Foreclosure Prevention Advocacy Resources (current as of Nov 09)
Property Information/Research Links:
Zillow – can search for approximate property values – free: www.zillow.com
Realtytrac – Can search for homes in foreclosure – basic information is free. Subscription service includes date of trustee sale, date of notice of default, default amount, lender information. $39.95/mo: www.realtytrac.com
Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington - Direct links to all of Washington counties’ websites (County Auditor has land records (where available), County Assessor has parcel information) http://www.mrsc.org/byndmrsc/counties.aspx
(Counties that do not have land records available for viewing on line are:
Adams, Asotin, Benton (limited online without subscription), Chelan, Clark (can search but cannot see documents),Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima (limited online without subscription)
Westlaw and Lexis- www.westlaw.com and www.lexisnexis.com - both have public records searches for property information
Washington State Digital archives – appears to be updated only to approximately 2007:
http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/
Washington demographics- http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/washington_map.html
Information on Loan Modifications:
Making Home Affordable – the new plan to assist homeowners in modifying their loans – includes self assessment tools to find out if homeowner is eligible –
http://makinghomeaffordable.gov
Lender/Servicer contact information-http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/education/foreclosure/foreclosure_contact.htm
Look up to see if a loan is a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan-
Fannie Mae: http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/
Freddie Mac (Please note for Freddie Mac loans you must have the last 4 digits of the borrower’s social security number): https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/
Information on Predatory Lending:
Predatory Lending Checklist – This checklist includes information on the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Home Owner and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA):
http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentID=1589
Federal Statutes and Regulations:
The Truth in Lending Act Statute (15 U.S.C. § 1601 et. seq.): http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sup_01_15_10_41_20_I_30_A.html
Home Owner Equity Protection Act Statute (15 U.S.C. § 1635 et. seq.): http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sup_01_15_10_41_20_I_30_B.html
Regulation Z (the regulations implementing the above statutes 12 C.F.R. 226.31 et. seq.): http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title12/12-3.0.1.1.7.5.html
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (12 U.S.C. § 2601 et. seq.): http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode12/usc_sup_01_12_10_27.html
State Statutes:
Deed of Trust Act (RCW 61.24 et. seq.): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=61.24
Distressed Property Conveyances (RCW 61.34 et. seq.): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=61.34
Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86 et. seq.): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.86
Mortgage Broker Practices Act (RCW 19.146 et. seq.): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.146
Resources for Victims of California Firms:
California AG has sued these businesses and individuals: http://ag.ca.gov/loanmod/
Victims Compensation Fund: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10177&id=1379 |