We are often asked if homeowners facing foreclosure should hire a foreclosure attorney to help them avoid foreclosure and keep their home. While you can defend yourself against a foreclosure without an attorney, our experience has taught us that most people find that very hard to do. Foreclosure cases are rarely simple. Here are 5 reasons why in our opinion hiring an experienced foreclosure lawyer, such as Levitt & Slafkes, P.C., early in the case gives you the most options and the best chance of keeping your home.
1. They Know the Law
There are many different New Jersey and Federal laws that govern foreclosures, mortgages, contracts and the rights or borrowers. Experienced foreclosure defense attorneys, like Bruce H. Levitt, are knowledgeable about the relevant foreclosure laws. Bruce has demonstrated time and time again that he knows how to defend against the foreclosure process and hold lenders responsible for unfair lending practices. The law in foreclosures is also constantly changing. An experienced foreclosure attorney will stay on top of the legal changes in foreclosure defense and will therefore be readily able to help you.
2. Foreclosure Defenses are Complex
The defenses to foreclosure are not simple. Often a homeowner believes they have a defense to the foreclosure, but don’t have the legal knowledge or the tools they need to prove their case. A foreclosure defense attorney can help prove that the lender didn’t follow proper procedures when it filed the foreclosure lawsuit, that the mortgage lender can’t prove it owns the loan, or that a lender or mortgage servicer made a serious mistake with their account. Proving all of these defenses requires a detailed knowledge of foreclosure law.
3. Court procedures and rules are complicated
If you have already been served with a foreclosure complaint you must answer very quickly and accurately. There may be motions that need to be answered and court appearances required. The other side will have experienced attorneys to fight you, and you need an experienced attorney to effectively represent your interests.
4. The Foreclose Attorney Will Know Available Options to Save Your Home
There may be options available help you save your home that an experienced foreclosure attorney will know and can advise you about.
These may include:
Loan Modification
Many mortgage modification programs exist to help homeowners who are having difficulty paying their mortgage. The attorneys at Levitt & Slafkes, P.C., have successfully obtained mortgage modifications for our clients that have lowered interest rates, extended their payments and put the past due payments into the mortgage.
Looking for a Foreclosure Attorney in New Jersey? Call us for a Free Consultation
Many homeowners think there is nothing they can do if their lender has already filed a foreclosure lawsuit against them. This is not true. Homeowners who contact the foreclosure defense lawyers at Levitt & Slafkes, P.C., often learn about options to save their home that they did not know existed. Contact us as soon as you begin struggling to pay your mortgage. The sooner you contact us the more options that might be available.