The Mortgage Crisis Hits Home

My husband was evicted today. There was no warning, no notice. Just a phone call from his landlord giving him and his roommates 48 hours to move out of the house they had been renting. They're now homeless, their lease worthless, their deposit lost. They'll be staying with me for the next month, if they can get here; they'll all be losing their jobs, and probably their furniture too. If we can't find somewhere to live and jobs to pay for it we're all screwed; I was planning to move in with him.

How did this happen? Apparently, their landlord had bought the house on an interest-only 2/28 mortgage expecting to flip it quickly. Instead, it sat on the market of over six months; he didn't have the money to keep it. So he rented it out. Fast forward a year and a half: his payment ballooned, the property value had depreciated, he was "upside-down" on his mortgage, and the rent Mr. kyril and roommates were paying was not sufficient to cover the new higher payment. So he stopped paying the mortgage. Two months later, property values still stagnant, no refinancing in sight, the bank foreclosed on his loan. The landlord will suffer financial consequences, to be sure; the tenants, however, are now homeless.

Rents are going up. Available units are going down. Foreclosures and evictions are everywhere. And nobody has interceded on behalf of the little guy. There is no consideration of the human cost, only of the financial markets. Decent working people are left homeless and at the mercy of an ever-inflating housing market and a contracting, inflexible, exploitive job market. Two men, one woman and a two-year-old boy are now effectively on the streets because it was more important to oil the profit machine than to protect the people who pay for it.

I won't be able to make it to DC next month. I'll be feeding, housing and trying to find another home for five people on my unemployment checks. At least that program still works. I hope that those of you who will be there yell extra hard for us.

Update:
Several people have pointed out that there may be some recourse in this situation. I'll be researching. Thanks for the advice!

•  alms

  for the nation?

  by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 07:05:07 PM PDT

  •  Sorry about your husband, and

    thanks for the link.  Hadn't seen it before.  It speaks to the earlier diary on mydd about netroots being wacko left.  The economy is a direct result of the redistribution of the wealth up from the working/middle class.  As I've said a million times, we can thank NAFTA Clinton for all of this.  Democrats trusted him not to sell us out.  What a mistake.

    by dkmich on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 07:39:18 PM PDT

    •  No cost...

      http://www.careeronestop.org/...

      This link will help you find a center in your area that can you get a job or training at no cost to you.  Check it out.

      by dkmich on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 07:44:16 PM PDT

      •  If everything falls into place, I'll have

        work-from-home teaching jobs for needy (educated) kosites next year. I know it won't help kyril now, but she is on my list...

        by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 01:53:40 AM PDT

        •  that is so cool -- I love this... Clive, is this

          "distance learning" using video? or web-based lessons ?

          regardless, fantastic that you are seeking to find a win-win fit that helps people here who are out of work. Man, that truly warms my heart. Thank you very much for this kind of community commitment.

          by rhfactor on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 02:57:57 AM PDT

          •  Thanks :) Yes, It will be supplementary

            work for beginners in English (in Taiwan), and as we grow, it will include all levels. Video too.

            One of the big holes I've found in English learning here is the lack of

            • home help (parents often have poor English, or no time to practice with the kids - there are so many pressures here, not just in English)
            • active use. In class lessons with a native speaker is expensive, and ends when the student walks out the door. If you don't use it, you lose it.
            • written word skills. This is mainly due to a lack of practice, which can be cured by diligent (and skilled) on-line correspondents.
            • listening skills. Even if a student here has good English, a change in accent will trip them up so badly that they will shy away. Exposing  the student to a wide range of accents will help enormously.

            The lower levels will be strictly formulated lessons and restricted to their in-class teachers. As the student improves and is more confident, they will have the choice of international video chat with

            • experienced teachers
            • professionals in narrow fields
            • general public

            The three are very different animals and they all have things to share ;) Within a few months I hope to be able to offer university students a chance to chat with others in their fields and the GP...

            I'm in the start-up phase now... :P

            (How many pooties are loose now?!)

            ps. of course it won't be restricted to Taiwan! Anyone, anywhere can join in :)

            by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:05:05 AM PDT

            •  that's fantastic!

