South Florida Law Blog

Trust the banksters . . . we think not! Florida Foreclosure Defense Attorney Roy Oppenheim says: Florida Homeowners Beware! The proposed Florida Fair Foreclosure Act, at first glance, appears to be fair for homeowners. But watch out; it is actually only meant to be fair to the banks. The Act allows banks to rapidly and without supervision steal homes right […]

There is a surge of investors seeking compensation for the troubled mortgages that led to the financial crisis. But what about the consumer? Oppenheim Law finds it predictable, but highly disappointing, that big-money investors might get much more money from the banks than regular folks. It is also quite concerning that the solvency of the banks might be threatened if […]

We all know that you shouldn’t pick a fight with someone stronger than you. Apparently, no one chose to tell Standard and Poor’s (S&P). The ratings agency, which recently downgraded the American government’s debt rating, is now being investigated by the Justice Department for its role in the mortgage-backed securities bonanza. While the New York Times is reporting that the […]

Good news for underwater homeowners? Possibly. Relaxed modification rules are one way to ensure you stay in your home at a price you will be able to afford. Bank of America is reportedly negotiating with both federal and state governments over limiting the legal liability it took on when it purchased Countrywide in 2008. When Bank of America bought Countrywide, […]

If the apple does not fall far from the tree; how far does the real estate market fall from foreclosures? More than 11.5 million people will eventually default on their mortgages, predicts a leading mortgage analyst. Did you read that right? Yes. It’s no surprise that the weakening real-estate market has a strong correlation to the amount of severe negative-equity […]

Oppenheim Law calls it suspicious. June Clarkson and Theresa Edwards were forced to resign from the Florida Attorney General’s office in May. They were the state’s top foreclosure investigators, in charge of Florida’s part in the multi-state investigation into the document mill scandal. They produced an influential presentation on the document mill scandal that helped highlight the rampant abuses in […]

What do disgraceful lawyers and Pinocchio have in common? In the 1940 Disney animated version of the old Italian fable, a fairy tells Pinocchio that if he wants to become a real boy of flesh and blood he must prove himself to be brave, truthful and unselfish and able to tell right from wrong by listening to his conscience. Pinocchio […]

From Urban Legend to Reality: Ocwen Offers Serious Principal Reduction Meaningful principal reduction used to be an urban legend compounded by scamsters. And until recently, Florida homeowners were probably more likely to spot Bigfoot than find a lender willing to forgive a significant portion of their residential first mortgage through a loan modification. But earlier this month, Ocwen Financial Corp. […]