Campaign Will Promote AGScamHelp.com, A Web-Based App To Educate Consumers On How To Avoid And Report Mortgage Rescue Scams. Schneiderman: Informed Homeowners Are the Most Powerful Tools Against Foreclosure Scams

The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) today announced the deployment of the DFS Mobile Command Center to two sites in Suffolk County to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners.

Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services for the State of New York, is delivering remarks today at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Secondary Market Conference & Expo in New York, NY

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Household Debt and Credit Report revealed that aggregate household debt balances were largely flat in the first quarter of 2015. As of the end of March, total household indebtedness was $11.85 trillion, a $24 billion, or 0.2 percent, increase during the first quarter of this year. The report is based on data from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) will provide foreclosure prevention assistance and help answer questions related to insurance issues for homeowners in the Springfield Gardens section of Queens.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center will be in two sites in Queens to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners and help answer questions related to insurance issues. DFS representatives will be available to meet homeowners at these locations:

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $12,252 in federal funding for the Niagara Falls Neighborhood Housing Services.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $13,258 in federal funding for Better Neighborhoods, Inc., located in Schenectady.

At a press conference and community briefing at the Telesca Center for Justice, Empire Justice Center released its most recent report, “In the Eye of the Storm: Why the Threat of Foreclosure Damage Continues,” detailing the state of the foreclosure crisis in Rochester, NY, as well as all of New York State, and its impact on neighborhoods and municipalities

NEW YORK - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement with mortgage servicing giant Ocwen Financial Services over alleged improprieties by the company and its subsidiaries related to mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. The national settlement, the result of a joint investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state banking regulators, and 49 state attorneys general, will bring more than $2 billion in relief to consumers in all 50 states. New York is expected to fare particularly well, with $292,716,793 in first-lien principal reductions going to homeowners across the state

Albany, NY - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Long Island to provide foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners.

NEW YORK - December 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today praised Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, for issuing new regulations permitting “shared appreciation” mortgage modifications in New York State. Under a shared appreciation modification, a bank or mortgage servicer agrees to reduce the outstanding principal balance on a borrower’s mortgage in exchange for a share of any future increase in the value of the home. For borrowers who are underwater on their mortgage, owing more than their home is worth, shared appreciation modifications can significantly improve their chances of avoiding foreclosure

Albany, NY - November 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Central New York to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners.

Albany, NY - November 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to sites in Troy and Albany to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners in the Capital Region.

NEW YORK - October 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced $20 million in grants to fund housing counseling and legal services for homeowners across the state. The award money represents the second round of a three-year, $60 million commitment made by the Attorney General’s Office to aid struggling homeowners in New York who are fighting to avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes. Throughout New York State, 34 legal services organizations and 54 housing counseling agencies will receive funds to provide free foreclosure prevention services. The program also includes funding for two anchor partners – the Center for New York City Neighborhoods and the Empire Justice Center – that assist the Office of the Attorney General with program management, provide grantees with technical assistance and administer a robust training curriculum

Albany, NY - October 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to sites in Buffalo and the Town of Cheektowaga to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Dutchess County to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners

Albany, NY - October 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Dutchess County to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners

Albany, NY - October 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Mobile Command Center (MCC) to Rochester to help provide foreclosure prevention assistance to struggling homeowners.

BRONX, NY - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Alongside Bronx foreclosure victim Daisy Vargas—and the four generations of family members who call her Castle Hill residence home—top elected leaders highlighted recently passed legislation aimed at preserving important homeowner rights during the foreclosure process. Since the financial crisis, banks have exploited judicial loopholes to deny foreclosure victims their right to the type of court-mediated settlement conference that can help homeowners keep their homes. The legislation (S.4530A/A.5582), known as the “Certificate of Merit” bill, would close that loophole, and protect every homeowner’s right to an in-person, court supervised settlement conference within 90 days of entering foreclosure.

NEW YORK, NY - June 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that the New York State Legislature has passed the "Certificate of Merit" bill (A. 5582/S.4530A), which will help more New York families avoid foreclosure. The bill enacts common sense reforms to bring greater integrity to the foreclosure process and expedite homeowners' participation in court-supervised mediation sessions where they can negotiate workable alternatives to foreclosure with their lender. This joint program bill was proposed by the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Court Administration.

BUFFALO - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneider­­man today filed a lawsuit against HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Mortgage Corporation (USA) for failing to follow state law related to foreclosure actions, putting homeowners at greater risk of losing their homes. Under state law, residential mortgage lenders, servicers and their agents who sue to foreclose on a homeowner are required to file a “Request for Judicial Intervention” (RJI) when they file their proof of service with the county clerk. The process mandates that the lender then attend a settlement conference within 60 days. The purpose of this court-supervised conference is to provide an opportunity for borrowers to negotiate alternatives to foreclosure, including loan modifications that make mortgage payments more affordable, with the intent that they avoid losing their homes.

MINEOLA - May 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York State Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein today highlighted the "Certificate of Merit" bill (A. 5582) and the Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act (A.7395), two important pieces of legislation to protect New York homeowners facing foreclosure. Both bills passed the New York State Assembly last week, and will be soon be decided on by the New York State Senate. Many homeowners in New York are still fighting to stay in their homes, and these bills would ensure that families are protected from careless, or irresponsible, or even criminal behavior.

New York, NY - May 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Judiciary Committee Chair Helene Weinstein today announced the passage of two important legislative measures aimed at increasing integrity and efficiency in the mortgage foreclosure process

NEW YORK, NY - May 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today praised the New York State Assembly for passing two important pieces of legislation aimed at protecting homeowners in New York. The "Certificate of Merit" bill (A. 5582)would help more New York families avoid foreclosure by enacting common sense reforms to bring greater integrity to the foreclosure process and expedite homeowners' participation in court-supervised mediation sessions where they can negotiate workable alternatives to foreclosure with their lender. This joint program bill was proposed by the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Court Administration.