              I didn't know you were in Taiwan...

              Are you part of any of the online Expats groups that grew out of the Dean campaign?  I don't know of any in China, but Terri in Japan has been an incredible organizer overseas -- and damn if she didn't make it to YearlyKos!  I hadn't seen her since the original "Bloggers' Breakfast" in Des Moines before Dean's Iowa Caucus Jan 2004.

              ... meaningless aside: I have a cousin who's lived and worked in China for past 15 years -- and the other day we did a skype video call -- which was cool. While on the call I fired up Google Earth to locate exactly where she was, by satellite imagery -- and I pointed my webcam at my screen while zooming in! She'd guide me -- okay go left -- no, too far, zoom in -- and eventually we located her apt building and swimming pool!  It was an amazing confluence of live connectivity and Google's amazing technology...

              I tell ya, we are just scratching the surface. This is why I am so psyched about this Video Townhall Network I've been developing this past year. To show you how crazy international it all is -- In order to afford the complex software engineering, I actually went to Serbia in December to work with Serbs -- who are outstanding engineers! --

              This stuff is all so amazing -- so I wish you well in your startup -- and if you use skype, send me an email with your skype name -- and it'd be way cool to chat by video.

              over and out -- off to bed 5:32am Nancy Pelosi time, San Francisco

              by rhfactor on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:30:03 AM PDT

              •  Thanks :) Yep, I've been here five years now...

                but it only seems like yesterday that I arrived.  I;m not with any group here (really, I've had no time... as the Japanese say, 'I work eight days a week.' I haven't even had time to learn Chinese - but there is a girl I have my eye on, so that will change ;))

                I'll send you an email, directly...

                by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 06:02:02 AM PDT

                •  I thought you were in good old OZ!

                  Well, it's not that far.

                  by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 11:13:19 AM PDT

                  •  Yeah, it's only 8hrs to Sydney. Very handy...

                    and with computers, it's only as far as my keyboard (well sorta, you know).

                    :)

                    by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 04:03:59 PM PDT

  •  Kyril!

    My prayers for you, your husband and roomies. I don't care what anyone says about this mess re the consumers. Let's face it: it's all about greedy people who take ordinary people to the cleaners!

    by never forget 2000 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 07:41:57 PM PDT

    •  Thank you

      you're right. The love of money is the root of all evil.

      by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 07:42:57 PM PDT

      •  Ayn Rand went on for pages and...

        ... pages about this.

        The love of money is the root of all evil.

        Thank you for stating in full.  Money is okay, the love of money not so much.
        And a huge thanks for the attachment.  I'd not seen it before.  Powerful!
        And lastly - Best of luck in solving the terrible situation you and yours have been put in.

        by lvillelass on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:32:06 PM PDT

        •  Thank you

          and I'm glad you liked the video. I'd never heard of James McMurtry until someone linked that here. It's such a powerful song and the pictures just make it...heartwrenching.

          by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:34:58 PM PDT

          •  Hang tough, Kyril..

            After reading through the rest of the postings, it seems there are several good suggestions.  And btw, I
            really understand the phone thing :)  Baby steps.  Writing down what you need to say/ask is a great idea.
            And when calling a business remember, they are taking your call in order to help you.  
            Best!  

            by lvillelass on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:07:16 PM PDT

          •  It is indeed a wonderful presentation--

            I looked up the singer and do believe I may buy the first CD in many years!

            by revsue on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:25:04 PM PDT

        •  And her acolytes preach

          "Greed is Good."

