Can these Lehigh Valley homes be saved?

This story is rather odd as an example of possible foreclosure. It reads of a laid off unemployed worker sitting on his sofa with a mental disease who can not make monthly mortgage payments of 1,000 dollars per month. No mention of the health care costs, property taxes, the school tax, the county taxes or the city taxes. No mention of house upkeep costs or how he feeds his family. Never mind the house. Let it go. Move into a house trailer or an apartment to break the overwhelming cycle. Sure hope the MC made this suggestion.

Shows the importance of savings for America. We went from -1% to 6% in savings rate in the past 2 years.

While Japan, Korea, and China average over 30% of savings of net income.

Maybe you just can't have it all. I know a lot of depressed people in Asia who live on less than $1000 per month, but still find a way to survive despite depression. It is called they MUST EAT so they go out and collect cardboard ever evening to sell so their children have food each day.

I know Asian households where 6 people live in a 2 room apartment. Sometimes when you have little you have to survive on little.

The common theme across Asia is self determination. There is no one to bail you out. You live based on what you contribute to society.

If you don't want to get off the subway floor, that is where you stay.

You don't want to get off the couch then that is where you will stay.

The realities of life are sometime brutal and it shows how soft a nation the United States has become.

Nichibei wrote:

This story is rather odd as an example of possible foreclosure. It reads of a laid off unemployed worker sitting on his sofa with a mental disease who can not make monthly mortgage payments of 1,000 dollars per month. No mention of the health care costs, property taxes, the school tax, the county taxes or the city taxes. No mention of house upkeep costs or how he feeds his family. Never mind the house. Let it go. Move into a house trailer or an apartment to break the overwhelming cycle. Sure hope the MC made this suggestion.

I don't agree with you.

Please don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Sometimes people just need a little helping hand... things do turn around.
This government beleive in the AIG, the AUTO bailout.... so why not work with people, even give them a one year of modifiy payment.... what would be the big harm in that?

Then why do we have that program for habitat so low income people get chosen to have a home for a reduced rate when we have people being thrown out of their home??? I don't understand that concept.

comment wrote:

Shows the importance of savings for America. We went from -1% to 6% in savings rate in the past 2 years.
While Japan, Korea, and China average over 30% of savings of net income.
Maybe you just can't have it all. I know a lot of depressed people in Asia who live on less than $1000 per month, but still find a way to survive despite depression. It is called they MUST EAT so they go out and collect cardboard ever evening to sell so their children have food each day.
I know Asian households where 6 people live in a 2 room apartment. Sometimes when you have little you have to survive on little.
The common theme across Asia is self determination. There is no one to bail you out. You live based on what you contribute to society.
If you don't want to get off the subway floor, that is where you stay.
You don't want to get off the couch then that is where you will stay.
The realities of life are sometime brutal and it shows how soft a nation the United States has become.

One thing that hurts the middle class is that our own government hates us!

Big tax breaks to send our good paying jobs overseas, and all the freebies to the illegals at the taxpayers expense.

There is only so much middle class people can take snd our backs are breaking!!!!

comment wrote:

Shows the importance of savings for America. We went from -1% to 6% in savings rate in the past 2 years.
While Japan, Korea, and China average over 30% of savings of net income.
Maybe you just can't have it all. I know a lot of depressed people in Asia who live on less than $1000 per month, but still find a way to survive despite depression. It is called they MUST EAT so they go out and collect cardboard ever evening to sell so their children have food each day.
I know Asian households where 6 people live in a 2 room apartment. Sometimes when you have little you have to survive on little.
The common theme across Asia is self determination. There is no one to bail you out. You live based on what you contribute to society.
If you don't want to get off the subway floor, that is where you stay.
You don't want to get off the couch then that is where you will stay.
The realities of life are sometime brutal and it shows how soft a nation the United States has become.

who cares about asians in other countries? they took most of the jobs from AMERICANS.... so if they have issues who cares.. this is america. this is where OUR problem is NOT asia. if you like asia so much.... CYA

comment wrote:

Shows the importance of savings for America. We went from -1% to 6% in savings rate in the past 2 years.
While Japan, Korea, and China average over 30% of savings of net income.
Maybe you just can't have it all. I know a lot of depressed people in Asia who live on less than $1000 per month, but still find a way to survive despite depression. It is called they MUST EAT so they go out and collect cardboard ever evening to sell so their children have food each day.
I know Asian households where 6 people live in a 2 room apartment. Sometimes when you have little you have to survive on little.
The common theme across Asia is self determination. There is no one to bail you out. You live based on what you contribute to society.
If you don't want to get off the subway floor, that is where you stay.
You don't want to get off the couch then that is where you will stay.
The realities of life are sometime brutal and it shows how soft a nation the United States has become.

