Top SC court halts thousands of foreclosure sales to give homeowners chance to modify loans

October 13th, 2009 Colo. law opens way for solar-energy leasesDENVER — Colorado homeowners who want to go solar now have a chance to lease the equipment rather than buy it. San Francisco-based SunRun announced Tuesday that it will start offering leases in Colorado following approval of a law allowing loans for solar equipment to be made to a third party.

September 30th, 2009 Homeowners in financial trouble often redefaultWASHINGTON — Lenders are ramping up efforts to avoid home foreclosures, but a report by bank regulators says more than half of borrowers who get help fall behind again. More than 50 percent of homeowners with loans modified in the first half of last year had missed at least two months of payments a year later, the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision said Wednesday.

September 10th, 2009 Meltdown 101: Housing help lags high expectationsWASHINGTON — The government set expectations sky-high earlier this year when President Barack Obama launched an effort to help up 7 to 9 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. Now, reality is setting in.

August 21st, 2009 Last-minute negotiations ease some foreclosuresLOUISVILLE, Ky. — Peter and Gina Fochtman sat stone-faced at the courtroom table.

August 20th, 2009 Mortgage delinquencies hit record high in Q2WASHINGTON — With the recession throwing thousands of people out of work daily, more than 13 percent of American homeowners with a mortgage have fallen behind on their payments or are in foreclosure. The record-high numbers released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association are being driven by borrowers with traditional fixed-rate mortgages, rather than the shady subprime loans with adjustable rates that kicked off the mortgage crisis.

August 13th, 2009 NY AG sues foreclosure rescue firmUNIONDALE, N.Y. — New York's attorney general is suing a foreclosure rescue company and its owner, claiming they engaged in deceptive business practices and false advertising.

August 4th, 2009 Housing plan offered help to 15 pct of borrowersWASHINGTON — Only 15 percent of homeowners eligible for the Obama administration's $50 billion loan modification program have been offered help so far. In its first monthly progress report on the plan launched in March, the government on Tuesday detailed big disparities among the 38 companies that have signed up.

July 16th, 2009 Lawmakers frustrated with foreclosure aid programsWASHINGTON — Lawmakers vented Thursday about the government's inability to solve the nation's housing woes as fresh data showed foreclosure filings continued to rise. Sen. Christopher Dodd., D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, called the overall lack of progress by the government "disgraceful." He noted that borrowers are facing long delays as they try to get help.

July 1st, 2009 Gov't foreclosure help will reach more homeownersWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is expanding a program to stave off foreclosure for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth. Housing secretary Shaun Donovan says borrowers who owe up 25 percent more than their home's market value will qualify for government help refinancing their mortgages.

May 14th, 2009 Obama administration to expand housing planWASHINGTON — The Obama administration expanded its $50 billion mortgage aid program on Thursday, announcing new measures that would help homeowners avoid a foreclosure if they don't qualify for other assistance. The new initiatives are expected to streamline the process of selling a home that is worth less than the mortgage, or transfer ownership of a home to the lender.

May 14th, 2009 Obama administration expands housing planWASHINGTON — The Obama administration expanded its $50 billion mortgage aid program on Thursday, announcing new measures that would help homeowners avoid a foreclosure if they don't qualify for other assistance. The initiatives are intended to streamline the process of selling a home that is worth less than the mortgage, or transfer ownership of a home to the lender.

April 30th, 2009 Senate defeats anti-foreclosure billWASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama on the sidelines, the Senate defeated his promise of a bankruptcy court refuge for hundreds of thousands of families about to lose their homes to foreclosure. The Senate voted 45-51 against the legislation, which would have let debt-ridden homeowners seek mortgage relief in bankruptcy court.

April 29th, 2009 Banks urge Senate to reject mortgage relief billWASHINGTON — A dozen financial groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Bankers Association, on Wednesday urged every member of the U.S.

April 24th, 2009 Senate to sink mortgage relief planWASHINGTON — The centerpiece of President Barack Obama's plan to keep thousands of people from losing their homes amid the worst economic crisis in decades is headed for defeat next week in the Senate. Allowing people to seek mortgage relief in bankruptcy court is opposed by Republicans and enough Democrats to block it.

February 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has unveiled a $75 billion multi-pronged plan that seeks to help up to nine million American borrowers suffering from falling home prices and unaffordable mortgage terms. The foreclosure prevention programme aimed at arresting the problem that ignited America's economic woes is part of the Obama administration's multi-trillion dollar effort to jolt the nation out of its deepening recession.