          All I recall from reading one of her books was crappy prose and crappy philosophy -- can't remember which seemed worse at the time.

          by Marie on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:49:24 PM PDT

          •  Atlas Shrugged is what you're thinking

            of.  And yes, there was a lot of the 'Greed is Good'
            to it.  But how do you understand the enemy if you're
            not willing to wade through stuff like this?  Besides,
            I read this in the 60s and loved the "Who is John Galt?" theme....  Must be what drove me from the R. side to the D. side.  So for me it was a good thing.

            by lvillelass on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:03:10 PM PDT

            •  Phyllis Schafly was the one

              that nixed my adolescent flirtation with the GOP.  Didn't get around to Rand until years later.  But always wonder if those acolytes ever actually read her books.  Sort of like many Freudian analysts that didn't bother to read much of his works.  Reading can be disillusioning.

              by Marie on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:11:29 PM PDT

              •  I have read most everything

                of hers... although it WAS 40 years ago.  Sure was an
                eyeopener.  Between her greed thing and the Rs deciding I shouldn't have control over my body... well let's just say it was time for for looking at things with new eyes.  

                by lvillelass on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:21:20 PM PDT

              •  considering Rand lifted the quote from Christ

                One would wonder why so many of the other team is not already aware of it?

                by skippythebox on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:02:50 PM PDT

                •  Hell, most of 'em have never cracked a Bible

                  anyway.  They just blindly do whatever their pastors tell them to do.

                  by Ice Blue on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 12:19:54 AM PDT

                •  Thats funny

                  Thou shalt not kill
                  Judge not lest ye be judged
                  Vengeance is mine saith the lord
                  All that believed were together, and had all things in common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
                  (Acts 2:44-45) good link
                  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Mathew 5:5
                  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy Mathew 5:7
                  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Mathew 5:9

                     Lk. 12:15 - "be on guard against every form of greed; life is not in possessions"

                     II Peter 2:3 -  (false prophets) "in their greed they will exploit you with false words"
                     II Peter 2:14 - (false prophets) "have hearts trained in greed"

                  Though perhaps its not their fault. As they seem to be servants of this guy:

                  Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
                  Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

                  And on and on and on

                  by cdreid on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 02:02:54 AM PDT

      •  1 Timothy 6:10--

        For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

        --King James Version

        by Ice Blue on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 12:05:09 AM PDT

  •  Sadly, there's a whole generation

    of people, who grew up in the Reagan and post Reagan eras, who do not remember the previous America, in which homelessness was a rarity, not a commonplace, and not the national scandal and tragedy it has become.

    by magnetics on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 08:32:11 PM PDT

    •  I'm one of them :(

      born in 1982. I was homeless myself for almost a year before I joined the Navy. I've never seen a shelter that wasn't full. I have 9 friends, off the top of my head, who are living with parents because they can't afford housing - and they work! And yet homes everywhere stand vacant, abandoned and neglected.

      I don't care what they say. The market will NOT provide!

      by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 08:35:00 PM PDT

      •  I salute you, not least for your signature line.

        by magnetics on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 08:55:51 PM PDT

        •  Thank you :)

          My favourite quote ever.

          by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 08:59:00 PM PDT

          •  Heh. I had to change mine....

            So I didn't compete with you guys.

            GMTA.

            Don't change yours. It's a message/meme that needs to be read over and over again.

            You know, a couple of years ago, I was watching a panel of radio folk and pundits discuss how they presented/spun the news. After much gnashing of teeth, Janeane Garofalo shouted -- "Face it people! The FACTS are LIBERAL. What the fuck are we supposed to do with them?"
            
            That pushed the Orwell quote to the front of lots of people's minds.

            by Pluto on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:31:25 PM PDT

            •  LOL

              and also the Colbert quote: "Reality has a well-known liberal bias."

              by kyril on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:33:02 PM PDT

      •  Our church

        is one of those who provide a rotating shelter for about a dozen homeless folks who are either working and still can't afford housing here in Silly Con Valley, or they're actively working to turn their lives around through counseling, job training and/or education.

        I can tell that things are getting tougher on the rental market -- we got hit with a $175 increase in the rent (about 15%), with only a $300 incentive to sign a year's lease. (The rent's still less than what we were paying in our old place 5 years ago which wasn't nearly as nice, and this place is in a much more convenient location public transit-wise.)

