U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice and NYS Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky today called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to extend the Interim Mortgage Assistance (IMA) Program beyond 20 months for victims of superstorm Sandy. In a letter to HUD Secretary Julián Castro, Rep. Rice and Assemblyman Kaminsky urged the Secretary to approve a request for an IMA extension made by the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery in August of this year.

Auto debt continued its upward climb during the third quarter of 2015, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. Auto loan balances increased for the 18th straight quarter, this time by $39 billion, and stand at $1.05 trillion as of the end of September

More than 20 applicants were assisted in the home buying process under the same program during Fiscal Years 2013-14. To be eligible, an applicant must be a first-time homeowner having not owned a home during the three years immediately prior to purchasing a residence with HOME assistance funds and must occupy the property as a principal residence

Overall consumer distress rates in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are lower than those in the nation, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s latest Regional Household Debt and Credit Snapshots. The 27 different Snapshots include data about mortgages, student loans, credit cards, auto loans and delinquencies for New York City (including a separate view of each of its boroughs), as well as various metro areas in New York State, northern New Jersey and western Connecticut that make up the Federal Reserve’s Second District

In response to a question from Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Director Richard Cordray this week said that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will consider issuing a clarification to ensure co-ops are included in the CFPB’s new Integrated Disclosure rule for mortgages.

Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, David A. Montoya, Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Frederick W. Gibson, Acting Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, announced the filing of a civil suit against the Rainy Day Foundation, Inc., a purported charitable “counseling fund,” together with its associated business entities and principals. The case was filed today in federal court in Central Islip and has been assigned to United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.

Today, at a community forum at the Touro Law Center, Empire Justice Center released its most recent report, “The Lingering Storm: Mortgage Lending Disparities on Long Island,” analyzing mortgage lending in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today that it has provided a $6.75 million loan, through the Freddie Mac Co-Op program, to refinance a multifamily property located in Flushing, New York

Ads Promote AGScamHelp.com, A Web-Based App that Educates Consumers On How To Avoid And Report Mortgage Rescue Scams And Obtain Help From Trustworthy Organizations. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a targeted advertising campaign and consumer education initiative to help New York homeowners spot, avoid, and report mortgage rescue scams

New York state continues to have high levels of foreclosure activity with new foreclosure filings remaining significantly higher than prerecession levels, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, joined by housing advocates, local lawmakers, and a local homeowner, today released a new, three-year report detailing the results of his office’s recent efforts to prevent foreclosures, keep families in their homes, and rebuild communities hit hardest by the housing crash. The three programs outlined in the report—the Homeowner Protection Program, New York State Mortgage Assistance Program, and AGScamHelp.com—have helped tens of thousands of New York families, including more than 6,000 homeowners in the Southern Tier and Central New York, avoid foreclosure

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying trained personnel from the Department of Financial Services to Watertown and Oswego to offer foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners.

Attorney General’s Foreclosure Relief Programs Have Helped More Than 6,800 Hudson Valley Families Keep Their Homes. Schneiderman: No Family Should Ever Lose Their Home Because They Could Not Speak To A Housing Counselor Or Get A Small Loan To Refinance Their Mortgage

Michael St. Claire, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to six months in prison, an additional four months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $1,257,945 in restitution. St. Claire previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Today, at a community forum at the Telesca Center for Justice, Empire Justice Center released its most recent report, “The River Runs Dry II: The Persistent Mortgage Drought in Rochester’s Communities of Color,” analyzing home purchase lending in the Rochester metro area and the City of Rochester

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled in favor of New York Community Bank, finding that as assignee of MERS, it was authorized to foreclose. In pdf Bergeron v. New York Community Bank (102 KB), the Plaintiff challenged the defendant’s authority to foreclose, alleging the defendant did not prove that it was the genuine holder of the note and seeking an order to restrain the defendant from foreclosing.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today that Michael A. Abbasfard has joined the firm as Vice President in the Small Loan Group. In this role, he will source and originate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae small loans for clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. He will be based in Tysons Corner, Virginia and will report to Owen Breheny, Director, at Hunt Mortgage Group

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced two additional mortgage companies – First Niagara and Carrington Mortgage – will adopt a set of best practices to help combat the neighborhood blight and economic damage caused by vacant and abandoned "zombie properties." With today’s announcement, a total of 13 banks and mortgage companies representing approximately 70 percent of the New York market have now agreed to adopt these best practices.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is deploying Department of Financial Services representatives to Chester in Orange County and Monticello in Sullivan County to offer foreclosure prevention assistance to financially struggling homeowners.

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 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Currently Lacks The Authority To Supervise & Enforce Protections For Servicemembers; Feds Have So Far Been Inconsistent In Enforcing Existing Protections. New Schumer Bill, the Military Consumer Protection Act, Will Give the CFPB – Our Nation’s Premier Consumer Watchdog – the Jurisdiction to Enforce Protections For Upstate NY Soldiers

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Gary Rodney joined BRP Companies, Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and development partners to celebrate the opening of Macedonia Plaza

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.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest of Fedlaire Aristide, 47, of Freeport, N.Y., for allegedly attempting to defraud Wells Fargo in a short sale scam that would have cost the bank hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of licensed attorney Theresa Sanders, 56, of Fabius, New York, to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. Sanders pleaded guilty earlier this year for her role in a million-dollar mortgage fraud ring that operated in the Syracuse area for years, preying upon both first-time home buyers and institutional lenders.