Latest news with #Faircloth
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Pete hurricane victims fighting foreclosure after mortgage sold to new company
The Brief Hurricane victims trying to rebuild their homes are now fighting a new mortgage company that is threatening foreclosures. Mr. Cooper, a mortgage servicing company, is being accused of trying to foreclose on residents after buying their mortgages. Local real estate attorneys are urging residents to remain calm in the face of foreclosure threats. ST. PETE, Fla. - Hurricane victims trying to rebuild their homes are now fighting a new mortgage company that is threatening to take their homes away. One St. Pete family said that while they were trying to rebuild their home after Hurricane Helene, their mortgage was sold and its new owner threatened to foreclose on them. What they're saying "It's troubling mentally, it's stressing emotionally, it's deflating. As a husband and a father, it's mortifying because I have a family that depends on me," said Woody Faircloth. Woody Faircloth is fighting to keep his family's home in Riviera Bay. "They told us, 'Don't make your mortgage payments for the next four months. Work on your house. Then, when your insurance check comes in, pull the money out of there and catch your payments up,'" said Faircloth. When the forbearance period ended, however, Mr. Cooper, a mortgage servicing company, bought Faircloth's mortgage. When he attempted to resume payments, he was shocked to learn that the company had already placed his home in foreclosure proceedings because he was four months behind on his mortgage. "I told them, 'We were in a forbearance.' They told me, 'not with us, you weren't," said Faircloth. "What they're doing is threatening us with a sale date on our house if we don't pay them," Faircloth said. Local perspective Charles Gallagher, a St. Petersburg attorney specializing in real estate said situations like Faircloth's are becoming increasingly common, especially when the original forbearance agreement was verbal rather than written. "We're seeing a lot of that – just like we saw post-Covid," Gallagher said. "If you have a written forbearance agreement, the new mortgage company is obligated to honor it. If they don't, they're in violation of the amended mortgage terms." Nationstar Mortgage, the LLC behind Mr. Cooper, has faced multiple lawsuits for failing to honor the terms of mortgages transferred from other countries. All 50 state attorneys general have sued the company twice, resulting in settlements for homeowners. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau secured a $91 million settlement after alleging the company failed to handle transferred mortgages properly. What you can do Gallagher advises homeowners not to pay companies in a panic if they receive verbal threats of foreclosure. Companies must first file a suit in court, giving homeowners the chance to respond and then attend court proceedings. "We've seen cases where lenders falsely claim a sale date has been set, just to pressure homeowners into paying quickly," said Gallagher. "That can be actionable as fraud." READ: Mayor Castor to serve on Trump's FEMA Review Council "To say that you have a sale date set and a mortgage foreclosure case, when there's no foreclosure case filed yet, that triggers the issues of collection violations and deceptive trade practices," said Gallagher. "It's been done before many, many, many times by lenders and servicers who have tried to scare a borrower into quick repayment." What's next Faircloth has filed a police report with the St. Petersburg Police Department, which confirms a detective is reviewing the case. He has also submitted a complaint to the Florida Attorney General's Office. "Dealing with the disaster was bad enough," Faircloth said. "I didn't think I'd be dealing with a disaster and have the mortgage company trying to rip our house away." The other side FOX 13 has reached out to Mr. Cooper multiple times for comment, and has not heard back. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source FOX 13's Genevieve Curtis collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Sean Faircloth wins special election for Maine House District 24
Former Bangor Mayor Sean Faircloth won the Feb. 25 special election for Maine House District 24. (Photo via Maine Democratic Party) Sean Faircloth won an overwhelming victory in Tuesday's special election to fill the seat left vacant by State Treasurer Joe Perry, bolstering legislative Democrats' slim majority in the Maine House of Representatives. The former Bangor mayor defeated Republican Carolyn Fish, who serves on the Bangor City Council, 71.7% to 28.3% with more than 95% of votes counted, according to Decision Desk HQ. In a statement after the vote, Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman congratulated Faircloth, saying his 'deep roots in the community and his commitment to the values that strengthen Maine—economic fairness, job growth, and support for working families—will serve his constituents well.' 'This victory is a clear demonstration that voters in the district enthusiastically support Democratic Party values and policies that give all Mainers a fair shake,' Dingman said. The district, which includes Veazie and parts of Bangor, Brewer and Orono, leans Democratic. Faircloth had been selected by the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, an arm of the national party that aims to get Democrats elected to state legislators, as one of the organization's 'spotlight candidates.' The national organization celebrated Faircloth's win. 'Across the country, Democrats continue to focus on the issues most important to working families, and that's why they continue to dominate in special elections,' DLCC president Heather Williams said in a statement after the vote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bangor-area voters head to the polls for special Maine House election
