click here)
Foreclosure Prevention
Home Loan Counseling Services, Sacramento, CA (click here)
Mortgage Servicing Loss Mitigation Contacts
Fifty percent of foreclosures can be prevented by calling your mortgage company, and asking to speak to someone in the "Mortgage Retention or Loss Mitigation Departments", if your lender is not listed below, call the number listed on your mortgage statement and ask to speak with someone in the Loss Mitigation Department about a repayment plan, loan modification, forbearance agreement, partial claim or loan assumption.
ABM AMRO Mortgage 800-783-8900
AmTrust Bank (fka Ohio Savings Bank) 888-696-4444
Beneficial 800-333-5848
Charter One 800-234-6002
Chase 800-446-8939
CitiFinancial Mortgage 800-753-3673
Citimortgage 800-283-7918
Countrywide 800-262-4218
Deutsche Bank National Call Number on Mortgage Statement
Fifth Third Bank 800-375-1745, Option 3
First Merit Bank 888-728-9931
GMAC Mortgage 877-841-4673 or 800-850-4622
HSBC Mortgage 800-338-6441
Huntington National Bank 800-323-4695
Homecomings Financial 877-841-4673
Key Bank 800-422-2442
LaSalle National Bank 800-783-8900
Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems 888-679-6377
National City 800-367-9305, Ext. 53221
Ocwen Federal Bank 800-746-2936
Option One 866-711-1962
Saxon 800-665-7367
Select Portfolio Servicing 888-818-6032
SkyBank 800-290-3359
Third Federal Savings 888-844-7333
US Bank 800-365-7900
Wachovia Bank of Delaware 866-642-8608
Washington Mutual 866-926-8937
Wells Fargo 877-216-8448
ACT NOW! The sooner you contact your lender about your inability to pay your mortgage, the sooner they can help you. Do not wait until you miss a payment to contact your lender. You've worked very hard to obtain and sustain your good credit rating, and good credit is more important now than ever before. Lenders are now assisting mortgage customers who are current on their mortgages, but are facing real and eminent danger of missing a payment. You MAY NOT need the assistance of a company or a lawyer, particularly if you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage loan. You may be able to do this yourself, simply contact your lender directly! However, if you feel that you are getting the run-around by your mortgage servicer, contact a HUD approved agency for assistance. You may also want to file a complaint about your servicer with the Federal Trade Commission. I've provided helpful links below, including HUD's and the FTC's.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Making Home Affordable Program