Archive for March, 2010

From the Heart: Life Lessons Learned from Mister Rogers

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Cooperation, Persistence, Patience, Sharing, and Positivity

This post is the third for Oppenheim Law’s senior partner, Ellen Pilelsky, as she discusses Florida real estate and foreclosure, sharing her perspective “From the Heart.” Oppenheim Law looks forward to your continued feedback and support for this new column.

From the Heart Ellen PilelskyIt has been seven years since Fred Rogers, the star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, has died. Although the series of his well-known Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood can now only be found online (in fact there was a contest for the best show), we can all learn from Fred Rogers.

In these turbulent times, it is actually refreshing to view one of Mister Rodgers’ episodes. It reminds us how critical our role is not only to our children but also to our community. Mister Rogers embodies the “old time” values when neighbors knew each other, cared for each other and made sure that our children learned how to positively deal with others.

Interestingly, Mister Rogers’ series still gives us a gentle yet firm reminder of how timeless skills such as cooperation, persistence, patience, sharing, and the ability to remain positive helps us in any situation and any time. Generations of children and adults were and are drawn to these old episodes because they embody how simple life really can be. Even when we are dragged into negativity from the economy, war, and rampant unemployment, there existed and can still exist a better way.

In fact, Mister Rogers provides us all with the “good” feeling that we have the ability to act and face our difficulties. His episodes support a young child’s self-confidence by focusing on moving past frustrations and inevitable failures. In fact, his earmark lines, “You’ve made this day a special day just by being you. You are the only person like you in this whole world. And people can like you just because you’re you,” give us hope that we can count on and overcome difficulty
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Roy Oppenheim Shares View on Real Estate Radio USA

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Listeners Tune In, Oppenheim Discuss Florida Foreclosure + Short Sales

Oppenheim Law on Real Estate Radio USAShort sales have emerged as the best option for most South Florida homeowners when it comes to defending foreclosure and avoiding costly deficiency judgments, according to real estate attorney and legal blogger Roy Oppenheim.

Oppenheim joined host Barry Johnson on Real Estate Radio USA to discuss the latest trends in Florida real estate law, foreclosure and homeowner options for fashioning one’s own bailout.

We’ve uploaded the full radio interview at the end of this post, but here’s a quick summary of Oppenheim’s thoughts and advice:

  • Government Failure: It has become clear the programs the Obama administration intended to help homeowners have done little more than line the pockets of banks.
  • Personal Bailouts: Oppenheim Law has been positing for months that homeowners cannot sit back and wait for government programs to save their homes. Homeowners need to take it upon themselves to fashion their own economic bailout.
  • Short Sale Savings: Short sales have surfaced as the best option for avoiding foreclosure, preventing deficiency judgments, and starting homeowners on the path of their own bailout.
  • “Principal Reduction”: The attorneys at Oppenheim Law have seen huge “principal reduction” through short sales, with clients walking away from hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt after executing a short sale.
  • Expect the Unexpected: When looking toward the future, you need to learn to expect the unexpected in the economic and real estate landscapes. These “Black Swan” events are what will ultimately change the markets.

You can hear the entire Real Estate Radio USA interview with Roy Oppenheim below. We look forward to seeing your feedback and answering questions in the comments.
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Roy Oppenheim Guest Spot on “Secrets of Asset Protection” Show – Discusses FL Foreclosure and Short Sales

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Many times Florida homeowners make decisions regarding their assets before being served with a foreclosure complaint. Unfortunately, 97% of homeowners do nothing to protect themselves or their assets before and during the foreclosure process, according to South Florida Real Estate Attorney and legal blogger Roy Oppenheim.

Oppenheim met with Asset Protection Attorney Douglass Lodmell to share how Oppenheim Law guides South Florida homeowners through defending themselves and their homes and helps them fashion their own economic bailouts.

“We frequently represent individuals who are professionals and have done everything right in the traditional path to wealth in this nation,” Oppenheim said. “And now because certain institutions that we have all respected for so many years failed us, we are seeing these individuals have to figure out how to deal with getting out of their tricky financial situation.”

The current system, including banks, Congress, the President and the Courts, is failing American homeowners according to Oppenheim and Lodmell.

Oppenheim describes how his firm navigates through the current system to protect homeowners’ rights during the foreclosure process.

Check out the video below for the entire interview and we look forward to reading your comments and answering any questions.

Tides Turning? Short Sales + Deficiency Judgment Workshop In Review

Friday, March 5th, 2010

house short saleOppenheim Law hosted its largest Free Florida Foreclosure Defense Workshop Wednesday night as the real estate market and foreclosure defense landscape evolves.

Almost half of South Florida homeowners are facing negative equity in their homes, and more than 400,000 Florida foreclosure cases are expected by the end of 2010, according to real estate attorney Roy Oppenheim.

More than 40 South Florida homeowners turned out to hear the latest legal techniques and strategies Oppenheim Law is using to defend foreclosures, execute short sales, prevent deficiency judgments and keep people in their homes.

We’ve put together a summary of the main points from March’s Workshop, and look forward to seeing you at the next free event on April 1st at 6 p.m.

  • Social stigma is so yesterday. The fact that so many people are being affected by this real estate crisis completely erased the social stigma associated with foreclosure.
  • Banks are overwhelmed. The depth and breadth of this crisis makes it difficult for banks to successfully foreclose homeowners who are represented by counsel.
  • Do what’s right for you and get help. If it no longer makes economic sense to continue paying your mortgage, your best option is to speak to a qualified attorney.
  • Don’t leave. Whatever you chose to do, stay in your home as long as possible.
  • Banks warming up. Short sales are emerging as one of the best options for homeowners facing foreclosure, and believe it or not, banks are beginning to favor them as well. Some short sales are being approved in less time than in the past. One need only be 30 days behind on your mortgage to begin the short sale process.
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