Voters cast their ballots at the Quimby School gymnasium in Bingham, Maine on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Michael G. Seamans/ Maine Morning Star) Bangor-area voters will head to the polls Tuesday to fill a seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Joe Perry. They will choose between former Bangor mayor and Democratic legislator Sean Faircloth and Republican Carolyn Fish, who serves on the Bangor City Council. The seat for Maine House of Representatives District 24 includes Veazie and parts of Bangor, Brewer and Orono. Perry left the seat shortly after being reelected last November because he was later confirmed as state treasurer. The district leans Democratic and earlier this month the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced that Faircloth is among its 'spotlight candidates,' who the committee supports by directing fundraising through its national network. Whereas Fish is traditionally financed, Faircloth is running as a clean elections candidate, which means he can only accept limited private contributions in order to be eligible for public funds. According to the most recent campaign filings, they have each raised over $18,000. Either way it goes, the race is likely to have an impact on Democrats' legislative agenda. The party currently holds a slim majority in the Maine House, with 75 seats to Republicans' 73, with one independent and one unenrolled member. Information about polling places, including locations and times, is available here. Live election results tabulated by Decision Desk HQ will be available below:
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Democratic group has sights set on Maine House District 24 special election
Snow blankets the Maine State House in Augusta. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star) A national political action group is funneling donations to the Democratic candidate in a special election for the Maine Legislature. Former Bangor mayor and legislator Sean Faircloth is running against Republican Carolyn Fish, who serves on the Bangor City Council, in the Feb. 25 election for Maine House of Representatives District 24. The seat was vacated by Joe Perry after he was elected state treasurer. The race has attracted the attention of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures. The group announced Thursday that Faircloth is among their 'spotlight candidates,' who they support by directing fundraising through their national network. Faircloth is running as a clean elections candidate, which means he can only accept limited private contributions and then is eligible for public funds. Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the Maine House and Senate. Of the 151 House seats, Democrats hold 75 to Republicans' 73, with one independent and one unenrolled member. In a statement, the DLCC said, 'winning this special election would help cement Democrats' agenda to support Maine's communities, from making Maine more affordable for working families to ensuring access to comprehensive health care and quality public schools.' Last election, the group featured two Maine legislative candidates — former state representatives Raegan LaRochelle and Bettyann Sheats — both of whom lost their respective races for the Maine Senate. Across the country, there have already been five special elections this year. In Iowa last week, Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped a Senate district after winning 52% of the vote, which local Democrats took as a sign of discontent with Republican leadership. 'As the Trump administration wreaks havoc in Washington, the upcoming special election in Maine is the latest opportunity for Democrats to mobilize and win in the states,' said DLCC president Heather Williams in a statement Thursday. 'State legislatures are on the frontlines in these uncertain times and Democratic leadership will continue to play a pivotal role in defending our future.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
CBS News
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Nonprofit providing emergency RVs to Los Angeles wildfire victims
Some residents who lost everything during the Los Angeles wildfires received a much-needed lifeline as they began the long road to rebuilding. Residents like Mike Curran, who lost his childhood home during the Eaton Fire, have luckily found a temporary home with friends. However, he needed a long-term solution as he rebuilt his home. Thanks to a nonprofit, Curran has found a long-term solution with an RV delivered right to his doorstep. "This will be my home," Curran said. "I'm still figuring it out. Pardon the clutter." A dad and his daughter started the nonprofit in 2018 after the Camp Fire, the state's deadliest and most destructive, burned thousands of homes in Northern California. "Shelter is the most basic human need," Woody Faircloth said. "These people need help." Faircloth has gifted over 250 RVs to families who have lost their homes in natural disasters throughout the US. He jumped right back into action after the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out. He drove the first two RVs from Colorado to Altadena for Curran and army veteran Robin Adkins. "This is home at least for us right now," he said. Adkins will live in a Pasadena parking lot with his wife and four dogs until they can move the RV onto their property also burned in Altadena. "I don't think we would find anything here," he said. "I thought we would have to go. I didn't want to do that. I wanted to stay close to home." The nonprofit has gifted five RVs to people in LA County, and more are on the way. However, finding a spot to park them long-term has been challenging. To help, the LA County Board of Supervisors passed a motion to lift any restrictions on parking in county parks during this emergency. Faircloth said the nonprofit needs donors as more than 150 families are on their list for RVs. FEMA said at this time the state of California has not requested trailers as part of the disaster recovery efforts.
