A few months back I noted that the U.S. Supreme Court was going to hear a case on whether the denial of a chapter 13 repayment plan could be appealed. The justices of the Court may not see eye to eye on many issues, but in this case they unanimously held that the answer is …
Supreme Court Holds That Denied Chapter 13 Plans Cannot Be Appealed Read More »
In New York bankruptcy it’s possible, but not common, for debtors to unsuccessfully surrender their homes or other real estate. They receive their discharges, exit bankruptcy, and find that they still own the property with a mortgage lien still attached to it. How can something so bizarre happen? Answer: Just because you say you want …
Surrendering Real Estate Might Not Work in Bankruptcy Read More »
When the topic of the underwater house comes up in New York bankruptcy, a few options are regularly (and rightly) listed: short-sales, offering the deed in lieu of foreclosure, staying and paying, foreclosure (the worst option), and bankruptcy. One that doesn’t come up often is moving out and renting the residence. It’s an intriguing idea …
The Risks and Benefits of Renting Out the Underwater Home Read More »
It’s one of the most common—and important—questions New York bankruptcy debtors ask: How long will a chapter 7 bankruptcy take? The answer is there are really two timelines to be aware of: the one between the bankruptcy case being filed and the discharge, and the one from filing until closure. In most cases, the period …
Factors Affecting a Chapter 7 New York Bankruptcy Timeline Read More »
It is possible for an insurance policy to force someone into New York foreclosure. These would be “forced-place” insurance policies. As the name suggests, the policy is forced into place onto the homeowner by another party. Before going into how this can lead to or aggravate a foreclosure, it’s necessary to explain why a party …
You may recall the “robo-signing” scandal that erupted in 2010. Banks’ employees and contractors were improperly signing false mortgage or foreclosure documents and then executing them on homeowners. Apparently, some of these documents found their way into bankruptcy courts, meaning the lenders committed perjury as well. The U.S. Trustee Program, which among other responsibilities helps …
U.S. Trustee Program Announces $50 Million Bankruptcy Settlement With JPMorgan Chase Read More »
It’s not a phenomenon that’s affected people filing New York bankruptcy yet, but it might become one in the not-so-distant future: Some federal courts in other states are ruling that tax debts that would otherwise be dischargeable are in fact not. Here’s the background. Typically, discharging a tax debt requires the debtor to meet three …
Bankruptcy Courts Becoming Less Forgiving of Late Tax Returns Read More »
In discussing reverse mortgages and New York bankruptcy, I demurred on whether they “work as intended.” As a brief reintroduction, a reverse mortgage gives the homeowner equity payouts over time rather than the homeowner “purchasing” equity with monthly payments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a report that addressed the effectiveness of reverse …
CFPB Reports on Homeowners’ Reverse Mortgage Complaints Read More »
A reverse mortgage is when a homeowner who owns a property free of any other mortgages and is at least 62 years old borrows money against the home’s equity. It’s “reverse” in the sense that the home’s equity decreases as the money is paid out to the homeowner instead of rising with each mortgage payment. …
You may have heard stories of underwater homeowners walking away from their homes and allowing the banks to foreclose on them without a contest. This might not sound so awful if you think you have no hope of catching up on mortgage payments, but it’s a very bad idea for multiple reasons. (1) Until the …
4 Reasons ‘Walking Away’ From an Underwater Home Is a Bad Idea Read More »
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