The offer of modification is actually inviting you to formally join the securitization process without getting paid for it.
I write often about the illegality of the Wall Street schemes that have defrauded investors and homeowners out of their money and investments. But there is also another aspect to this.
The coming Tidal Wave of evictions and foreclosures is going to produce a tidal wave of scams that deprive homeowners and tenants of what little income or assets they have left.
Some of the scams are very close to legitimate business propositions. There is nothing wrong with a risk sharing agreement in which an investor gives consideration to the homeowner in exchange for petitioner patient in the title will proceeds arising from the sale or refinancing from the house. And the consideration could be funding the defense of the property – or even making an offer to pay off the balance as demanded, provided the claimant show proof of payment which in turn would show proof of ownership of the underlying debt.
There are plenty of legitimate business propositions that could be profitable and successful for both the homeowner and the investor/rescuer. In some of them, homeowners might be required to pay rent to the investor. There is nothing illegal about that.
But mostly, homeowners are going to be approached by disreputable people who are simply out to make a buck and neither intend any beneficial outcome for the homeowner nor do they have any credentials, training or education which they could employ for the benefit of the homeowner.
As I have previously written on these pages, the form in which the scams are presented varies because, like the banks, they use labels to hide what they are really doing. But the substance is always the same.
Since the goal is money, and they probably know they need to hit and run, they going to demand money in one form or another to be transferred from the homeowner to the “rescuer” sooner rather than later.
In addition, they may ask for quitclaim deed, the execution of which is detrimental to the interests of the homeowner. By the execution of a quitclaim deed, the homeowner might lose standing to challenge the investment banks when they seek to administer, collect or enforce the homeowner transaction that gave rise to the appearance of a “loan” transaction.
So if someone asked for money or deed upfront, the proposal is probably part of a scam. An excellent way of determining whether the proposal is part of the scam is to simply read and hear what they are promising. In order to close the deal scam artist will promise things or results that will never be delivered.
Any qualified professional will tell you that when you are entering into a dispute, if anyone promises or guarantees a specific result, they are lying to you. So if someone guarantees you a result, the proposal is probably part of a scam.
In addition remember that if it seems too good to be true, then it is not true and it is not good. Scammers will tell you what you want to hear and you will want to believe it because it is what you want to hear.
So as a yardstick to measure such proposals consider this blog. I will tell you that current law forbids enforcement of your debt, note or mortgage. But I also tell you that (a) in order to defend you must enter the process of litigation and administrative contests and (b) the odds are stacked against you because judges have it in their mind they are saving the financial system form collapse. While I say that a majority of the people who follow my advice win their cases or achieve a successful result, that also means that in a substantial minority of cases, people lose and are forced to leave their homes after spending money on the defense. I can guarantee that current law means that homeowners SHOULD win but I can’t guarantee that they WILL win.
MODIFICATION IS A SCAM
Lastly, one of the scams that will be proposed to you is an offer of modification from what appears to be the “servicer” of your “loan”. In most cases this is offering you ice in the winter. You should consult an accountant or other financial expert to determine the value of the offer of modification. But more than that you need to realize that the offer of modification is actually inviting you to formally join the securitization process.
Modifications actually formalize the illegal practices conducted by the investment banks. Since they have retired the actual loan accounts, there are no actual creditors who can legally make a claim.
The banks have been getting away with designating parties to act as though they were creditors even though they are not. They know this is a very weak spot in their strategy. So they offer agreements that are entitled “modifications” which do virtually nothing to change the terms and conditions of the loan, although some incentives might be offered to reduce the homeowner to sign the agreement.
The real purpose of the agreement is to get the homeowner to agree that the use of the designee, like the company pretending to be the “servicer”, is perfectly acceptable to the homeowner. In so doing, the homeowner has essentially waived all potential defenses that could arise under the Uniform Commercial Code or under common law. The requirement that claimant must have financial injury in order to bring a claim will also have been waived unintentionally by the homeowner, who will then be sued or coerced into making payments that are not due. This also sets the stage for the declaration of default by a non-creditor which can then be enforced by the contract of “modification”.
It is obvious that the proposal for modification is coming from someone who has no authority or powers to propose or enter into any agreement that affects your homeowner transaction (“loan”) in any way. Yet for purely practical reasons it may well be in your interest to agree. Depending upon your financial circumstances and your appetite for risk you might want the entire ordeal to simply end and modification might be an effective way out of it.
But remember though you do have some bargaining control that is not apparent. And although the agreement is not actually a legally binding instrument for a variety of reasons it no doubt will be treated as binding by the courts and will be codified into legitimacy by the coming resets of state legislatures.
*Neil F Garfield, MBA, JD, 73, is a Florida licensed trial attorney since 1977. He has received multiple academic and achievement awards in business and law. He is a former investment banker, securities broker, securities analyst, and financial analyst.*
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Filed under: CORRUPTION, Fabrication of documents, foreclosure, investment banking, jurisdiction, legal standing, politics, Presumptions, prima facie case, securities fraud, Servicer, sham transactions | 5 Comments »