RISMEDIA, Feb. 20, 2008-Foreclosure self-defense expert Ralph R. Roberts, GRI, CRS, announced the publication of his new book Foreclosure Self- Defense For Dummies (Wiley, February 2008, 332 pages). The book, co- written with Lois Maljak and Paul Doroh, is a straightforward, practical reference to the nationwide crisis associated with foreclosure, and comes on the heels of news that there was a 75 percent increase in foreclosure activity in 2007 over 2006.
Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies offers homeowners a solid defense strategy based on the authors’ collective experience as Realtors, real estate and mortgage fraud investigators and foreclosure survivors. According to the writers, Roberts, Maljak and Doroh have assisted thousands of distressed homeowners in one of the hardest hit housing markets in the United States — the Detroit Metropolitan area — and with the release of the book, they are poised to help more homeowners across the nation.
Published under the For Dummies(R) brand, Foreclosure Self- Defense For Dummies is written to be used, not just read. Full of pragmatic tactics, tips and strategies, Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies is one of the first books to also directly address the emotional side of foreclosure, which can be just as devastating as the financial fallout.
Roberts offers the following tips and warnings to homeowners facing foreclosure:
“Contact your lender immediately and ask to speak with a loss mitigator. If you can, work out a new payment plan (request a forbearance agreement). Ask your bank about the possibility of a short sale, which provides relief from your debt and a clean slate, (i.e., no record of foreclosure in your credit history). If all else fails, and you’ve thought it through, consider bankruptcy (doing so provides temporary relief via an automatic stay), and, be wary of empty promises associated with quit claim deeds, which may amount to you losing your home to fraudsters.”
According to the 2007 Year-End Foreclosure Market Report, 2,203,295 foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported on 1,285,873 properties nationwide during 2007. With those numbers expected to increase in 2008, the practical information found in Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies is intended to help homeowners facing foreclosure size up their options and increase the chance of saving their home.
For more information, visit www.ForeclosureSelfDefense.com.
