As a person very familiar with the foreclosure process - I sometimes bid at courthouse foreclosure auctions - the bank sets an opening bid - the amount may be what is owed or it may be a much lower opening bid price. If it is the amount owed, the bank bids the opening bid amount itself. Any other bidder may then increase the bid amount. If the bank hopes to sell it to someone else at the courthouse auction, they may make the opening bid much lower in the hopes that SOMEONE who follows foreclosure courthouse auctions will then make a higher bid. In this case, NOONE among those 'foreclosure vultures' (that is what we are called) even saw value at half the original price. So the bank 'won' their own auction and took the house back. They own it and they want the previous owner out so they can put it on the market with an agent. That is how the system works and there is no dirty dealings going on at all.
In regards to the mortgage increasing, it is not the mortgage amount itself that has changed in her case, it is the escrow amounts, usually insurance payments and real estate tax payments. If the taxes are raised or lower by the county govt., the monthly escrow amount for taxes will go up or down so that at the end of the year there is enough money in escrow to pay the annual tax bill. The same is true for insurance. Her insurance premium went up a lot and I don't know why (crime, coverage changes, etc), but the monthly escrow reflects the increase. The goal is that the escrow, when the annual payment for taxes and insurance is paid, is nearly empty after payment, not overflowing with money. Most mortgage companies will cut you a check for any substantial escrow balance not needed. Likewise if there is not enough to pay the annual premiums or taxes, the mortgage co. will want you to make up the difference and the future escrow requirements are adjusted. This is all SOP!
And yet, this trash acts like the banks are evil and ripping her off. It is she who is ripping them off!
As a person very familiar with the foreclosure process - I sometimes bid at courthouse foreclosure auctions - the bank sets an opening bid - the amount may be what is owed or it may be a much lower opening bid price. If it is the amount owed, the bank bids the opening bid amount itself. Any other bidder may then increase the bid amount. If the bank hopes to sell it to someone else at the courthouse auction, they may make the opening bid much lower in the hopes that SOMEONE who follows foreclosure courthouse auctions will then make a higher bid. In this case, NOONE among those 'foreclosure vultures' (that is what we are called) even saw value at half the original price. So the bank 'won' their own auction and took the house back. They own it and they want the previous owner out so they can put it on the market with an agent. That is how the system works and there is no dirty dealings going on at all.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the mortgage increasing, it is not the mortgage amount itself that has changed in her case, it is the escrow amounts, usually insurance payments and real estate tax payments. If the taxes are raised or lower by the county govt., the monthly escrow amount for taxes will go up or down so that at the end of the year there is enough money in escrow to pay the annual tax bill. The same is true for insurance. Her insurance premium went up a lot and I don't know why (crime, coverage changes, etc), but the monthly escrow reflects the increase. The goal is that the escrow, when the annual payment for taxes and insurance is paid, is nearly empty after payment, not overflowing with money. Most mortgage companies will cut you a check for any substantial escrow balance not needed. Likewise if there is not enough to pay the annual premiums or taxes, the mortgage co. will want you to make up the difference and the future escrow requirements are adjusted. This is all SOP!
And yet, this trash acts like the banks are evil and ripping her off. It is she who is ripping them off!