You have made my day. I'm wondering whether our similar points of view have something to do with our travel outside of the US...

We really do tend to piss, moan, whine, and complan about relatively nothing compared to many in other areas of the world.

People demand wages here so that they can buy their adult toys and get that entitled to vacation, or live in that McMansion, or buy that new SUV. Folks in other countries behave quite differently in the same situations. It's what tends to happen to the spoiled offspring of generations before who were able to pamper their children. We tend to be gluttons nd want it all NOW. When we do not get it we pitch a hissy fit or complain endlessly about the "inconvenience".

But the US Mommy Government will always be there for you to find a teat.

redneck wrote:

<quoted text> who cares about asians in other countries? they took most of the jobs from AMERICANS.... so if they have issues who cares.. this is america. this is where OUR problem is NOT asia. if you like asia so much.... CYA

jerk.

Tarnished Sheba wrote:

<quoted text>
One thing that hurts the middle class is that our own government hates us!
Big tax breaks to send our good paying jobs overseas, and all the freebies to the illegals at the taxpayers expense.
There is only so much middle class people can take snd our backs are breaking!!!!

It's where our elected public servants can go to tap revenues, time and time again. I propose that we do not allow lawyers to run for office for the next ten years and also throw out the career politicians and not wait until the die, pathetically clinging to office (Byrd, Kennedy, Murtha)

redneck wrote:

<quoted text> who cares about asians in other countries? they took most of the jobs from AMERICANS.... so if they have issues who cares.. this is america. this is where OUR problem is NOT asia. if you like asia so much.... CYA

No, I see it as they earned their jobs by continuing to produce highly educated people who can work and complain a heck of a lot less than us.

No one took your job. It would be your's only if you were self-employed.

If you don't like Asia, then please do not frequent discount stores, Wal-mart or buy any appliances at prices that allow you to consume more than you otherwise could.

Global economy has been operating for the past 3000 years, surely you can compete and create your own job and self-subsistence.

We are Americans or have you thrown in the towel on your capabilities, competitiveness and intellect. Innovate or perish!

StaberDearth wrote:

<quoted text>
You have made my day. I'm wondering whether our similar points of view have something to do with our travel outside of the US...
We really do tend to piss, moan, whine, and complan about relatively nothing compared to many in other areas of the world.
People demand wages here so that they can buy their adult toys and get that entitled to vacation, or live in that McMansion, or buy that new SUV. Folks in other countries behave quite differently in the same situations. It's what tends to happen to the spoiled offspring of generations before who were able to pamper their children. We tend to be gluttons nd want it all NOW. When we do not get it we pitch a hissy fit or complain endlessly about the "inconvenience".
But the US Mommy Government will always be there for you to find a teat.

So what you are saying is that we should have rich & poor, no middle class.... We should work for peanuts, work like slaves and the bosses have everything? I bet you would not want to be one of those people that have to raid garbage dumpsters to survive?
Our Government should be helping this country to be better, not giveing our good paying jobs away and the middle class taxpayers expense!

Tarnished Sheba wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't agree with you.
Please don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Sometimes people just need a little helping hand... things do turn around.
This government beleive in the AIG, the AUTO bailout.... so why not work with people, even give them a one year of modifiy payment.... what would be the big harm in that?
Then why do we have that program for habitat so low income people get chosen to have a home for a reduced rate when we have people being thrown out of their home??? I don't understand that concept.

first of all he did not lose his job, he claims medical reasons, let his wife and daughter work to help out that is what family does, after all he does have his daughter and her child living there, as far as Countrywide they are a good mortgage co, have them myself and when you need something they are there, may he is the type that has bad credit long before his illness, that is why our WONDERFUL country is the way it is, give everyone a mortgage, who cares if he has bad credit, we can thank our wonderful Goverment for that also, they pushed for people with bad credit to get get the homes they could not afford, so how can I take pity on people like that, sorry I can't

StaberDearth wrote:

<quoted text>
It's where our elected public servants can go to tap revenues, time and time again. I propose that we do not allow lawyers to run for office for the next ten years and also throw out the career politicians and not wait until the die, pathetically clinging to office (Byrd, Kennedy, Murtha)

I agree.

