Mortgage Servicers and Loan Modifications: A Guide for NYC Homeowners
(Separate Website)
A quick guide to dealing with loan servicers, for homeowners having trouble affording their mortgages.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
The Foreclosure Process in New York (Diagram and Glossary of Terms)
(Separate Website)
A diagram explaining the process New York foreclosures can take, and a glossary of terms common to foreclosure actions.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
How to Answer a Foreclosure Complaint
(Separate Website)
Learn what you can do if you have received a Foreclosure Summons and Complaint.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services
Top 10 Things Every Homeowner With A Settlement Conference Should Know This is a guide to the top things every homeowner with a settlement conference should do. A settlement conference is a meeting in court between you, the party that is suing you in the foreclosure action (the "plaintiff"), and a judge or judicial hearing officer. The settlement conference should help you take steps to resolve your foreclosure.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Guide to Foreclosure Settlement Conference Process - New York City
(Separate Website)
A settlement conference is a meeting in court between you, the party that is suing you in the foreclosure action (the plaintiff), and a judge or judicial hearing officer. The settlement conference should help you take steps to resolve your foreclosure. This guide will help New York City homeowners prepare for a settlement conference. This guide only covers how to prepare for a settlement conference.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Not Sure What Some of the Words Mean During Your Foreclosure Proceeding?
(Separate Website)
Print a copy of this glossary of key terms to help you during your foreclosure proceedings.
By: CNYCN - Center for New York City Neighborhoods
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes and Apartment Buildings
Notice to Tenants of Buildings Sold at Foreclosure after May 20, 2009
(Separate Website)
Information for tenants who rent property that is being foreclosed on
By: Nassau/ Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes
(Separate Website)
Your rights if your landlord is facing foreclosure.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Information for Military Personnel Regarding Mortgage Relief and Foreclosure Protection
(Separate Website)
Information about payment relief and protection from foreclosure provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (formerly known as The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940)
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement
About Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
Many loan modification companies and foreclosure rescue companies violate New York State law and make false promises to homeowners. Learn what to look out for and how to find a legitimate agency to help you.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Dreams Foreclosed: Saving Older Americans from Foreclosure Rescue Scams Overview of how to identify foreclosure "rescue" scams and how to avoid them.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Helpful Tips and Links
(Separate Website)
Tips for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Home Equity Theft and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments and your home is in foreclosure or default, be aware that you and your home may become targets for home equity theft or foreclosure rescue fraud scams. Click to learn more.
By: New York State Banking Department
VIDEO: How to Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
This website provides information and a video on how you can protect yourself from foreclosure rescue scams.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Beware of Loan Modification Scams!
(Separate Website)
A homeowner alert about mortgage modification scams.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
Video: How to Work with Interpreters
(Separate Website)
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.
By: Legal Services of New Jersey
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Foreclosure Prevention
(Separate Website)
If you are looking to buy a home, refinance, or obtain a home improvement loan, beware. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.
By: NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
HUD in New York (English and Spanish)
(Separate Website)
Visit this website to get up to date news on housing developments in New York State and services available. This website is also available in Spanish.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What You Should Know About Emergency Assistance and DSS/HRA
(Separate Website)
If you have an emergency, you may be able to get help from your local Department of Social Service (DSS) office. (If you live in New York City, you can ask for Emergency Assistance from your local Human Resources Administration (HRA) office)
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Complaints About Attorneys
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Click for more information.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes: Know Your Rights!
(Separate Website)
If you are a tenant in a home that is in foreclosure,
you have important new rights under New York State law.
By: NEDAP
Mortgage Fraud: How to Avoid Being a Victim
(Separate Website)
Avoid getting scammed, find out what you can do!
By: FBI
Home Equity Theft and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments and your home is in foreclosure or default, be aware that you and your home may become targets for home equity theft or foreclosure rescue fraud scams. Click to learn more.
By: New York State Banking Department
Home Equity Theft Prevention Act: Your Rights Under The Law
(Separate Website)
The law can help protect you against scams. This pamphlet from the N. Y. State Banking Dept. explains your rights if you are planning to sell your home when you are in default or foreclosure.
By: New York State Banking Department
Home Equity Loans: The Three-Day Cancellation Rule
(Separate Website)
Detailed information on the right to cancel a home equity loan contract for any reason within three days of signing the agreement.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Home Equity Theft Scams: How They Work and How to Avoid Them
(Separate Website)
This pamphlet from the N.Y. State Banking Dept. explains how to avoid foreclosure scammers who may defraud you of your home.
By: New York State Banking Department
About Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
Many loan modification companies and foreclosure rescue companies violate New York State law and make false promises to homeowners. Learn what to look out for and how to find a legitimate agency to help you.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Beware of Loan Modification Scams!
(Separate Website)
A homeowner alert about mortgage modification scams.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
False Advertising: How to Spot It And What You Can Do About It?
(Separate Website)
Be aware of advertisements that seem too good to be true. Learn how to avoid them.
By: NYC Department of Consumer Affairs
Financing Homes: Avoid Predatory Lenders
This article provides an outline of how to spot and avoid dishonest lenders.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
First-Time Homebuyer Scams
(Separate Website)
A discussion of two practices used by some scam artists: "property flipping" after cosmetic repairs, and "one-stop shops" that purport to arrange the entire home purchase process.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
Helping Elderly Homeowners Victimized by Predatory Mortgage Loans
This article provides an overview of how to identify predatory mortgage loans and overcome the legal challenges to these types of loans.
