Tag Archives: Trend

Florida Trend Recognizes Akerman Senterfitt Lawyers as Among Legal Elite

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(PRWEB) July 01, 2013

Akerman Senterfitt nowadays announced that Florida Trend magazine has named 37 of the firm’s attorneys to its 2013 Florida Legal Elite list, producing Akerman 1 of the top firms in the state for total lawyers listed, and one of the four firms with the most girls honorees. The lawyers are from Akermans offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

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Honorees include shareholder Karen Buesing, who is a member of the Legal Elite Hall of Fame, and six lawyers under the age of 40 that had been named Up and Comers for exhibiting leadership in the law and in their neighborhood neighborhood. The 2013 Florida Legal Elite list recognizes the states leading lawyers as chosen by their peers via a voting method in 28 practice areas and recognizes less than 2 percent of the more than 66,000 Florida Bar members practicing in the state.

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The Akerman lawyers honored in 2013 are:

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Silvia M. Alderman, Environmental and Land Use&#13

Jacqueline M. Arango, Criminal Law&#13

Eyal Berger, Up and Comer&#13

Allison S. Bernstein, Civil Trial&#13

Jacob A. Brown, Bankruptcy &amp Workout&#13

Karen M. Buesing, Labor &amp Employment&#13

Robert I. Chaskes, Commercial Litigation&#13

Aileen S. Davis, Banking &amp Financial&#13

Michael K. Dixon, Intellectual Home Rights&#13

Susan N. Eisenberg, Labor &amp Employment&#13

Carol L. Schoffel Faber, Actual Estate&#13

Mary Katherine Fackler, Up and Comer&#13

Samantha S. Feuer, Government &amp Administrative&#13

Joseph E. (‘Ed’) Foster, Industrial Litigation&#13

Christian George, Up and Comer&#13

Joanne Gelfand, Bankruptcy &amp Workout&#13

Katherine Eastmoore Giddings, Appellate Practice&#13

Andrew P. Gold, Industrial Litigation&#13

Michael I. Goldberg, Bankruptcy &amp Workout&#13

Rachael L. Greenstein, Up and Comer&#13

Laura M. Holm, Company Law&#13

Arlene K. Kline, Labor &amp Employment&#13

Andrew M. Loewenstein, Up and Comer&#13

John B. Macdonald, Bankruptcy &amp Exercise&#13

D. Brett Marks, Bankruptcy &amp Exercise&#13

Margaret D. Mathews, Industrial Litigation&#13

Jason S. Oletsky, Industrial Litigation &#13

David E. Otero, Bankruptcy &amp Workout&#13

Guy E. Quattlebaum, Civil Trial&#13

Carl D. Roston, Enterprise Law&#13

Lawrence D. Silverman, Industrial Litigation&#13

Scott T. Silverman, Labor &amp Employment&#13

Julie S. Sneed, Commercial Litigation&#13

David I. Spector, Commercial Litigation&#13

George Volsky, International&#13

Melissa Zinkil, Up and Comer

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About Akerman Senterfitt&#13

Akerman is a major transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle industry M&ampA, within the financial services and genuine estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With much more than 550 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 19 offices, it is ranked among the leading 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Far more info can be identified at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.

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Mitchell J. Stein, Esq.: Trend of Bank of America Loan Modification and Consumer Abuses Needs Exposure

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Hidden Hills, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) January 25, 2011

Facing a national storm of criticism more than therapy of homeowners and illegal mortgage foreclosures, and most lately sued by Arizona and Nevada more than home-loan modification programs intended to maintain property owners who borrowed from its Countrywide mortgage unit out of foreclosure, Bank of America is becoming exposed as a major issue in making the problems property owners face in the ongoing foreclosure crisis, according to Mitchell J. Stein, Esq. of Mitchell J. Stein &amp Associates.

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There is a disturbing pattern of the way Bank of America treats folks getting revealed through consumer feedback and the tremendous amount of negative media coverage, which merely put, is regularly terrible, said Mitchell J. Stein, Esq., a 25-year award-winning litigator, trial lawyer, and philanthropist committed to protecting shoppers and victims’ rights in reigning in abusive practices of banks, lenders and other individuals. It is vital that the behaviors of the banks that have helped develop this crisis get national attention to assist protect buyers, resolve the crisis and recognize the Banks true function in it.

