South Florida residents may have paid attention lately to the campaigning politicians who came to Florida and addressed, among other things, the troubles of the state's housing market. Struggling homeowners in Broward County and throughout South Florida are looking for ways to prevent foreclosure or complete a real estate sale without losing their nest eggs. However, the debates may have demonstrated a rather large separation between the needs of struggling homeowners and solutions politicians are proposing.
Bank of America settlement: Florida minorities to receive payment
According to a recent decision involving mortgage lender Countrywide (now owned by Bank of America since 2008), over 200,000 African-American and Hispanic loan borrowers could receive between $500 to thousands of dollars in remuneration. A payment of $335 million is meant to settle charges of discrimination stemming from Florida's housing boom. Bank of America will make payments to borrowers nationwide, and thousands of people in South Florida are expected to receive compensation. It is likely that the lender's unfair practices against communities of color led to many needless foreclosures.
Mortgage industry touts its helping homeowners
Florida has been hit hard by the housing crisis, as many families continue to struggle to meet their mortgage commitments. Since the nation's mortgage problems are now an undeniable fact, a number of financial companies have made special efforts to work with mortgage holders to helped them through the difficulties of the last few years. Ocwen Financial Corporation's West Palm Beach office is said to be one such company. According to Hope Now, a mortgage industry group, Ocwen has aided thousands of Florida residents through its loan modification program.
Mortgage issues bring nationwide homeownership to 13-year low
Like many other states, Florida has been hit hard by the housing crisis. On a national level, homeownership in the United States, with respect to the third quarter of 2011, is at its second-lowest level in 13 years. As homeowners find it increasingly difficult to make their mortgage payments, many are forced into evictions. And for those looking to buy, tighter credit standards are shutting many of those people down in their tracks.
Surprising mortgage study details Florida real estate woes
Most Florida residents already understand that the state is in the midst of a foreclosure crisis. What they may not understand is just how bad the situation really is state-wide. A report put out by LPS Applied Analytics suggests that the mortgage foreclosure situation may be far worse than many people imagined.
