As more and more people seek ways to modify loans and reduce mortgage payments and interest rates, the door for loan modification scammers has opened wide. According to baledger.com, the FBI and other national agencies have become involved in stopping loan modification scam artists. Scam artists use billboards, telephone poll advertisements and even letters in the mail saying they know the person is past due on their mortgage and offer help.

NeighborWorks America put together a list on LoanScamAlert.org to teach people signs of a scam. The site says scam artists usually ask for a fee in advance, guarantee they will stop a foreclosure, guarantee they will make sure the person receives a loan modification and even ask homeowners to stop paying the mortgage lender directly and instead pay through the scam artist. Sometimes the scam artists will ask homeowners to sign paperwork they do not understand, claim to be a part of a government program and even ask for financial information over the phone or online.

If you’re a resident of Suffolk County and are considering a loan modification, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney who can actually assist in the process and provide consultation. The Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. is frequently retained by its clients to engage in negotiations with banks, mortgage holders, credit cards, car financing companies, landlords and other creditors. Because of the firm's long experience with creditor negotiations and because of the firm's specific expertise with matters that pertain to debtor-creditor relations, the client's ability to succeed in negotiating with their creditors is enhanced.

Our firm will advise its clients as to what matters can be negotiated and to what extent their creditors may accept certain offers. Our firm will write and call the creditors, persist in trying to get a resolution to the advantage of the client, and keep the client informed as to the progress with these matters. Upon a resolution, our firm will enter into a stipulation of settlement with the creditor and require that other documents be prepared that show that the matter has settled.

Attorneys at the Law Firm of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. specialize in modification and foreclosure law. If you are a Suffolk County resident, visit or call us for a free initial consultation.

We’ve all heard the stories of homeowners staying in their homes for months after foreclosure because the banks were too backed up and busy to do something about it. It appears that foreclosure squatters may be out of luck due to the $26 billion mortgage settlement that has just been approved by the nation's five largest mortgage lenders.

According to Daren Blomquist, the marketing director at RealtyTrac., “borrowers who were seriously delinquent on their loans have been able to stay in their homes for months or even years without making a single payment. Nationwide, the average time it takes to foreclose on a home – from the first missed payment to the final bank repossession – stretched to 370 days during the first quarter, almost twice as long as it took five years ago.”

In some states, such as ours, delinquent borrowers have been squatting in their homes much longer. In Florida, the average time was 861 days, and in New York it was 1,056 days – close to three years.

The reality for residents of Long Island is that one missed mortgage payment could mean foreclosure. And now that the foreclosure free ride is over, that could mean you will be out of your home in 6 months. There are many options to pursue and it is important to understand that the bank really doesn't want to foreclosure on your home — if it does then it has an empty house on its hands.

If you are facing foreclosure, it is probably best to seek the help of an experienced Long Island foreclosure attorney. The Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. specializes in bankruptcy and foreclosure law, as well as foreclosure defense, reorganizations, mortgage modifications, and more. Call us today for a free initial consultation - we look forward to serving you. 

According to CNNMoney, five years after the housing bubble burst, America's wealthiest families are now losing their homes to foreclosure at a faster rate than the rest of the country. What?s interesting about this news is that many of them are doing so voluntarily.

Attorneys like those at the Law Firm of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. are able to engage in negotiations with banks, mortgage holders, credit cards, car financing companies, landlords and other creditors. Because of the firm's experience with creditor negotiations and specific expertise with matters that pertain to debtor-creditor relations, your chances of negotiating is enhanced.

The Law Firm of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. can write and call the creditors and persist in trying to get a resolution to your advantage. Upon a resolution, we will enter into a stipulation of settlement with the creditor and require that other documents be prepared that show that the matter has settled. We are committed to seeing you through the entire process.

If you think you need to speak with a modification attorney, be sure to visit or call the Law Offices of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. for a free initial consultation.

It is expected that the increase in 2012 will come as a result of “leftover” foreclosure filings from 2011. The time to complete the foreclosure process has increased 24 percent since the third quarter of 2010 when concerns about fraudulent documentation appeared in some markets, according to Fox Business. Fox Business also reports that there are precautions that homeowners can take to prevent the possibility of a foreclosure. Property owners with equity in their mortgages may be eligible to refinance their home loans and lower their payments. Additionally, lender and government mortgage programs may be able to assist those with negative equity.

It's advisable to consult with an attorney to discuss the options listed above and choose a path that is most appropriate. If you are based in Suffolk County and are facing foreclosure, visit or call the Law Offices of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. for a free initial consultation. You can also call 631.479.2455.

There are foreclosure avoidance options out there since our current Administration has implemented a number of programs to assist homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and otherwise struggling with their monthly mortgage payments. The key is to work with a professional foreclosure defense lawyer to work through the details and make sure you choose the path that is right for you.

Foreclosure defense allows homeowners to assert their rights and oppose a foreclosure proceeding by engaging in litigation defense strategies. Legal defenses can delay the foreclosure proceeding and allow more time to explore alternative solutions, and potentially threaten the dismissal of the foreclosure action. Many times, our firm can identify possible issues that would create a strong defense and threaten the dismissal of the foreclosure action. Take action now to ensure a happy and stress-free new year.

If you are a Long Island resident and in need of foreclosure defense, visit or call the Law Offices of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. for a free initial consultation.

"Despite a seasonal slowdown similar to what we've seen in each of the past four years, November's numbers suggest a new set of incoming foreclosure waves, many of which may roll into the market as REOs or short sales sometime early next year," said James Saccacio, co-founder of RealtyTrac.

Notices of default (NOD) are a good barometer of what to expect in the foreclosure market, or an early warning sign that a homeowner is in trouble. In November, RealtyTrac reported 71,730 NODs, down eight percent from October and down nine percent from November 2010, which is encouraging news.

Foreclosure auctions were scheduled on 96,540 U.S. properties in November, up 13 percent from October, but still down 17 percent from November 2010. Scheduled foreclosure auctions increased drastically on a monthly basis in several states, including California (up 63 percent), Washington (up 56 percent), Ohio (up 53 percent), New Jersey (up 44 percent), and New York (up 38 percent). What this means is that we should soon expect to see a rise in foreclosures as a back log from August is worked through.

If you are based in Long Island and are struggling to pay your mortgage, visit or call the Law Offices of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. for a free initial consultation. You can also call 631.479.2455.