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Even though all 50 U.S. states are investigating whether banks and loan servicers used false documents and signatures to justify hundreds of thousands of foreclosures, Bank of America was sued in December, 2010 by Arizona and Nevada over home-loan modification programs intended to hold property owners who borrowed from its Countrywide mortgage unit out of foreclosure. A judgment in 2009 to resolve a lawsuit alleging Countrywide engaged in fraud necessary the Bank create a loan modification system for former Countrywide borrowers in those states.

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According to the Arizona lawyer common, rather of working to modify loans on a timely basis, Bank of America apparently proceeded with foreclosures while borrowers requests for modifications were still pending, mentioned Mitchell J. Stein, Esq. This is yet another of several examples in the foreclosure crisis of Bank of America allegedly ignoring the law to pursue earnings above people.

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In the Arizona and Nevada suits, the bank is accused of misleading shoppers about needs for the modification system and how extended it would take for requests to be decided. The bank supplied inaccurate and deceptive reasons for denying modification requests, according to the suits.

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From throwing peoples belongings into the street throughout wrongful foreclosures to foreclosing on homeowners operating for loan modifications, there is a typical and despicable lack of consideration by the Bank for its buyers, specifically men and women in jeopardy of becoming evicted since the Bank repeatedly doesnt fulfill its legal responsibilities in dealing with them and their mortgages, mentioned Mitchell J. Stein, Esq.

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The Arizona lawsuit seeks a court order holding the bank in contempt for violating the agreement and requiring it to pay as considerably as $ 25,000 for every single violation of the accord plus as considerably as $ ten,000 for each and every violation of the states customer-fraud law. Nevadas complaint seeks unspecified civil penalties and restitution.

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The Arizona case is Arizona v Bank of America, CV2010- 33580, Maricopa County Superior Court (Phoenix). The Nevada case is Nevada v. Bank of America, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County (Las Vegas).

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ABOUT MITCHELL J. STEIN &amp ASSOCIATES&#13

Mitchell J. Stein &amp Associates is a California-based law firm founded by M.J. Stein, Esq. a 25-year award-winning litigator, trial lawyer, financier, and entrepreneur who has represented many of the world’s biggest organizations and has been involved in some of the highest profile circumstances in the Nation’s history. The Firms philosophy is primarily based on the belief that their consumers needs are of the utmost value and, as a result, a higher percentage of the Firms enterprise has been from repeat buyers and referrals. The Firms practice places include Complex Litigation, Bank Difficulties, Mergers &amp Acquisitions, Commercial and Residential Foreclosures , and Bankruptcy Litigation. Mr. Stein is also the founder of VIPS Foundation (Victims of Injustice Discomfort and Suffering), via which victims nationwide, over the last 15-years, have received assistance following unfortunate events that subjected them to oppression or mistreatment. In that regard, Mr. Stein received the inaugural Mitchell J. Stein Benefactor Award from the National Organization for Victims Help (NOVA) for his work in safeguarding victims rights. Go to http://www.mjsteinassociates.com or http://www.dobielaw.org for much more info.

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The Law Offices of Kramer and Kaslow: A New Foreclosure Trend – Home owners Take Banks Home

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Calabasas, CA (PRWEB) June 17, 2011

Philip Kramer, lead lawyer for Kramer Kaslow, recently commented on the New York Times coverage of the reverse foreclosure trend. According to the New York Occasions write-up, a new trend could be starting in the foreclosure crisis: homeowners foreclosing on lenders. The New York Occasions reports, Owners of a house in Florida have engineered a reverse foreclosure against a bank. That makes two so far this year.

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The post says that earlier this year, Patrick Rodgers, a goth and industrial music event promoter in Philadelphia became miffed since his mortgage lender, Wells Fargo, was creating him carry what he deemed excessive insurance on his residence. Making use of the Genuine Estate Settlement Procedures Act to his benefit, he filed suit and wound up with a sheriffs notice authorizing the sale of the contents of a Wells Fargo branch.

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The New York Times reports on another couple who did battle with their lender and won, A couple in Naples, Fla., have foreclosed on a Bank of America branch following the bank managed to foreclose on their property even even though they by no means had a mortgage on it.

