A Homeowner trying to stop foreclosure with Countrywide – Patie Ann

Ten yrs. ago, I purchased my 2nd house through Countrywide, because they were the “new home” lender and this was my 2nd new home. After 10 yrs. of on time payments, no lates and no bounced payments, we decided to re-finance. Well, Countrywide sent us to their “lesser” known affiliate (which they own), which was called Freedom Financial. Not knowing we were being sent to the slaughter house, we completed our refinance.

From the date of closure on this refi, we received a phone call (literally harassment) each and every month, before our payment was even due, reminding us that our payment was coming due (this was after we’d already received the monthly statement)…WAS THIS NECESSARY???? We had always been SOLID customers and bill payers – never anything late and we’re being harassed on a monthly basis for our house payment….this was infuriating!!!! As soon as was feasible, we again refinanced, just to RID OURSELVES OF FREEDOM FINANCE AND THEIR AFFILIATE COUNTRYWIDE! We were never so glad to be rid of such bad “company policy” in our lives….

NEVER, EVER AGAIN WOULD WE SUBJECT OURSELVES TO SUCH HYPROCRISY!

NOW, one of my children is with Countrywide and got caught in Countrywide’s “Catch 22″ scheme! Their house payment went from $3,000 per mo. to $5,000 per mo. They’ve never been late and are making these payments in order to keep their home. They live in the San Diego area of Calififornia.

Oh yes, my son-in-law is also in the military and THIS IS THE WAY COUNTRYWIDE TREATS OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL!

They’ve been told that due to the “readjustment of their loan” they will need to make an additional $570 per month in order to KEEP THEIR HOME – Countrywide won’t even do a refinance for them and hung them out to dry – they also have small children and both of them have jobs – military and otherwise!

AM I MAD, YOU BET I AM!!! THE PRESIDENT OF COUNTRYWIDE SHOULD BE HUNG FROM THE HIGHEST TREE BY HIS NAUGLES (balls) until he makes things right for all those many families who placed their life savings and trust in his company.

 You bet some people are thinking suicide and anything else that will relieve them of the nightmare Countrywide has created for these families!

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Countrywide Foreclosure Assistance – Homeowner story submitted by Jennifer  

I have been dealing with Countrywide Home Loans since 10/07. I spend more time stressing than anything else these days. We are 3 months behind in the foreclosure process because of increased escrow. I get the run around from countrywide and never talk to the same department no less the same person. I went to HUD the helped with this repayment agreement of 4x the original payment. I felt like even in the HUD office the Countrywide rep (California Office) controlled everything and heard nothing. Now we have a huge payment. We can make a larger payment but not 4x times larger.

They finally agreed on a repayment for the negative escrow, but like I said it is 4x larger. My husband works at a hospital, I do home health mostly hospice patients. My income varies. I have not gotten the paper work yet, and am frightened by what it might say.

I need help I am not internet smart and landed here by the grace of God. Many of the terms and words I read here I do not understand. I think I even posted this wrong to start. I have no idea where to go or what to do. It is easy to tend to a person in the last part of their life, give love and care you get it back 10 x 10 … but this ……… I am loosing the family home fast.

There is nothing to make you feel more like a looser than to loose your home. This battle takes the life right out of a person no less the will to fight.

I just need someone at Countrywide to give me assistance before I go into foreclosure to listen someone who wants to keep us in our home.I do not know how to get there from here.

Please help with any info #’s advice a step by step guide………….

Jennifer

Here is some advice from Moe -

Jennifer,

Never agree to take terms that you cannot afford. You would be just setting yourself up for failure and once you sign this plan, I am sure you are signing your rights away to ever bring suit against Countrywide.

Remember, this can be like a game of cards and their job is to make you jump through hoops and to protect themselves, NOT you. Your job is to protect you. Just because they offer you something does not mean you have to comply and take it. I have seen this happen many times. They may be bluffing. Cal the bluff and tell them no. This will not work and they can just take the house if they are not going to give you a long term plan for which you can afford.

As I say in almost every reply, you need a Qualified Written Request to be sent to them and you want a life of loan history of every penny you have ever paid Countrywide and a detailed description of where every darn penny went and while you write that letter you might as well ask for every darn paper you have ever signed with them that pertains to your loan.

Make them work. They don’t like to work when they have a million other people to work with. So, most likely you will win the hand, your bluff worked and you get a plan you can afford.

Do you have questions about Countrywide or any other lender or servicer, need free foreclosure help  or assistance in obtaining a loan modification, then please visit or forum at LoanSafe.org for live support and expert guides to help you through the foreclosure process. 

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LoanSafe.org is a support community that is built around the premise of paying it forward. These homeowners were able to stop foreclosure with the assistance of this great website and the community. We hope to have more success stories in the future and please consider joining our fight to save our homes from foreclosure.