        There was an article in a recent Sunday Mercury News how the real estate crunch is hitting folks in the Central Valley, as developments that were started when everyone was moving out there are in danger of sitting empty...

        by Cali Scribe on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:01:48 PM PDT

      •  the market does provide: Shit on a stick

        and you can guess where the pointy end of it is going...

        by skippythebox on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:04:08 PM PDT

      •  My heart goes out to you . . .

        . . . even more for your not being old enough to remember when America actually worked than for your financial troubles.  magnetics is right:  America really did work, for nearly everybody, from about 1937 (when the bulk of Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies went into effect) until about 1984 (when the bulk of Reagan's policies started going into effect).  My Dad left the Navy in 1953, and could buy a new three-bedroom house at the beach in California for $10,500 the following year.  It must seem like a fairy tale now, to someone of your age.  It almost does to me, and I can remember the last couple of decades of real American prosperity and justice, before Reagan.  

        One thing they can't take away from those of us of a certain age is our memories.  And memory tells us that things could be that way again, with a certain amount of popular political will and an "unbought and unbossed" political party.

        by keikekaze on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 12:58:57 AM PDT

    •  When my daughter was in junior high

      . . . .she went to a magnet school. Like many magnet schools, it was in the "bad" part of town, and as we drove to her school in the early morning, we'd pass the lines of huddled sleeping bodies in doorways, under the bridges. It distressed her to see it, especially when it was cold.

      I struggled to explain to her that this was new in my life, that we didn't have so many homeless people when I was growing up. Once in a while, a "hobo" would come to the back door and my mom would make him a sandwich, but that's about all I can remember of "the homeless" when I was growing up.

      Also, on the same route was the corner where the homeless would gather hoping to be hired for day labor. As we passed it on election day in Nov 1992, one of the men was holding a huge sign that said,

      "This corner brought to you by 12 years of Reagan/Bush."

      Indeed.

      by Janet Strange on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:22:30 PM PDT

      •  I first saw homeless in the late 1970s.

        Florida got them early -- the climate was kinder, especially in the winter.  All men, too -- I'm willing to bet mostly Vietnam vets.

        by Noor B on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:40:57 PM PDT

        •  And people wonder why we go hungry to hang

          on to our house. Go without important things, do whatever it takes to keep our house.

          by ghengismom on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:41:00 AM PDT

    •  Was it a rarity?

      I have always assumed that "The Homeless" were always part of the urban landscape.  George Carlin said he disliked the term "homeless" because it seemed to imply a kind of psychological state, a hopless, forlorn, solitary being.  He said we should call them "houseless," because that is the accurate word for the problem.  There aren't houses for them to live in.

      by Reepicheep on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 08:58:10 AM PDT

      •  Actually, I date it from

        the closing of state institutions for the mentally ill and developmentally challenged, which began under the Nixon Administration.  A series by Geraldo Rivera about Willowbrook, a state institution on Staten Island, showed the abject neglect of clients in that institution.  So they started closing the state institutions, but closing the state institutions meant the mentally ill and other individuals with disabilities were on the streets.  The idea was that the clients would be treated in their communities without long hospitalization.  The actual result was homelessness for those people who were least able to cope with living on the streets.  In my city, they placed Hutchings, a state hospital, downtown. Hutchings doesn't have nearly enough beds, so the outpatients (or those who are supposed to be outpatients) are on the street corners.  

        And, of course, there are the vets. The mentally ill, alcoholic, substance abusing victims of the military.  The VA can't possibly cope with them all. Their numbers grow.  In my city, the winters are fierce and deadly.  The true angels drive around in vans on cold nights, trying to persuade the homeless to come into the shelters.  When the shelters are full (and they are getting very full), they drive with blankets, food and coffee.  If necessary, they dial 911.  The police pick people up and house them in the jail.

        The cycle goes on every winter. Every winter, it gets worse. We all do what we can, but it is never enough.

        by Mary Julia on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 10:19:33 AM PDT

      •  Yes. Of course there were always hobos, skid row

        inhabitants, and deranged individuals who had had to hit the streets when mental institutions were closed -- but the large scale phenomenon we have now, where as many as 2 plus million people a year find themselves without shelter, is new, and dates from the early Reagan years.  The first time it hit me viscerally was one day (perhaps in 1983) when I saw an elderly couple -- like your grandparents, you'd imagine -- dumpster diving at a Safeway.  

