The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away With Money in Your Pocket

5 Responses to “The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away With Money in Your Pocket”

1. C. Cook says:

   March 7, 2010 at 1:36 am

   If your home is going into foreclosure….or you know friends or neighbors facing this troubling situation…….If you do –this book will help you.

   This is not the bible or the encyclopedia on foreclosures…but it offers up quite a bit of information concerning different forms of foreclosure…how different states usually handle forclosures–and what you can do to slow or stop them.

   I found this book to be so very informative–giving me the basics on how this thing works…One thing I learned is that each state handles them differently. I didn’t know that–or even think about that.

   Anyway—now I have at least the basics under my belt–therefore being able to offer some information to others–there is just so much of it going around these days—that it seems someone is being touched by it in one way or another.

   I’ve rated this book in the median position…its not a great book—but it has enough information in its pages–to recommend it to others.
   Rating: 3 / 5
2. K. Sullivan says:

   March 7, 2010 at 3:54 am

   The average homeowner facing foreclosure probably knows very little about the subject. One would assume it is often a circumstance fraught with uncertainty, anxiety, and other deep emotions. Attorney and author, Stephen Elias, cuts through the veil and provides a solid groundwork to understand foreclosure and related themes (bankruptcy, taxation, etc.). He recognizes that many needing such a resource may be beside themselves over the fear and shame of defaulting on a mortgage or losing a home. Having worked with hundreds of individuals facing just that prospect, his voice is rational and comforting. He succeeds in reassuring the reader that it is not the end of the world. He then proceeds to provide very practical no-nonsense advice on the steps looming ahead.

   The author recognizes that the regulatory and lending landscape is evolving due to the sharp increase in current and projected foreclosures. In addition to providing updates on the latest regulatory action as of publication, he provides website resources for future updates post-publication. The book also lists contact information for resources available to assist with the process.

   An appendix includes an at-a-glance listing of the basic regulations by state. It may have been useful to provide more narrative and explanation in this section, but adding too much detail could have quickly gotten out of hand. Also included is a brief glossary.

   Though mentioned in passing, I would have welcomed more commentary or information on the long term effects of foreclosure or bankruptcy on one’s credit rating. To be fair, a lot of variables make forecasting the impact with precision impossible. Some general guidelines, however, would have been nice.

   The body of the book does end rather more abruptly than I would have liked. The final chapter provides information on additional resources available and ends by offering advice on researching state statutes. It would have been nice if he then provided a closing word summing up the work or wishing the reader well. That would have jibed more with the compassionate conversational tone throughout the rest of the work.

   Overall, this book is a great primer for anyone facing foreclosure.
   Rating: 3 / 5
3. Mendicant Pigeon says:

   March 7, 2010 at 5:03 am

   I bought this for an acquaintance who was on the brink of foreclosure with the stipulation that he review it for me in return. Although he agreed to the terms of this deal, he reneged when he was offered a bail-out through the recently negotiated settlement with Countrywide showing, I guess, that a deadbeat is a deadbeat in any guise (No, this person wasn’t duped into his mortgage, he really is just a deadbeat, although a likeable enough deadbeat).
   
   I took it upon myself to read through this guide and found it informative and helpful. I learned some things that I didn’t know about the process and believe that the information it contains likely will be of use to anybody who is going to be foreclosed upon (if in no other way than it supplies the reader with the tools to remain in his house for a few extra months during the process). I also believe that this book is most helpful because it offers a clear and understandable explanation of the process and what one can expect along the rough road ahead, thus lessening some of the fear that comes from the unknown. The book doesn’t offer any miracle cures: If you are genuinely in trouble, you will likely remain so, but it really does give you some tools to employ to ensure that you get the maximum benefit out of the process.
   
   My complaint about the book is that it is printed in a way that wastes a lot of space. In other words, the publishers seem to use large type, broad spacing and generous page size to create the illusion of a weighty tome. This book could be much more compact without losing anything in readability. In fact, I would argue that it would be easier to read if a more manageable size. Reducing the size might also have allowed for a lower price, even if only a dollar or two. Don’t you think that would have been helpful to its intended audience?
   
   Rating: 3 / 5
4. Marilynn Griffith says:

   March 7, 2010 at 7:33 am

   With so many people being downsized and phased out, this is good information to know. Reading this book has helped me understand some of the conversations in my community about foreclosure and families in financial crisis. I think this would make a comforting and empowering read for someone who received notice of foreclosure. Every library should have a copy.
   Rating: 4 / 5
5. J. Paisner says:

   March 7, 2010 at 7:55 am

   Well organized, easy to understand. A must for anyone facing foreclosure. Most people should be able to handle the process without a lawyer thanks to this book.

   -Jonah Paisner
   
   Bankruptcy Attorney
   
   Portland, Oregon
   
   [...]
   
   Rating: 5 / 5