After receiving hundreds of submissions from Florida homeowners in danger of foreclosure and thousands of votes cast, the winner of Avvo’s Save My House contest is Sharon and Robert from Port Richey, Florida.
After unemployment set them back on their mortgage payments, the family was nearing foreclosure. But after finding work again and starting to repay, the bank is making it difficult for them to catch up. This is why they need a lawyer to help negotiate the payments so they can hold onto their home of ten years. Read Sharon and Robert’s story.
As the winner of the Save My House contest, the family will have their legal fees covered by Avvo.
Attorney Ian Leavengood of Leavengood & Nash in St. Petersburg, Florida will handle the case.
If you are in danger of foreclosure, take note of these situations where a lawyer can help:
1) Have you experienced a communication gap or disconnect between you and your mortgage company? Have you sent them information they claim to not have received in the hope they will agree to a modification? Perhaps they’ve claimed to have sent certain documents to the investor, but you don’t believe they have? This is one example where a knowledgeable lawyer might be able to assist you in obtaining relief.
2) Are your mortgage payments higher than what was promised at closing? Did you discover after the fact that your mortgage payment did not include property taxes and insurance? This is an example of a situation where a knowledgeable attorney might be able to assist you in obtaining relief.
3) Are you underwater on your house and have a first and second mortgage? Is the value of your home less than the total you owe on your first (primary mortgage)? This is an example of a situation where a knowledgeable attorney might be able to assist you in obtaining relief.
4) Were you served foreclosure papers from a company you do not recognize? Is it not the lender you borrowed from? If so, a knowledgeable attorney can investigate what has taken place and really determine if the foreclosure case is defensible.
5) Did you take a hit to your income and miss some mortgage payments, but now are back with stable employment and working to regain good financial standing and still can’t get your mortgage company to work with you? Generally mortgage companies require a reinstatement of all missed payments. However, if you now have a steady income, a knowledgeable attorney might be able to assist you in resolving the situation and ultimately help save your house.