By: National Consumer Law Center
High-Cost Home Loans: Don't Be a Target Tips on how to protect yourself when shopping for home loans.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Spanish / Español
High-Cost Home Loans: Your Legal Protections
This article provides an overview of your legal rights in regards to loans with high interest rates or high fees, otherwise known as HOEPA loans.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
High-Cost or Predatory Home Mortgage Traps
(Separate Website)
Detailed information on predatory lending practices, including contact information for local organizations that provide legal assistance and counseling to help prevent foreclosures.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Refinancing Scams
(Separate Website)
A breakdown of common refinancing scams.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
What to Know When Buying Your First Home: Avoiding Scams
(Separate Website)
"Property flipping" is when a real estate investor buys a house at a discount, performs repairs, and then sells the home at a huge, marked-up price to a new homebuyer. If you are buying a home for the first time, read this brochure to learn how to avoid this problem.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Protect Yourself And Your Finances From Predatory Lending
(Separate Website)
If you're in the market for a loan, read these tips first to protect yourself from potentially fraudulent or deceptive offers.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Do You Need a Loan? This factsheet explains how to avoid lenders that take advantage of individuals by misleading them about the terms of a loan and their ability to pay back a loan.
By: The New York City Fair Lending Coalition
Looking for the Best Mortgage?
(Separate Website)
Information on what to look for when shopping for a mortgage, including an explanation of terms used by mortgage brokers and bankers and a worksheet to use to compare mortgage offers.
By: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Mortgages
(Separate Website)
Questions and answers about home loans, including your rights and what certain legal terms mean.
By: New York State Banking Department
The ABC's of Sub-Prime Mortgage Lending
(Separate Website)
Information on sub-prime mortgage lending, including contact information for local organizations that provide legal assistance and counseling to help prevent foreclosures.
By: New York State Banking Department
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Some Tips for Consumers Considering a Reverse Mortgage
(Separate Website)
Are you considering a reverse mortgage? Better look before you leap. While a reverse
mortgage could put money in your hands, the transaction can be quite confusing. Read this resource to learn more.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Some Tips for Consumers Considering a Reverse Mortgage
(Separate Website)
This article explains what a reverse mortgage is and discusses potential difficulties with these types of mortgages.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Mortgage Discrimination: A Guide to Understanding Your Rights & Taking Action
(Separate Website)
Read this resource to learn more about the protections given to lender's against mortgage discrimination under the the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
By: Federal Trade Commission
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Fair Lending
(Separate Website)
Discrimination in mortgage lending is prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act and HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity actively enforces those provisions of the law. The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to engage in the following practices based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap/disability.
By: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Video: How to Work with Interpreters
(Separate Website)
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.
By: Legal Services of New Jersey
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
HUD in New York (English and Spanish)
(Separate Website)
Visit this website to get up to date news on housing developments in New York State and services available. This website is also available in Spanish.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Foreclosure Prevention
(Separate Website)
If you are looking to buy a home, refinance, or obtain a home improvement loan, beware. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.
By: NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
What You Should Know About Emergency Assistance and DSS/HRA
(Separate Website)
If you have an emergency, you may be able to get help from your local Department of Social Service (DSS) office. (If you live in New York City, you can ask for Emergency Assistance from your local Human Resources Administration (HRA) office)
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Complaints About Attorneys
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Click for more information.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Your Rights Against Debt Collectors Under NYC Law
(Separate Website)
Find out how NYC's debt collection law help NYC residents.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
Advantage Tenants: The City Will No Longer Pay Advantage Rent
(Separate Website)
Provides information for people with the Advantage Rental Supplement.
By: Legal Aid Society: Homeless Rights Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What You Should Know About Emergency Assistance and DSS/HRA
(Separate Website)
If you have an emergency, you may be able to get help from your local Department of Social Service (DSS) office. (If you live in New York City, you can ask for Emergency Assistance from your local Human Resources Administration (HRA) office)
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
What is an Emergency?
(Separate Website)
If you and/or your family are experiencing an emergency situation you may be eligible for emergency assistance.
By: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Emergency Assistance
A description of emergency financial assistance programs both for households that receive public assistance, and those that do not.
By: Legal Services NYC - Legal Support Unit
Read this in:
French / Français
Homeless: Family Services
(Separate Website)
Information from the City for homeless families on where to go for help, who is eligible for assistance and what to bring.
By: New York City Department of Homeless Services
Guide for families applying for shelter at the new PATH center An 8-page Legal Aid handout for families applying for shelter at the new PATH. Final page is a fax cover sheet that clients, advocates, doctors and others can use to fax information into PATH on behalf of a family.
By: Legal Aid Society: Homeless Rights Project
Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) Guide Guide about the range of services available at PATH for homeless families.
By: New York City Department of Homeless Services
Homeless Families: Know Your Rights! What To Do If Found Ineligible For Shelter
(Separate Website)
Explains what to do if the City does not give you shelter when you re-apply.
By: Legal Aid Society
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
General Shelter and Other Transitional Housing Programs: New York
(Separate Website)
General Shelter and Other Transitional Housing Programs: New York
By: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Basic Welfare Benefits for Homeless Families
This fact sheet has information on what welfare benefits you should be receiving if your family is homeless.
By: City Bar Justice Center
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
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