Does your experience match this?
By Mary Auestad Arnold
Brian Dolan predicts that in many areas of the U.S. the number of foreclosures during the first six months of 2015 will exceed the number during the first six months of 2014. Dolan is an attorney with the credit union group of Kaufman and Canoles, Norfolk, Va. The seventh prediction in the winter 2015 issue of his firm's "Credit Union Legal Update" explains his thinking: "The new mortgage servicing rules, which took effect in 2014, now prevent the first notice of foreclosure until a member is more than 120 days delinquent. This rule artificially decreased the foreclosure rate during the first half of 2014. The second half of 2014 saw the foreclosure rate increase in comparison to the first half of the year. "Also, as result of the 120-day prohibition, by the time many members now seriously attempt to cure their default, the deficiency has become so large that they cannot secure the necessary funds," the article continues. "Thus, we predict the foreclosure rate during the first half of 2015 may be closer to the rate in 2013 than the rate in 2014." What do you think of this? Are you finding the new notice of foreclosure rule is affecting the way the foreclosure rate has been measured--and, more importantly, members' ability to avoid foreclosure? Are you, in reality, seeing more foreclosures so far in 2015?
Mary Auestad Arnold is CUES' VP/publications and digital media.