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According to reports in The Naples News, Time and elsewhere, Warren Nyerges and his wife paid $ 165,000 in money to purchase the house from the bank, and never ever borrowed against it. But last February, in an apparent case of mistaken house identity, the bank started foreclosure proceedings against them.

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The couple hired a lawyer and the bank action was ultimately abandoned, but the couple then went to court and got a judgment for about $ two,500 in attorneys fees.

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When the bank didnt spend, their lawyer, Todd Allen, showed up at a regional bank branch final week with sheriffs deputies and a moving truck to start cleaning out the constructing. Not extended after, the bank paid them a lot more than $ 5,700, to cover the charges and further expenses.

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Attorney Philip A. Kramer, senior companion at the Kramer&amp Kaslow law firm represents hundreds of consolidated litigation plaintiff clientele who are suing banks for wrongful foreclosure practices. Stories like these are excellent exciting, says Kramer, but its essential to maintain in mind that these minor skirmishes do nothing at all to prevent the huge-scale abuse of home owners by lenders. We can all have a excellent chuckle at this, but we cant drop sight of just how critical it is when strong banking institutions wrongfully try to take peoples properties.

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Much more of Philip Kramers comments can be discovered at the Law Offices of Kramer and Kaslow blog.

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ABOUT PHILIP KRAMER&#13

PHILIP A. KRAMER is the senior partner of the Law Office of Kramer &amp Kaslow, in Calabasas, California. Kramer &amp Kaslow is Martindale Hubbell AV rated. Mr. Kramer is a perennial recipient of the prestigious Southern California Super Lawyer award.

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Mr. Kramer received his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and his Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC. His practice emphasizes commercial litigation and trial advocacy, with a concentration on business litigation, and actual property matters. He has prosecuted and defended situations for over twenty five years.

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Mr. Kramer is a licensed real estate broker and has spent considerable time supplying legal solutions in connection with genuine estate troubles relating to loan modification and loss mitigation, land use and zoning, environmental problems, easements, construction and development, finance, and landlord tenant matters.

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Mr. Kramer is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California, the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Military Appeals. Mr. Kramer has attempted in excess of 200 circumstances. He has appeared on nationally televised programs with regards to pre-trial procedure and trial strategy and has appeared as a guest lecturer on subjects ranging from constitutional law to trial practice, and Mr. Kramer regularly lectures on a broad spectrum of various legal and company problems.

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Mr. Kramer also serves as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court and as a Mediator.

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Mr. Kramer is also a previous president of the Los Angeles West Inns of Court, a national organization committed to bringing professionalism and civility back into the legal profession. He also serves on many Boards of Directors and serves as an officer in numerous businesses. For much more details get in touch with (818) 224-3900 or check out http://kramer-kaslow.com

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Ohio HARP Mortgage Lender Sees Rising Trend of Borrowers Saving Huge Via Revamped Refinancing Program

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Columbus, OH (PRWEB) March 25, 2013

Equity Sources, Inc., an Ohio HARP mortgage lender, reports that 2012 was a landmark year for the Obama administrations Residence Reasonably priced Refinance Program (HARP). Modifications in late 2011 created the program more accessible to each lenders and borrowers attempting to fight back against recession-induced mortgage-worth declines, resulting in skyrocketing numbers of HARP-assisted and HARP-eligible borrowers. A recent USA These days article marks the quantity of HARP borrowers in 2012 at a lot more than 1.1 million, an increase by more than twofold from the earlier year. And Ohio just occurred to be among the states that saw the greatest economic rebound in terms of refinancing achievement.

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In the most recent HARP Refinance Report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which covers all activity in 2012, Ohio HARP loans elevated by two,078 in December from the prior month to a total of 34,332 for the calendar year. Nationally, this put Ohio in the best ten of HARP loans per state in 2012.

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Also on a nationwide scale, there have been 1,074,754 refinances for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in 2012. The majority of these, 640,460 to be precise, came for Fannie Mae loans, which is what Equity Sources deals in.

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In related news for underwater borrowers in Ohio, data and analytics business CoreLogic released a mid-January study that reports a total of 633,211 properties with or close to negative equity out of a total of two,152,771 mortgages in the state. This signifies that with a lot more than 25 percent of Ohio refinance borrowers at or near unfavorable equity, there are a lot of people in the Buckeye state who could benefit from the enormous relief becoming presented by HARP.

