October 6, 2008
Open Question: What % of homes from habitat for humanity go into foreclosure?
Imagine a time when you could afford a tank of gas, a cart full of groceries or even a simple trip to the dentist. Anymore the economy is so tight and all we can seem to do is ask why. The truth is it comes down to how our government is handling things, they could be putting to many taxes on things we need, or they may not be prepared for an attack on the country. So instead of wondering why things are so tight or why we can barely afford to drive to the grocery store let alone buy the things we need when we get there, we should be thinking of ideas on how we could fix this. What would make our society a better place, what are the makings of a perfect government? The perfect government would be to take some of Lao-Tzu’s ideas on world affairs, trust, honesty and taxes, then take some of Machiavelli’s views and meet some where in the middle. The United States government gets to involved in other countries affairs, we meddle to much and end up making other countries feel threatened. According to Lao-Tzu we should focus on our own people and stay out of the business of other countries. It’s a good idea for a country to mind their business when it comes down to it. But on the other hand a country has to be prepared for anything. Think of it this way, if another country is punishing their criminals in a way the United States Government doesn’t agree with we have no right at all to tell them to stop what they are doing, or to threaten them if they do not listen, but is another government doesn’t agree with how the United States is handling capital punishment and is threatening us then we should stand up for our rights to make our own laws, and the right to punish anyone who breaks those laws. Another big problem with our government is trust or lack of trust. Lao-Tzu says “If you don’t trust the people you make them untrustworthy.“ This may go a little far but Machiavelli says that people are not trust worthy at all. I believe we need to meet half way. We can not completely trust people because the fact is people do lie, but we are not all bad. Our government says we are innocent until proven guilty, and this is how it should be. But in today’s society are we really innocent until proven guilty or are we more guilty until proven innocent? A close friend of mine was once pulled over because of a head light being out, it was late at night, he had honestly been at my house studying for an exam instead of the normal routine of license and registration please, he was drug out and hand cuffed because the officer “thought” he had a weapon that ended up being his little brothers toy sword. Needless to say he was not treated as an innocent person , and even after the officer seen it was just a toy he was still very rude to my friend. The United States have raised taxes so much that we as middle class people can’t even afford to live. Now Machiavelli doesn’t say to much if anything about taxing people but if had an opinion I’m sure he wouldn’t be against it, but on this subject I agree with what Lao-Tzu says on page 30. “When taxes are too high people go hungry.” Not only do they go hungry, but the lose land, houses, cars, and most of all they lose self respect. In the United States there are so many taxes on our homes that there is a record high on foreclosures. The taxes my father pays on his house are more than the monthly loan payment alone. It’s not only property tax that hurts us it all the other high more…
I have been looking to purchase a house but it has went to foreclosure and will be auctioned off at the county court house this week. The current owner owes the bank $890,000 for his existing mortgage. If I were to bid at the auction, would the bank bid all the way up to $890,000? Or, would they stop at a lower bid? what is the norm? more…
When I separated from my husband a year and a half ago, my main goal was to have the house–I realize now that was a decision made more from fear and emotion than logic. In retrospect, it was a bad financial decision. At the time, tho, I was thinking of my children and needing to keep some security in what had suddenly become an unsecure life. Divorces take a long time in Wisconsin, and before the divorce was final I was looking more logically at this 98 year old home that was decent inside but in need of siding, a rock foundation that's showing its age, very outdated electrical, and aging beams in the basement ceiling. It was one thing owning this home as half of a couple. Alone? It made me shudder. I offered it to my soon-to-be-ex and wanted to get a rental. He wouldn't take it. In the end, it made no difference that I didn't want it. As is customary in the state of WI, the judge awarded me the house and it was mine via quit claim deed. I don't want this house, it's draining me physically, emotionally, mentally. I put a new roof on it this year, repainted and repaired everything there was to repair in every room, and it's beautiful inside–all of this was done to sell it and get out from under it. I don't have any more money to invest in it and I'm struggling financially. I'm not behind in my payments but I wasn't able to make my 1/2 yr taxes that were due in August. I have it for sale and priced as low as I can. There are showings and each potential buyer comments on the amount of work that's gone into the inside and how nice it is–and expresses concern over either the electrical (old wiring, fuse box and breaker system) or the aging wood in the floor joists, or the condition of the foundation, etc, etc. With these concerns, even if I WERE to get a serious prospect on the house, they'd want repairs prior to sale that I have to no way to perform financially–or even worse, that the house most likely won't pass inspection for these same reasons. At this point, I don't know what to do. I've asked my lawyer to draft a formal letter to my ex-husband formally offering him the house, one more time. I'm not as bad off as some. I don't spend money, I make decent money, I'm careful. But each month the gap between what I take home and what's left over gets so small–small enough now that I'm robbing from my taxes fund to put fuel in the car, expenses, etc. I've researched what can happen in a foreclosure (deficiency judgement, tanked credit for 7 yrs) but that this point, is it wrong of me to view foreclosure as maybe the light at the end of my tunnel? And I don't want to "work with the lender" because there's nothing to work out–I'm not behind yet. I'm saddled with a house that I shouldn't have had alone, that isn't selling, as we're going without more and more because one thing after another is needing repair or upgrades. What are my other options? And is foreclosure maybe the best way to just end this and start over (albeit with trashed credit)? Short sale has the same credit impact so either way that doesn't matter to me. more…
I have been told that my house is on the foreclosure list and i want to get off of it. Is there a way to get off the list? i owe about $3100 and i am not able to come up with the money for it. Is there someone who will be willing to help me? I have contacted a loan modification company but they want the money up front and costs anywhere from $1500 to $2500 immediatly. Please help!! more…
And then go into foreclosure? Do the taxes get attached to the loan? Or does the deed holder need to pay them back at some point? more…
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/53497.html Why or why not? Or the other 20+ homeowners with houses in foreclosure in this area? When you hear people blaming this crisis on poor people who bought homes they couldn't afford, does this kind of situation make you think that socioeconomic status has less bearing than plain old greed? (i.e., wanting more than you can afford and obtaining it at any cost.) more…
There has not been a payment on my mortgage since February (7 months). How long does it take Countrywide to take my condo, or at least require it to be vacant? Is there any way to speed up the process. I've been calling them asking to foreclose, but keep getting dumb clueless c.s. agents. This case is quite complicated and foreclosure is the only way out of this mess, please don't judge. complicated = I was scamed and forclosure is the only way out more…
