2018 Foreclosure Legal Updates

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announce They’re Halting Foreclosure Evictions During the Holidays

December 17, 2018. Homeowners who’ve gone through a foreclosure won't be evicted from their homes over the holiday season.

Keep Your Home California Programs Now Closed

October 2, 2018. The Keep Your Home California programs are no longer accepting applications.

New Florida Law Streamlines Foreclosures When Bankrupt Borrowers Surrender Their Home

October 1, 2018. In Florida, as of October 1, 2018, the lender can use your bankruptcy admissions against you if you try to fight a foreclosure.

California Reinstates Expired Homeowner Bill of Rights Provisions

September 14, 2018. Some sections of the original California Homeowner Bill of Rights expired on January 1, 2018; but a new law reinstates many of those provisions.

FHA Revises Foreclosure Relief Program for Disaster Victims in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

August 15, 2018. FHA is revising its disaster-related loss mitigation policy for borrowers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Wells Fargo Wrongfully Foreclosed on Hundreds of Homes: Are You Entitled to Compensation?

August 3, 2018. A computing miscalculation at Wells Fargo caused hundreds of people to miss out on loan modifications and, perhaps, ultimately lose their homes to foreclosure.

Federal Court Says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Foreclosures Have to Meet Constitutional Due Process Standards

August 2, 2018. Based on a recent federal court decision, foreclosure procedures for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans could change in states that allow nonjudicial foreclosures.

Court Determines Statue of Limitations for SCRA Claims Is Four Years

July 26, 2018. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a Marine who lost his home to foreclosure waited too long to sue the lender and trustee for violating the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Program Reopened July 1

July 1, 2018. Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund program, which helps homeowners get caught up on overdue mortgage payments so they can avoid a foreclosure, reopened to new applicants on July 1, 2018.

Rhode Island Extends Foreclosure Mediation Program for Five Years; 45-Day Preforeclosure Notice Now Required

June 28, 2018. Rhode Island extended its foreclosure mediation law for five years and now requires the lender to send a 45-day preforeclosure notice to the borrower.

Dodd-Frank Amendments Restore the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009

June 23, 2018. A recently-passed law reinstates the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA), which was previously in effect from 2009 through 2014.

One-Year Foreclosure Protection Under the SCRA Made Permanent

May 24, 2018. The one-year period during which a servicemember is protected from foreclosure after leaving military service is now permanent.

Homeowners Sue Fannie Mae Over Inaccurate Foreclosure Reporting

May 18, 2018. A recent class action suit claims that Fannie Mae violated the FCRA and prevented the plaintiffs from getting new mortgages by inaccurately reporting foreclosures instead of short sales.

South Carolina's Hardest Hit Fund Programs Closed

May 9, 2018. South Carolina has stopped accepting applications for its Hardest Hit Fund programs.

Connecticut’s Foreclosure Mediation Program Could Become Permanent

April 9, 2018. H.B 5495 would eliminate the sunset date for Connecticut's foreclosure mediation program.

Foreclosure Moratorium for Reverse Mortgage Borrowers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

March 19, 2018. The FHA announced an extended foreclosure moratorium lasting until September 15, 2018, for certain properties located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that were affected by Hurricane Maria.

Colorado Foreclosures: New and Improved Rule 120 Hearing

March 1, 2018. Colorado homeowners are now permitted to raise additional issues at a Rule 120 hearing to fight a nonjudicial foreclosure.

Changes to Alabama’s Redemption Period Law

February 22, 2018. Learn about Alabama's amended redemption period law.

FHA Introduces New Foreclosure Avoidance Option for Disaster Victims

February 22, 2018. FHA is offering a new foreclosure avoidance option—a Disaster Standalone Partial Claim—to borrowers struggling to catch up on mortgage payments after a natural disaster.

Additional Help for Mississippi Homeowners Announced

February 20, 2018. The Mississippi Center for Justice recently received $600,000 to provide housing assistance to homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Break Extended Through 2017

February 9, 2018. The new budget law—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018—includes tax relief when the lender forgives all or part of your mortgage debt.

Mississippi Hardest Hit Fund Reopened

January 31, 2018. The Mississippi Hardest Hit Fund program, called Home Saver, stopped accepting applications in May 2017, but has since reopened.

Florida’s Hardest Hit Fund Programs Closed

January 31, 2018. Florida closed its Hardest Hit Fund programs that provided funds to homeowners to make mortgage payments, reinstate a defaulted loan, or pay down the principal of a loan. But the Elderly Mortgage Assistance (ELMORE) program is still accepting applications.