It's just like years back when this government tapped/stole/barrowed and never paid it back from the Socical Security Trust Fund and gave IOU's....

That's why Socical Security is running out of money, the politicians will never bring up that issue!

You know.... why is that someone takes a loan out for something, then can't repay it, makes the lender out to be the bad guy? Money was lawfully loaned and a contract signed. Bottomline... when you take out a mortgage, car loan etc... you do everything in your power to pay it back. You are obligated. If you don't, then the lender takes back what is THEIRS! Remeber, in the case of a mortgage, you are RENTING to own. The home is not YOURS but THEIRS. Now, back to the fellow who can't pay... you need to suck it up and do whatever you can to provide for your family and pay back your loan. If that means going to work hurt, you do it. If it means slapping yourself in the face and dealing with people, you do it. There are many things that we all hate to do, but do it because we have to.

Unions, idiots in Washington, greed, and illegals ruined this country. I thought the almighty OBAMA was going to save everyone. So much for hope and change. He keeps blaming Bush for everything, When does he become accountable for anything? Did he not know what the job entailed, and the state of the economy and country when he took the job? As long as the current administration does nothing but complain and point fingers to the past administration, things will continue to decline. Also, as long as people are going to count on the govt to save them we are doomed. Wake up people, the govt does not care about you. You said no to the bail outs, you said protect our borders, you said enforce our immigration laws, is the govt listening to you?

whatever wrote:

<quoted text>
first of all he did not lose his job, he claims medical reasons, let his wife and daughter work to help out that is what family does, after all he does have his daughter and her child living there, as far as Countrywide they are a good mortgage co, have them myself and when you need something they are there, may he is the type that has bad credit long before his illness, that is why our WONDERFUL country is the way it is, give everyone a mortgage, who cares if he has bad credit, we can thank our wonderful Goverment for that also, they pushed for people with bad credit to get get the homes they could not afford, so how can I take pity on people like that, sorry I can't

You do have a good point, people that have a track record of not paying their bills I agree with you.

I am thinking of the people that just need a helping hand for a short period of time, that they did have good credit before this happend and just need a break to get over this hump. That's what I am thinking and think that would be fair.

Sometimes in life things do and will go wrong and you just need that small bridge to get you over what ever tripped you up.

Nichibei wrote:

Let it go. Move into a house trailer or an apartment to break the overwhelming cycle.

The odd truth is that trailers and apartments are not really less expensive than a small real home. Trailer owners have to pay lot rent on top of a mortgage and all the property taxes as a home as well. If the landlord sees that you are able to make your payments he will keep raising the rent until you are squeezed. I lived in one many years ago before saving for and buying a real home. Friends of mine had apartments and the rents were higher than many mortgage payments home owners pay. Mobile homes and apartments are only good deals for those who collect the rent.

Where does the MCall get these people? This man, who was making 400.00 a week with a 1000.00 mortgage ... before taxes and insurance, can't work for over a year because of stress, and we are supposed to feel bad he hasn't paid his mortgage since Oct? First of all, how do you have a 1000.00 mortgage when you only make 1600 a month? Second... can't your wife or daughter make 400 a week somewhere? Third... get off the couch. This isn't Countrywide's fault. I realize there are people out there in trouble, this guy isn't a great example.

Allentownian wrote:

<quoted text>
The odd truth is that trailers and apartments are not really less expensive than a small real home. Trailer owners have to pay lot rent on top of a mortgage and all the property taxes as a home as well. If the landlord sees that you are able to make your payments he will keep raising the rent until you are squeezed. I lived in one many years ago before saving for and buying a real home. Friends of mine had apartments and the rents were higher than many mortgage payments home owners pay. Mobile homes and apartments are only good deals for those who collect the rent.

