Faces Of Foreclosure

When we moved to Florida, we had high hopes. We’d live close to my Mom, I’d continue to work for Disney and we’d have nice jobs. We’d be able to pay all but the tiniest portion of our bills with one salary.

We sold our townhouse in Maryland with a nice profit. We found a builder we liked in Lakeland, then found that they had a community under construction closer to Tampa, where I’d be working. After paying for moving, we put half of the remainder down on a new construction home with this builder, nearly one-third of the cost.

For the next nine months, we rented a house and my husband looked for a job. And looked. And looked some more. This was the big sticking point for us, however, we were able to manage on just my salary.

Eventually, Disney sold the stores. I found a job that combined management and cooking. The compensation package was compelling. The base salary was slightly less than what I was making, but I had the potential to triple my salary.

THE FORECLOSURE SECRETS GUIDE I apologize going into this because the link takes you to one of those ugly pitch pages AND because I think this PDF publication is overpriced at $197 (or $67 through mid-November). And I shouldn’t say this, but it is also poorly written . . . but the techniques apparently work and it IS a low price if it helps save your home. I saw a piece in action during a Visit to the Sheriff’s Office and I will update on this site if this helps save Dennis’ home. If you can get through more battling, this may help you keep your house. I added the book to the site immediately following a response from a realtor who wrote saying that the bank did not disclose how they applied her late fees. Apparently you have the right to a full disclosure of how fees are applied AND you have the right to ask for ALL of the original documents so that you actually know who owns your house. If we do not fight back. this inept and/or illegal behaviour will continue! The Foreclosure Secrets Guide contains: Ways to negotiate Workout proposals Foreclosure (including links to “Foreclosure Laws by State” and “Foreclosure Procedures by State.” These are crucial for you to know as they can help save your home because many lenders are NOT following the rules and are therefore in default. Legal Defenses of a Borrower. MOST IMPORTANT, i.e. things lenders don’t want you to know, letters requesting validation of debt, FTC and HUD compaints . . . Difference between mortgage and deed of trust

At this time, Ed was working for the post office, like he’d done in Maryland. Unlike Maryland, though, his work week was at best, two days, whereas he was working six day weeks before.

The new job didn’t provide health insurance . . . That was costing $1300 a month. Our mortgage was $1200 a month. I was grossing $3000 a month. Pay bills or medicate my child? I’m a horrible citizen . . . I’ll medicate my child first.

After eight months in a job I loved, I realized that we couldn’t exist in this manner. It’d take me some time to grow the business to the level they required for me to be pull in the three bonuses that totaled about $50 grand.

One phone call moved me back into retail and to health benefits. We refinanced and rolled all bills into the mortgage, but we went from a low interest rate to a higher one.

My new employer did something I’ve never encountered during years of retail management: I was paid hourly for 30-40 hours/week. Ed worked for the meal prep kitchen because he could be out of work in time for the kids to arrive home from school. It was tight.

Then, my husband’s work schedule went from five to four days, then two, then one. We were late on the mortgage.

Funny thing about mortgages. When you’re late, you aren’t allowed to pay a little to at least get something in. No, you have to pay ALL the money you owe. I contemplated cashing in my 20 shares of stock from a previous employer. I was talked out of it. We’d need it down the road. (Now, it’s worth 1/4 of what it was back then.)

My health was poor, but I focused on working with the pain and keep us insured and some money coming into the house. My husband had found a job as a toll collector. It was supposed to be 40 hours and overnight starting at 9 p.m. every evening, which conflicted with my retail job. It was a tumultous few months . . . for $7.50 an hour.

Ed looked for something more lucrative. He found a temp job in the tech sector he’d left behind in 2001. He’d be replacing an employee who was reentering the military . . . the employee decided he didn’t want to reup so Ed was let go.

We were still in arrears on the mortgage, because the lender wanted ALL or nothing. The rumbling in the media was that Bush was going to rescue those in danger of foreclosure. Nothing applied to our situation.

So, for months, we’ve been waiting for the ax to fall. We knew it would because the lender wouldn’t talk unless a lot of money (that we didn’t have) came their way. The ax fell yesterday.

We have to be out by March 6th.

We found a house right around the corner from Ed’s mom’s house. This house is a little more than I’d said we could afford on my 40 hours alone (but I’ve been getting 25 hours). That is a problem, but probably short term. The homeowner recommended employers in Lakeland that Ed could try.

It makes a lot of sense to rent the place; it would ease the stress that led to Ed’s mom’s stroke. If they need stuff done, we’d be right there. I think it’d reduce my stress, because I wouldn’t be wondering when I’d be called on at 2 a.m. to drive 30 miles. If Ed found a job that had hours that overlapped mine, the kids could possibly head over to Mema’s.

I’m looking for a new job myself. Something recession proof. They exist in retail, as I’ve had them before. Something that will give me the 40 hours I am accustomed to getting.

Right now, I’m sad. All the reasons for moving to Florida: WDW, Mom and a house? I don’t have a single one of them. I’m depressed and I’m heartbroken.

I’m a former homeowner.