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Click Here to see if you are eligible for the HARP plan.

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Homeowner awareness is the most significant obstacle, says Equity Sources President Ed Rizor. Some organizations do not use the HARP program. Homeowners get turned down for a low industry value and dont know they qualify for the HARP plan. We take the time to listen and speak to the homeowner and explain the HARP system and the positive aspects.

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An unawareness of the value of HARP is a important explanation why several eligible borrowers arent cashing in on enormous savings. Take, for instance, the $ 645 per month that one loved ones is saving by functioning with Rizor and his Ohio HARP lending group. And they arent the only ones cashing in large.

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This trend of using the now-far more-accessible services of HARP need to only continue to develop in 2013 as more underwater borrowers turn into conscious of a service that could save them from demanding mortgage situations. And considering the dramatic good results and improve in popularity of the program in 2012, Rizor and his staff are anticipating a high volume of underwater borrowers in need to have of Ohio HARP lending.

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As for newcomers to the HARP plan, Rizor guarantees that Equity will make the approach as basic as feasible. “Our objective is to offer such a higher level of consumer service that we leave each and every client a raving fan,” Rizor says. “We make the refinance approach swift and easy.”

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About HARP

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The Residence Affordable Refinance Plan was modified in October 2011 following an agreement amongst the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, creating it simpler for mortgage lenders to aid HARP-eligible borrowers with refinancing.

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The Property Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP) is designed to help responsible borrowers with streamline refinancing. This signifies that borrowers who have been up to date with their mortgage payments but have noticed a decline in their property value are given refinancing aid.

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According to the Obama administration, HARP will save home owners $ 250 a month on typical in mortgage payments. The administration also predicts that HARP will assist 4-5 million underwater home owners.

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These are the qualifications borrowers should fit to be eligible for HARP 2.:

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1) Their very first mortgage loan is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.&#13

2) The loan was sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac ahead of Might 31, 2009.&#13

3) They have to be present on their mortgage payments.&#13

4) Need to owe more than your home is worth, or is there minimal equity in your home.&#13

5) All mortgage payments made on time in the final six months.&#13

3 Unexpected Trend Changes in the Foreclosures and Housing Market – Reported by RealEstateLicense.org

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Temple, TX (PRWEB) May 24, 2013

“We’re seeing three surprises in the housing market today. Despite the ‘bad economy’ foreclosures are down, there’s been a shift in the underlying reasons for new foreclosures, and the purchasing power of cash buyers is increasing.” says Jeffry Evans, real estate agent, investor and founder of RealEstateLicense.org.

“Foreclosure filings — including notices of default, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — during the first quarter fell 23% from a year earlier, the lowest level since the second quarter of 2007” according to CNN.

Short sales and other alternatives (where homeowners sell their homes for less than what they owe with bank approval) have been one of the major reasons foreclosure rates are dropping, but experts say the need for short sales is wavering with programs like the Home Affordable Modification Program and the Home Affordable Refinance Program, which have helped millions of homeowners avoid foreclosure.

According to CNN, last spring the nation’s largest mortgage lenders, in an almost $ 25 billion dollar settlement, agreed to help struggling borrowers by lowering their mortgage rates, reducing their principle and other fixes aimed at helping American’s keep their homes. The result has been astounding. Home prices are starting to rise (up more than 8% since January), foreclosures are down, and many are starting to look hopeful that the worst is indeed behind us.

Not only are foreclosures down, but employment is on an upward bend as well. The U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that employment in the mortgage banking and brokerage sector rose to 288,900 in March from 287,300 in February. When lenders start hiring, its a sign of confidence in current market trends.

During the crash the primary reason for foreclosures was homes being “upside down” where the market price was lower than the mortgage balance. Now it’s reverted back to the traditional reasons for foreclosure including job loss, job transfer, and other financial, family or personal issues.

Rates are lower than they have been in decades, but borrowers must have their documents in order. Financial records and cash saved for down payments are a must in today’s mortgage climate.

The interest rates are good and if you have good credit, you can get a loan. If you don’t you should work on your credit and put some money in the bank and wait to buy. The mortgage companies are still making loans, they just want a lot of information and they want to be sure that you will be able to re-pay the loan.