        The the big communal homeless encampments, the excrement in the urban parks, the folks sleeping in doorways and over subway vents -- that wasn't there in the 1970's and before.

        by magnetics on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 12:50:43 PM PDT

  •  OMG, kyril, I'm so sorry to hear this

    And then, unbelievably, I saw a commercial on TV this afternoon pushing subprime mortgage loans as the way to go....

    How the hell can this be allowed??

    You're in my thoughts.....

    MM

    by Mad Mom on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 08:43:09 PM PDT

  •  excellent video choice

    I love James McMurty, he speaks straight from the heart.

    by FireCrow on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:09:44 PM PDT

  •  Sorry to hear about that.

    That's no fun for Mr. kyril and your friends.

    One thing I wonder though - longterm, won't this make rents go down?

    by BentLiberal on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:17:04 PM PDT

    •  if a bank has a house it foreclosed on

      it often doesn't want tenants in place.  harder to sell and too much trouble.  Outside of places like you-know-where, many houses will stand empty.

      And if people can't buy due to a credit crunch, the rental market will have an influx of new renters with a decreasing number of houses to rent.

      by ksh01 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:32:17 PM PDT

      •  Sadly, that makes sense

        So damn inefficient though

        Thanks for the explanation.

        by BentLiberal on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:02:46 PM PDT

        •  Have a friend who tried to rent recently

          and there often over 100 applications for one apartment here in SF.  Market rents have zoomed.  

          We had that little respite after the dot.com boom.  History.

          by ksh01 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:22:12 PM PDT

          •  wow

            i didn't realize that.

            by BentLiberal on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:53:25 PM PDT

            •  i'm worried they'll be a new assault

              on long-term tenants.

              by ksh01 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:59:57 PM PDT

              •  yeah, they'll pass a new act

                the "because we want more money" act

                to replace the current one...forget what it's called

                by BentLiberal on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:10:09 PM PDT

              •  btw...i think we're

                turning this diary comment space into IM's lol

                by BentLiberal on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:10:53 PM PDT

      •  It really doesn't make any sense at all, tho.

        I work in administration for a real estate appraisal company during the week...can't get health insurance through the church (we had to sign up and pay for it when ordained or do without later, and I HAD insurance through husband then...).

        Anyway, as you can guess, appraisals (needed for refi's, sales, and foreclosures) have dropped through the floor in past year.  Sad thing is that if foreclosures increase--and they are--then I'll have work tracking the orders, and will be able to pay my own mortgage and my two grown sons living with me will have a roof over their head.

        BUT...houses that sit empty are vandalized, have frozen pipes, mice, rats, cockroaches, fleas, and squatters who break in.  Our appraisers go to inspect and find roof leaks, plumbing ripped from walls, etc.   The banks would do better to let tenants live there and pay half rent to them, upon iron-clad agreement to move out when sold and keep up property.  The rent would pay for property manager, and maybe they could save enough to make offer for house.

        by revsue on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:38:11 PM PDT

        •  absolutely agree. It's horrible waste

          I think this problem is going to mushroom and few will be prepared.

          by ksh01 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 10:45:15 PM PDT

        •  The banks may have

          no choice but to allow renters or lose their own shirts if they stay to greedy. If they don't the houses they get stuck with might stay vacant for years. Besides, if rents soar because of the sudden lack of housing they might find their "properties" have squatters.  

          by PLS on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:58:16 AM PDT

      •  Banks will begin dumping foreclosed homes on the

        market. Factor this in and its going to get ugly.

        by molly bloom on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 04:48:47 AM PDT