Yes! I have heard similer stories, one older couple the I personally know sold their home and moved into one of those communities regrets it, every year the lot rent keeps going up and up... they would of have be better keeping their house and it would have been cheaper!

Back in 2005, my husband got laid off work because the closed down the Allentown plant and moved it to New Smithville. No bus transportation to that location so my husband had to find other work. Meanwhile, he had two broken bones in his foot and was unable to work (which means he couldn't collect Unemployment [you have to be able and willing to work] and you can't with a cast on your leg.) I am on total disability and I pay for the mortgage and most of the larger bills in the home. His paycheck went for food and the smaller bills of the house and incidentals.

We contacted our mortgage company Wells Fargo (predatory lender along with Countrywide) and we told them our situation. They sent us an application for a loan modification and we filled it out and attached the necessary paperwork that they needed to do the modification. This started in May of 2005. I followed up with them about 24 hours after I had FAXED all the paperwork to them and they said they had all they needed but they needed on more piece of info. So again I faxed over what they needed. Several days later I called to see what the progress was and they said they didn't have the paperwork. 3rd time, I faxed over the paperwork. Then they needed something else. Faxed.

Well, 8 faxes later and faxing the same paperwork 8 times over, we got a notice of foreclosure (all this was documented because I kept the fax cover sheets with what I faxed to them and document the phone calls and who I spoke to) in the middle of July. We immediately contacted ACORN (which we are members) and the organizer and our family met with the local Wells Fargo office manager (with paperwork in hand).

After our meeting in his office, and before we got home, we had a phone call on our answering machine from the director of the loan office in Ft. Mill, SC and he was very apologetic and by the time we got through, the foreclosure was stopped, the attorney's fee were eaten by Wells Fargo because they messed up. We asked them what they did with all the paperwork that we had faxed over several times over and they said when they get faxes they get taken off the machine and given to someone.

We are still in our house and our interest rate dropped from 6.5% to 5 percent.

Companies really don't want you to lose your house. What are they going to do with it.

There are ways to save your house. Ask for a loan modification. It is a very simple process. Ask all sorts of questions and find out if your mortgage company is a predatory lender and get in contact with ACORN and let them know you are being foreclosed.

Southside Allentown 18103 wrote:

Back in 2005, my husband got laid off work because the closed down the Allentown plant and moved it to New Smithville. No bus transportation to that location so my husband had to find other work. Meanwhile, he had two broken bones in his foot and was unable to work (which means he couldn't collect Unemployment [you have to be able and willing to work] and you can't with a cast on your leg.) I am on total disability and I pay for the mortgage and most of the larger bills in the home. His paycheck went for food and the smaller bills of the house and incidentals.
We contacted our mortgage company Wells Fargo (predatory lender along with Countrywide) and we told them our situation. They sent us an application for a loan modification and we filled it out and attached the necessary paperwork that they needed to do the modification. This started in May of 2005. I followed up with them about 24 hours after I had FAXED all the paperwork to them and they said they had all they needed but they needed on more piece of info. So again I faxed over what they needed. Several days later I called to see what the progress was and they said they didn't have the paperwork. 3rd time, I faxed over the paperwork. Then they needed something else. Faxed.
Well, 8 faxes later and faxing the same paperwork 8 times over, we got a notice of foreclosure (all this was documented because I kept the fax cover sheets with what I faxed to them and document the phone calls and who I spoke to) in the middle of July. We immediately contacted ACORN (which we are members) and the organizer and our family met with the local Wells Fargo office manager (with paperwork in hand).
After our meeting in his office, and before we got home, we had a phone call on our answering machine from the director of the loan office in Ft. Mill, SC and he was very apologetic and by the time we got through, the foreclosure was stopped, the attorney's fee were eaten by Wells Fargo because they messed up. We asked them what they did with all the paperwork that we had faxed over several times over and they said when they get faxes they get taken off the machine and given to someone.
We are still in our house and our interest rate dropped from 6.5% to 5 percent.
Companies really don't want you to lose your house. What are they going to do with it.
There are ways to save your house. Ask for a loan modification. It is a very simple process. Ask all sorts of questions and find out if your mortgage company is a predatory lender and get in contact with ACORN and let them know you are being foreclosed.

Thank you for your story...

Please post the phone and address of ACORN, maybe someone might need it on this thread.