Success Letter of the Year – See a real Countrywide loan modification letter from the office of Angelo Mozilo

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Bob – Homeowner from San Diego - I have finally got my loan fixed for 5 years @ 5.99%. Fully amortized loan..principal and interest. After almost 6 months of doing battle with Countrywide I am done. I have to make two more payments (Jan. and Feb.) at 7.45% but then in March 08 it goes back down to 5.99% saving me $610.00 a month! Great news!! I do not even have to sign any paperwork. They said it is a done deal and I will probably receive a letter in the mail today.Here is a link to my original thread: http://www.loansafe.org/forum/showthread.php?t=162

Hopefully 5 years will buy me enough time to pay down my second mortgage and put me in a good position to refi. I want to thank Moe, Brian and all the forum members for all your help and encouragement. I never would have been able to keep my home if it wasn’t for the knowledge I gained from www.loansafe.org.

Thank you all so much!! 

Do not give up!! Keep up the fight!! If anyone needs any help or advice in dealing with CW from someone who has been through it, just drop me an email at bob@slaytonmechanical.com and I will do whatever I can to help.Paying it back and forward is the way to go!

JacMac – Homeowner From New York – I want to wholeheartedly recommend this forum to those who just popped up here or may have been lurking and are scared, unsure — perhaps you’ve just realized you’ve been taken for a roller coaster ride, and the price of the trip is more than they said, more than you can afford — the point is, the forum is a wonderful place, and it is SAFE!

Submitted By Juan – in response to a post on LoanWorkout.org in regards to “the pending loan modification campaign” spearheaded by US Secretary Treasurer Henry Paulson.

If all these homes were on fire, with flames and smoke, reaching into the air, across the country, — you would see more of an immediate reaction to the immense disaster that is underway in the US economy.

A helicopter shot would show miles upon miles upon miles of burning homes across California, Colorado, Florida and other states with citizens screaming for help and assistance in the streets below as communities are destroyed.

At the same time, news comments would issue that nameless, faceless, “investors” were the true victims of such a disaster and that they are having endless conversations among themselves, and the Feds, as to whether or not this is a moral issue of making a blanket decision to stop the “fires” from erupting any further down the line.

As everyone as commented above, — it is an example of endless talk. A loan modification is a simple 1 page form that states the new rates, or the same rate, and the payment amount. A homeowner would then do everything possible to stay in the home with the same payment . They will do it — every single article and conversations leaves out the conviction of the homeowner to stay int the home if they can.

The lender, on the other hand, hold the kerosene and the light.

For some reason — everyone has forgotten the immense power of homeweownership when you know you can own it. If I cant anymore — and the flames are burning off the roof — then I’m walking away from it. If not — then I’m staying put and working to keep the home. That is a compelling force that outweighs the “moral ” discussions the lenders and the FEDS are having among themselves. They have left our the homeowner in the equation. In fact, I think they have painted the image that the hard working family is the villain in this financial mess.

I see flames and smoke across the state of California and nobody – I MEAN NO ONE — is looking to put the fire out before a portion of the state is destroyed. And 49 others states.

Did anyone see the San Diego fires?? Yes — that is exactly what is happening every day across the country. Yes. it is.

Submitted By Allan

Here are my thoughts:

- any stated income loan shall not be eligible if income stated is more than 10% of real income. I’m sorry but when one signs 1003 income numbers are clearly visible and if one didn’t question his LO he/she not only naive but a accomplice to fraud. The only exception if there is definitive proof that LO doctored original 1003 to overstate income without borrower’s knowledge (forged signature for example).

Burden of proof is on borrower. I’m sorry but he/she will need to prove he/she was not part of fraud scheme.

- any non-owner occupied loans. I don’t give a damn if it was your relatives house. Only loans for primary residences (not even second homes) deserve to be considered for bail out. Speculators that were gobbling up real estate with intent to sell it or otherwise make profit must face the music and realize losses. One can’t expect to invest and keep the profits and wiggle out of losses.

Primary residence owners normally should use home as a shelter and not as investment and in such case residence ownership is net positive for society even if society as a whole will have to subsidize it. And make no mistake, loan modification will cause finance market disruptions that we, taxpayers, will have to pay for. But again, I’m willing to help primary residence owners that were duped into dangerous mortgages.

- any amount on primary residence loan that was refinanced and cashed out, used to pay CC debt, car loans or other consumer debt SHALL NOT be modified or otherwise eligible for bail out. Modification shall apply only to original loan amount plus all the LO fees that were rolled into. Cash outs/consumption debt rolled into loan shall be split out into 2nd loan and it should keep unmodified rate and terms.

 I’m sorry but I’m not going to empathize with people who can’t control personal consumption. I don’t give a damn why you rolled in CC debt or other consumption debt but no freebies here. Possible exception – medical bills. But these are not really consumption debts, aren’t they. Student loans that were rolled could also be excepted. Again, these are not consumption debts in my opinion. Government subsidizes quite a few student loans anyway so it’s a wash in the end.

Contributed By Lucinda From Our Homeowners Forum at LoanSafe.org 

Hi there,

Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to this wonderful site!