        •  According to a friend of mine who follows

          the housing market fairly closely, the banks - so far - have been holding out for full price on reposesed properties which is really even worse because much of the time these house are mortgaged for well more than they are really worth - think about the people who took out those home equity loans and bought fancy cars and stuff like that.  The banks have been inflating estimates on home values just to make the loans so there is a possibility that there will be a rental crisis because you have a rental market that is already pretty tight and then you have the people who have lost their homes now needing rentals and you have the banks letting housing sit idle waiting for a market recovery that won't likely come for some time.  It isn't good for anyone.  Oh and another thing that is happening is that in the neighborhoods that have foreclosures all of the home prices in the area are affected by defaults.  So this will get pretty ugly for a lot more people than just the homeowners who have defaulted.

          by inclusiveheart on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 09:07:31 AM PDT

      •  read something crazy about Phoenix

        in a DKos comment once... that all the pools of vacant houses now standing neglected because of the crisis are now breeding mosquitoes galore (it's monsoon season) and west nile virus has gone off the charts...

        It's stupid to leave houses abandoned.

        by stonemason on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 06:09:09 AM PDT

        •  yes

          and the same article mentioned people even leaving their pets behind.

          by LibChicAZ on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 11:29:33 AM PDT

  •  you can stay in the house

    the only entity that can evict you, in my understanding, is the bank.  And you can sue in small claims court.

    by thereisnospoon on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 09:17:35 PM PDT

    •  Only the owner can evict.

      And the tenant can file bankruptcy and gain 6 months or more. In some states you can stay for years. Don't be afraid or proud to milk the system that milks you.

      by PlanetTreasures on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 04:14:50 AM PDT

      •  Its hard to tell if by landlord she meant

        the bank or the original landlord. However, the facts as presented, state the bank has foreclosed. Past tense. The only question is whether or not the judicial sale has been completed and the lender was the succesful bidder at the sale. If that is the case, it is too late for bankruptcy proceedings to have any effect.  

        by molly bloom on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:01:41 AM PDT

        •  Motion to stay the confirmation of sale

          may halt the process. Depends on the county and the judge. In any event the owner  and/or owners agent (in Ohio it must be an atty) can file a Forceible Entry and Detainer.

          by PlanetTreasures on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:27:28 AM PDT

          •  In Florida

            The sale date is always 30 days or more after the judgment.  Rules out an appeal. Best you could do is file bankruptcy prior to the actual sale (literally to the minute). If the sale has passed, forget it.

            Can't speak for Ohio. Also here the judge is more likely to bend over backwards for the homeowner, not the tenant. Best move a homeowner can make, who has no defenses, and does not want to file bankruptcy (and I do not advocate you pass on bankruptcy) is to ask for an extended sale date. You will probably get it.

            Worst experience of my life as a lender's attorney was asking for a foreclosure judgment where the homeowner showed up on crutches, with her young 16 year old son, explaining she had lost her job at Walgreens, her husband had left her for another woman and she couldn't pay the mortgage (the latter being an admission that she was in default). The judge practically ordered me (does the plaintiff OBJECT to) to accept a 60 day sale date. I had no objection. Like the judge, I just wanted to get it over with and get out of the court room.

            by molly bloom on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:44:31 AM PDT

            •  Oh Molly ye love landlording

              Don't we? I will have to remember that one. The crutch is such a, well crutch- a great visual.

              Can we talk shop for a minute?

              by PlanetTreasures on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:49:36 AM PDT

              •  sure on or offline

                mollybloom1 at bellsouth dot net.

                by molly bloom on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 06:15:24 AM PDT

                •  I sent you an email

                  by PlanetTreasures on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 08:48:54 AM PDT

      •  Bankruptcy is a radical remedy.

        You don't want to file bankruptcy unless you absolutely have to.  It destroys your credit score and can prevent you from getting some jobs.  If you are a tenant and have no interest in the house, I would recommend against bankruptcy unless there are other debt factors that make bankruptcy necessary.

        Besides, under this new horrible bankruptcy law, it is not such an easy task to file -- and it doesn't gain you six months necessarily anymore.

        I am glad I am out of the bankruptcy business now.  It is going to be a rough ride until they pass some real reform.

        by OkieLawyer on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 05:46:32 AM PDT

        •  As has been said before

          The BK reform was not about helping the debtor.

          I am hoping, praying, and working for a serious about face in le