If anyone has experience with Litton and their loan modification system, please chime in. Long story short, due to illness and several other abnormal expenses this year we became a good three months behind on our mortgage, in fact a bit more because I kept paying the monthly amount but I wasn’t quite able to make the past due payment. Add the costs of the lawyers and the fees and we’re about $4,000 behind.

Litton offered us a loan modification, and we gratefully accepted.

The problem was that my husband was just coming off of a short-term disability, and we had to wait three weeks after Litton wanted the initial payment for the loan mod acceptance to send it in. We let Litton and Titanium, who they’re apparently working with, know about the delay and they were cranky but said to just send the money in as soon as we had it. We did send it to them, and we attempted to pay the first month’s new payment right on time, but while they kept the initial payment they returned our mortgage payment. I called to ask why and they told me that the modification is still being processed so my house is still in foreclosure, but we’ll be notified ASAP about it. Meanwhile my home is up for Sheriff’s sale on 2/1/08.

We don’t know what to do. The loan modification is perfect for us and we thought we were all set, but we’re terrified that they’ll take our home while still processing the modification!! If anyone has any advice please let me know, thank you so much,

Lucinda

Homeowner Story By Jac Mac at LoanSafe.org 

I am hoping that I’ll have better results with Countrywide than I’ve read so I’d like some support and help along the way. I’ve been reading a lot on Moe’s site and he’s offered so much valuable information, I can never thank him enough.

I almost feel smart again.

My story can be found here Worse than a Pimp (Thanks Moe) and it sure did cause a frenzy of nasty replies from what I am guessing are pissed off LOs.

I am a single parent of two children, fifteen months apart, ages 12 and 13 — the 12 year old happens to be autistic.

I refi’d with CW (biggest mistake of my life) into a — let me take a deep breath, 1 mt. 11th District COFI Option Arm, which the broker offered at an initial interest rate of 1.5%.

We went over what the payments would look like and she told me that the deferred interest would never go past $2,000 a year, as long as I paid the minimum and then the full payment alternatively every other month.

Even though I did that, in ten months, the principal had increased a whopping $12,000.

They also got a YSP of $14,000 which wasn’t disclosed on the HUD — it says 3,500 POC ( I just figured out that means Paid outside of closing).

There’s a prepenalty for six months so I can’t refinance w/o being hit with a $27,000 fee.

Now I’m wondering what was the $10,000 origination fee they got as well. Is that in addition to the $14,000?

It seems pretty clear she sold me into a higher rate, option ARM loan to get her fee.

Now I’m losing equity like crazy and I can’t make the principal payments.

I also posted this in response to a thread but would like to put it here so I can update the story as things happen.

after reading about the nightmare everyone else was going through with calling, I’ve decided rather than play phone tag to have my loan modification done in person, at Countrywide’s Financial Center. I am scheduled to go there on Friday and speak to the Loss Mitigation Department so that they can get my financial information.

I popped in there on Monday and spoke with the manager of the center. She was very nice and called the VP of Home Retention right there in front of me, took down my email address to send him a message and told me if I didn’t hear from him by that afternoon I should call her — she gave me her cellphone number.

So, of course, I didn’t hear from him. Tried to call her, but couldn’t get her. Left a message but didn’t hear back. So I called first thing in the morning, and caught her on her cell. She was pleasant, said she’d call me when she got to the office and give me Mr. Durham’s direct number. Supposedly he’s very proactive in Loan Modifications.

When I didn’t hear from her by noon (about four hours later), I took a walk — fifteen minutes, and I was at her office.

She smiled, but I don’t think it reached her eyes. I want her to know if she doesn’t call me back I WILL be at her office and can be there in minutes.

She called the Loss Mitigation Department for me right then and there in her office and had me speak to another woman, Paula Edwards, and she has committed to fax all the documents that need to be sent for me. She’s also offered to look over my loan documents for me. The manager of the office seems sincere but I am jaded.

Ms. Edwards told me that they called in the morning and spoke to a Mister, a bilingual man — I cut her off and told them there WAS NO MISTER and I made it clear to her that I have zero interest in playing phone tag with anyone. I gave her my cell phone number and told her to call me at that number, but told her I’d be doing all of the paper work in office at the center.

Hopefully this will turn out to be a smart decision. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for myself and for all of us struggling to end this nightmare.

Anyone have any suggestions as to exactly what financial information I should bring with me to the meeting on Friday. I am a self employed freelancer who’s suffered a slow period in my market. I own a S Corporation, so I don’t have my 1099s for 2007 yet — only what’s been deposited in my business accounts can be shown by way of bank statements.

I also have two tenants, so I can show the income from the rental units but other than that, I have no pay stubs or anything like that. My mortgage payment has adjusted to 8.0 percent which puts me at a $5,300 full principal payment per month. The minimum is just $2,000 and if I only pay that, you know what that means — negative amortization. If I keep pulling money out of my savings to meet the payments I’ll have nothing left real soon.

I need a fixed mortgage and quickly!